We are excited to announce the successful completion of the Alumni Conference organized by the Academy for Public Policy (APP). The event, held today in Skopje, brought together esteemed speakers, influential leaders, and dedicated alumni to foster discussions on community engagement, political leadership, and the rule of law.
The conference commenced with insightful welcoming speeches from distinguished guests: Xhevahire Pruthi Zajazi from the Embassy of Switzerland in North Macedonia, Ioana Cosma from IFES, and Gordan Georgiev from the Forum for Reasonable Policies. Their words resonated with the participants, emphasizing the significance of public policy making, active civic involvement and the pursuit of democratic values.
The keynote speech was delivered by Mirjana Lazarova Trajkovska, a renowned Judge of the Supreme Court and former Judge of the European Court of Human Rights. Her lecture on the rule of law sparked engaging discussions among the participants, shedding light on its importance in shaping a just society.
Another thought-provoking session explored citizens’ initiatives and the art of lobbying politicians for community engagement. Esteemed leaders of successful local initiatives, including Jovana Tozija from the “Na tocak” initiative, Nikola Pisarev from various urban art guerrilla actions, and Merita Maksuti from the “Better for Tetovo” initiative, shared their experiences, challenges, and proposals for future community involvement.
A panel discussion on “10 years after: when we were younger…” delved into the realities of political life and the collaboration between parties in the Municipal Councils. Goran Gerasmiovski, and Ridvan Ibrahimi, respected mayors from Centar and Arachinovo municipalities, provided valuable insights into local challenges and the gap between ideals and reality.
In the pitching session, nine alumni had the opportunity to present their community engagement proposals to a distinguished jury, including the two mayors and Aferdita Haxhijaha Imeri, an IFES representative. The jury evaluated the presentations, offered suggestions and provided scores, further encouraging the participants in their noble endeavors.
The conference concluded with a certificate awarding ceremony for all third generation graduates from the Academy for Public Policy.
To add a touch of fun, a Bingo/Trivia quiz was organized as a socializing event, ensuring a lively and engaging atmosphere for all participants.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the speakers, panelists, participants from all three generations of the APP, and organizers for making this Alumni Conference a resounding success. Together, we are committed to empowering community engagement, fostering political leadership, and creating a brighter future for our society.
The Academy for Public Policy is an activity of the Support to Electoral Reforms project financed by the Government of Switzerland, and is implemented by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).
