Capital: Skopje
Area: 25,700 km²
Population: 2 million (December 2000 est.)
Ethnic groups: 66% Macedonian , Greeks, ethnic Albanians, Turks, Serbs, Gypsies
Official language(s): Macedonian
Religion(s): Muslim, Eastern Orthodox, Macedonian Orthodox
Currency: 1 denar = 100 deni
SOS Children's Villages' activities in the country
SOS-Kinderdorf International started its work in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in 1995, following years of war in the country. It was possible for talks to be held with the government with the assistance of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's UN representative, Henryk J. Sokalski. One year later, a government agreement was signed. The cornerstone-laying ceremony for the first SOS Children's Village, in a suburb of Skopje, took place on April 14th, 1999. Representatives of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's both religions (Orthodox and Muslim) attended the ceremony. Construction work on this first project was completed by the end of the year 2000.
The Macedonian SOS Children's Village Association, "SOS Detsko Selo Makedonija" was founded on November 17th of that same year. Because a number of small plumbing jobs still had to be carried out and outstanding approvals from the various ministries had to be obtained, it was only possible for the first children to move into SOS Children's Village Skopje at the end of May 2002. Since 2002 the Macedonian SOS Children's Village Association has been supporting a child and youth centre (Nadez = hope) located in a very poor area of Skopje. Due to a high rate of illiteracy, unemployment and violence the centre offers school support for the children, workshops and counselling for women and families.
In 2007 SOS Children’s Villages Macedonia started to operate a Family Strengthening Programme in the municipality Gazi Baba, in the vicinity of the SOS Children’s Village Skopje. This programme enables children who are at risk of losing the care of their family to grow within a caring family environment. To achieve this, SOS Children’s Villages Macedonia works directly with families and communities to empower them to effectively protect and care for their children, in cooperation with local authorities and other service providers.
At present there is one SOS Children's Village, one Youth Facility and two SOS Social Centres in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.