From June 20 to 23, the 3rd edition of the Festival of Inclusion was held in Park Macedonia - Kisela Voda Municipality, creating unsurpassed positive energy, support and unity.
3. Festival of Inclusion, organized by the Equality Association, in cooperation with the “Vizija Plus” organization, and supported by Kisela Voda Municipality, courageously and persistently confirmed its basic mission that each one of us can and can, with real support and love from the environment.
The official opening of the festival began on June 20 with the performance of the inclusive band of visually impaired children from the “Dimitar Vlahov” school,led by professor Christian Tasevski, and with the performance of pianist Ema Ananievska, who are proud represents of the community of people with disabilities.
Starting from this year, the Equality Association will give prizes entitled “Champions of Inclusion” to those whose social and personal responsibility truly and directly contributes to strengthening the process of social inclusion. This year, the first prizes were awarded in the following categories: Champion of Inclusion – Ambassador: David Geer, Champion of Inclusion – Mayor: Orce Gjorgjievski, Champion of Inclusion – Public Figure: Irena Spirovska, Champion of Inclusion – Person with Disabilities and Organization: Irena Popovska and the “Prkos” Organization, Champion of Inclusion – socially responsible company: KB First Pension Company.
At the official opening, the call for the best inclusive festival photo “Take a picture of inclusion” was announced, during which everyone had the opportunity to notice and publish the magical festival moments and thus participate and win a valuable prize.
In the exhibition “Together we CAN” 65 children’s drawings participated, prepared by the creative hands of children from municipal primary schools from Kisela Voda, and they were proof that our differences make us special and wonderful. The three awards were won by: Jelena Kajevska (V-5th grade) from “Krume Kepeski” OOU, Darko Stanojevski (VI-2nd grade) from “Kliment Ohridski” OOU and Marija Milenkovska (V-5th grade) from “Krume Kepeski” OOU.
The second festival day, June 21, was intended for nurturing the creative spirit, fun, sports and sharing love. In the morning program, the first part of the workshops “From waste to decoration” and “We are super-heroes” were held, in cooperation with The special school for rehabilitation and education “St. Naum Ohridski“, as well as the sports workshop “Try basketball in wheelchairs”, which the visitors were looking forward to in order to try the most dynamic and popular sport for people with disabilities in special sports wheelchairs.
The evening program started with screenings at Kinoverzum of six internationally awarded films – which were shown thanks to the cooperation of the Equality Association with the film festival “Uhvati film” from Novi Sad, Serbia. Visitors enjoyed the selection of films with inspiring content with a powerful message – about openness, cordiality, kindness and understanding. An unforgettable evening musical experience was created by the magical Zarina Prvasevda and the young inspiring and talented Dina Jashari, surrounded by the fantastic set of DJ John Antonio.
On the third day, June 22, the second part of the creative inclusive workshops “From waste to decoration” and “We are super-heroes” was held in the morning program with participants from the Institute for Rehabilitation for Children and Youth. In the afternoon, wheelchair basketball players from Wheelchair Basketball Macedonia, together with several young people without disabilities, played an exciting match in wheelchair basketball. The inclusive and inspiring dance performance “Memories” followed, performed by the dance studio “Eureka” with the participation of about 30 children and youth with and without disabilities. The evening continued with the powerful musical timeline through which Nina Janeva and the band led us.
Due to unstable weather conditions, the evening program from the last 4. day, June 23rd, we postponed the debate on “We create inclusion and integration through mutual support” and the performance of DJ Martin Delimitov until the near future.
The third edition of the Festival for Inclusion awakened the deepest emotions, engaged and included all generations, inspired through music, motivated through joint and integrative gatherings, created unforgettable sports experiences, offered cinematic enjoyment and once again proved that in order to get closer to the goal – breaking down barriers and creating an open society where we are all one – open communication, support, understanding and sharing of love is needed
Check the PHOTO-gallery, authorship of Frose Levkovska.
