The Roma Community Center DROM – Kumanovo has successfully completed the project “Bridges of Understanding”, supported by the Ministry for Inter-Community Relations. The project was implemented over the past period with the aim of fostering positive interethnic relations, promoting tolerance, and strengthening social cohesion among young people.

The project involved high school students from Kumanovo and Tetovo, through the development of extracurricular educational programs that emphasize the importance of interethnic communication, cultural diversity, and togetherness.

Within the framework of the project, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between “Pero Nakov” Secondary School in Kumanovo and “Goce Stojcevski” Secondary School in Tetovo, aimed at developing a program for “friendly schools”, which encouraged direct cooperation among high school students who are Macedonian, Albanian, Roma, Serbian, and representatives of other ethnic communities.

Within the framework of the cooperation program for friendly multiethnic schools, a visit was organized between high school students from Kumanovo and Tetovo, and as part of the project, the following activities were included:

An online survey among high school students to identify priorities in building interethnic tolerance and youth networking;

Educational workshops on interethnic tolerance and cultural diversity, aimed at encouraging young people to independently initiate and participate in youth exchange projects and build social connections;

Organization of a public cultural event with a multiethnic character, held in the main squares of Kumanovo and Tetovo.

The project “Bridges of Understanding” concluded with a final event featuring a rich cultural and artistic program. The event included, among other things, a video presentation showcasing the implemented activities, music and ballet performances, and a fashion show. At the end of the event, certificates were awarded to the most successful participants in the creative part of the project.

With this initiative, the Roma Community Center DROM once again reaffirmed its commitment to building a society based on equality, understanding, and respect for diversity, in which young people serve as a bridge between communities and a driving force of positive change.