Interkultura - part of the network of youth banks - Macedonia

The network of youth banks – Macedonia is an informal network of civil society organizations that aims to create conditions for the biggest possible youth employment through the model of youth banks. The model of youth banks envisions the creation of youth funds that will include funds from the municipalities, the civil and business sector, intended for financing local initiatives and projects of non-formal groups of youth.

The network was founded in December 2017 by CEFE Bitola, Mladinski sovet Prilep (Youth council Prilep), Poraka Nova from Struga, Mladinski sojuz – Krushevo (Youth union – Krushevo), led by the Education Association Mladiinfo International, which actually sit together with the network, while using the knowledge and experience of Mozaik Fondacija (Mosaic Foundation) from Bosnia & Herzegovina. Today, the Network of youth banks – Macedonia has 13 members including the eight new members: Multikultura, Mladite mozhat, Volonterski Centar Skopje, Inova Lab Bitola, Association for cultural cooperation Interkultura, Association for multicultural integration – Inkluzija, LAG Agro Lider, Platform for empowerment of the youth – Gostivar.

The network of youth banks in this composition will operate in 4 regions in Macedonia (Skopje, Polog, Southwest and Pelagonia), with the aim of establishing the new and innovative model in Macedonia which will bring key changes in youth employment. Through this model, not only will young people be the ones to submit initiatives for their community, but they will also dispose of the funds and they will decide what type of projects to support. This way, the youth will learn entrepreneurial and employment skills (recognizing problems, approach to finding solutions, building partnerships, writing a project application, managing a project, communicating with the media), but also life skills (teamwork, gaining self-confidence, initiative, innovation, care for the community).