Ekvalis is dedicated to improving the democratic landscape in North Macedonia. Specifically, the organization works towards providing educational opportunities for youth, citizens, activists and educators who will facilitate building inclusive democratic societies. We envision a democracy that is built on the needs of those who are marginalized and where marginalized communities take action in shaping inclusive democracies.
In 2019, Ekvalis started with the first and one of the largest efforts to tackle democracy topics through the youth perspective. With the support of the European Endowment for Democracy we opened our first youth democracy centers that represented a physical space where youth, youth activists, non-formal groups and movements can come together, build visions on improving the democratic landscape in North Macedonia, to strategize together and to prepare for actions. Through our Center we offered a diverse program related to enabling an environment where activists could come together, hosting Conversations with activists, dialogues and training. The space was open for free usage of under supported groups like the Union of High School students who used the space for their meetings and further on public actions for their rallying for change. Through the project, Ekvalis inspired a number of young people to take action in the form of non-violent street actions, guerilla actions and public interventions, that exercised civic activism with the youth – an important aspect of building sustaining democracies.
Ekvalis also worked on improving the democratic atmosphere in high schools and high school representative bodies. The project “YOUTHocracy- Advancing Democratic and Participatory Culture in High School Representative Bodies“ a project supported by the European Youth Foundation and the Council of Europe included high school students from all regions in North Macedonia in a highly complex process of learning and practicing democratic practices in their living, studying and working environments. Through this project young people have awakened their political knowledge and the impact that they can have on local decision making, starting from small-scale presidential elections in their school or up to the higher platforms for youth assembly. This process resulted with higher interest in election culture in high schools and especially to bigger involvement of marginalized youth, women and LGBTIQ+ youth as important actors in these bodies.
In 2022, Ekvalis was the official implementer of the “Democracy Here | Democracy Now“ campaign in North Macedonia – a Europe based campaign on revitalizing democracy initiated by the Council of Europe. Democracy Here | Democracy Now, is a Council of Europe youth campaign for revitalizing democracy and for strengthening mutual trust between young people and democratic institutions and democratic processes. The campaign focuses on access to human rights, meaningful youth participation and the impact of digitalisation as factors of democratization. Through our local work, we have worked on equipping activists on how to analyze and create strategic responses to various anti-democratic groups such as the anti-gender movement. As part of the campaign, Ekvalis attended the Youth Action Week in Strasbourg-France – the flagship event of the Democracy Here | Democracy Now campaign and of the anniversary of 50 years of the youth sector in the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe Youth Action Week brought together activists, civil society members, member States and partners of the youth sector. As part of the campaign – we have produced the “Democracy Now- Call for Action“- a 50 point plan to revitalize democracy.
Ekvalis will continue to work on democracy advancement in the upcoming years, where with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy we will implement 3 educational democracy-oriented youth programs: youth civic participation, artivism and online activism. Additionally, Ekvalis will implement a national based media campaign on the importance of involving youth as active contributors in building inclusive democracies, issue a Handbook for Grassroots Activists and organize a national networking conference for youth activists and other democracy actors.
Finally, Ekvalis is dedicated to representing the visions we build for inclusive democracies to the relevant authorities. The conclusions from our participation in the “Democracy Here – Democracy Now” campaign were delivered to a representative at the Government of North Macedonia, the Council of Europe member states and other relevant stakeholders. The future work that Ekvalis will undertake in terms of democracy improvements will also inform and engage institutions and policy makers whenever possible.