On May 8, 2026, the kick-off event for the project “INCLUDE – Inclusive Leadership and Democratic Participation of Persons with Disabilities” was held at the premises of the Association “Equality” in Skopje. The project aims to foster more active participation, leadership, and representation of persons with disabilities in social and democratic life.
The event brought together individuals with various types of disabilities and their assistants, who had the opportunity to learn about project activities, exchange experiences, and discuss challenges and opportunities for greater inclusion in decision-making processes at the local level.
Through a presentation of the project, coordinator Ruzica Stojanovska outlined the planned activities, target groups, and expected results, with a particular focus on developing leadership skills, self-advocacy, and creating opportunities for persons with disabilities to actively influence decisions that affect them.
From Presence to Genuine Participation
A central part of the event was an open discussion focused on the barriers faced by persons with disabilities when participating in public life and local democratic processes.
Participants shared personal experiences and suggestions for improving existing practices, highlighting insufficient physical and communication accessibility, limited opportunities for participation in public consultations, and a lack of timely and accessible information as key challenges.
Special attention was paid to the role of local self-governments and the need to establish regular communication, consultations, and cooperation with persons with disabilities and civil society organizations.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of practical training in leadership, communication, and advocacy, which will contribute to greater autonomy, visibility, and active civic participation.
“Nothing about us without us” was the guiding principle of the meeting, serving as a reminder that true inclusion entails recognizing persons with disabilities not merely as service users, but as active citizens, leaders, and equal participants in the creation of policies and decisions.
With this event, Iquality launched the national phase of its project activities, which will encompass research, focus groups, consultations with institutions and stakeholders, the development of practical tools for inclusive representation, as well as initiatives to strengthen the leadership and advocacy capacities of persons with disabilities.
The INCLUDE project is implemented within the framework of the European Union’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme, in partnership with seven organizations and institutions from six European countries.
Through INCLUDE, we continue to create a space where the voices of persons with disabilities will not only be heard but will also have a real impact on the decisions that shape our community.
