Aegean Macedonia refugee children mark Independence Day in Shtip

An annual international gathering of children descended from refugees of Aegean Macedonia was held in Shtip, where participants marked the country's Independence Day and stressed the need to preserve language, culture and collective memory of their places of origin.

Language and identity at the centre of the meeting

Delegations from the Mirka Ginova association of Shtip and from the association Makedon said that language is a cornerstone of identity and that its preservation—especially outside the borders of North Macedonia—falls to every generation.

Edmond Temelko, former mayor of Pustec and a civic activist, told the meeting that Macedonians are a recognized minority in Albania, but in the Golo Brdo and Gora areas they still do not have access to mother-tongue education.

Temelko added that under the recent territorial reorganisation Pustec remains a Macedonian municipality. "For the Macedonian community this is an important confirmation, but the demand remains to be implemented in the other municipalities Golo Brdo and Gora, to teach the Macedonian language," he said.

The Mirka Ginova association from Shtip has for more than 20 years been the initiator of the meeting of refugee children from Aegean Macedonia; on Independence Day it traditionally hosts guests from associations in Albania, Bulgaria and Greece.

The event brought together young people and community representatives to exchange memories of their ancestral homes and to discuss ways to keep language and cultural practices alive across borders.

Photo: press material from the event