From June 20th to 23rd, the 3rd edition of the Festival of Inclusion was held at Park Macedonia – Kisela Voda Municipality, creating unparalleled positive energy, support, and community.
The 3rd Festival of Inclusion, organized by Equality Association, in collaboration with the organization "Vision Plus", and supported by the Municipality of Kisela Voda, boldly and persistently confirmed its core mission that each one of us can and is capable, with the right support and love from the community.
The third edition of the Festival of Inclusion awakened the deepest emotions, engaged and included all generations, inspired through music, motivated through shared and integrative social 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 — we must come together.
The official opening of the festival began on June 20th with a performance by the inclusive band of children from the “Dimitar Vlahov” school for the visually impaired , under the direction of professor Kristian Tasevski and with a performance by pianist Emma Ananievska, who proudly represent the community of people with disabilities.
For the first time this year, the Equality Association also started awarding the “Champions of Inclusion” awards to those whose social and personal responsibility truly and directly contributes to strengthening the process of social inclusion. This year, the first awards were given in the following categories: Champion of Inclusion – Ambassador: David Ghir , Champion of Inclusion – Mayor: Orce Gjorgjievski , Champion of Inclusion – Public Figure: Irena Spirovska , Champion of Inclusion – Person with Disability and Organization: Irena Popovska and the organization “Prkos” , Champion of Inclusion – Socially Responsible Company: KB First Pension Company .
At the official opening, the call for the best inclusive festival photograph “Capture Inclusion” was announced, within which everyone had the opportunity to capture and share magical festival moments and thus participate and win a valuable prize.
At the exhibition “Together WE CAN” featured 65 children’s drawings, created by the creative hands of children from the municipal primary schools of Kisela Voda, and these were proof that our differences make us special and beautiful. The three awards were won by: Jelena Kajevska (V-5 grade) from “Krume Kepeski” Primary School, Darko Stanojevski (VI-2 grade) from “Kliment Ohridski” Primary School, and Marija Milenkovska (V-5 grade) from “Krume Kepeski” Primary School.
The second festival day, June 21, was dedicated to 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 Superheroes” took place, in collaboration with the Special School for Rehabilitation and Education "St. Naum of Ohrid", as well as the sports workshop “Try It – Wheelchair Basketball”, which visitors eagerly awaited to try out the most dynamic and popular sport for people with disabilities in special sports wheelchairs.
The evening program began with screenings at Kinoverzum of six internationally awarded films – which were shown thanks to the collaboration between the Association Equality and the film festival "Catch the Film" from Novi Sad, Serbia. Visitors enjoyed the selection of films with inspirational content and a powerful message – of openness, warmth, kindness, and understanding. An unforgettable evening music experience was delivered by the magical Zarina Prvasevda and the young, inspiring, and talented Dina Jashari, rounded off with a fantastic set by DJ John Antonio.
The third day, June 22, in the morning program featured the second part of the creative inclusive workshops “From Waste to Decoration” and “We Are Superheroes” with participants from the Institute for Rehabilitation of Children and Youth. In the afternoon, the wheelchair basketball players from Wheelchair Basketball Macedonia, together with several young people without disabilities, played an exciting wheelchair basketball match. Immediately after, the program continued with the inclusive and inspiring dance performance “Memories”, performed by the dance studio “Eureka” with the participation of about 30 children and youth with and without disabilities. The evening continued with a powerful musical time-travel led by Nina Janeva and her band.
Due to unstable weather conditions, the evening program of the final 4th day, June 23, including the debate on the topic “Creating Inclusion and Integration Through Mutual Support” and the performance by DJ Martin Delimitov, has been postponed to the near future.
The third edition of the Inclusion Festival awakened the deepest emotions, engaged and included all generations, inspired through music, motivated through shared 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 – what is needed is open communication, support, understanding, and sharing love.
Attached is the PHOTO gallery, authored by Frose Levkovska.
