Civic and Voter education in North Macedonia

BRIDGE Workshop on Voter and Civic Education in Skopje receives high praise from participants

Between the 15th and 17th of March 2023, a BRIDGE workshop on Voter and Civic Education was conducted in Skopje, North Macedonia. The workshop was attended by 25 participants (7 male and 18 female) representing state institutions, political parties, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). The training was a real success, with all participants expressing high levels of satisfaction with the content and delivery of the workshop.

The workshop in Skopje was designed to improve participants’ knowledge and skills in voter and civic education, a critical aspect of promoting informed and active citizenship.

The three-day training covered a wide range of topics, including the importance of voter education, the role of civic education in promoting democratic participation, and the development of effective voter and civic education programs according to the eight-step approach. The training was highly interactive and participatory and included practical exercises and group discussions, allowing participants to share their experiences and best practices.

The workshop was facilitated by Accrediting BRIDGE facilitators: Dr. Doina Bordeianu (Republic of Moldova) and Ljupka Guguchevska Filiposka (North Macedonia) who ensured that the content was relevant and engaging for all participants. Dr. Memet Memeti, associate professor at South East European University acted as guest speaker/resource persons during the workshop. The trainers encouraged participants to take an active role in the learning process. This approach ensured that all participants were fully engaged, and the training was a dynamic and interactive experience.

Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with all 25 attendees expressing high levels of satisfaction with the training. Participants praised the trainers’ expertise and delivery, the relevance and practicality of the content, and the opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences.

The success of the BRIDGE workshop on Voter and Civic Education in Skopje is an evidence of the effectiveness of the BRIDGE methodology in enhancing the capacity of stakeholders in electoral processes. The training has equipped participants with the skills and knowledge to develop and implement effective voter and civic education programs that will promote informed and active citizenship in North Macedonia.

The workshop was conducted in the framework of “Support to Electoral Reforms in North Macedonia”, a project of the Swiss Government, implemented by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).