Veles Red Cross youth mark 30 years of PHV and aid forgotten vulnerable groups

Youth volunteers from the Veles Red Cross used a public discussion marking 30 years of the Promotion of Human Values (PHV) program to highlight the gap their work fills where state institutions have not. Speakers at the event said the time young volunteers spend on community projects is not misplaced but a valuable contribution to the city.

Decades of local projects, thousands involved

Organizers said that more than a thousand volunteers from the city, across three decades and roughly a hundred projects, have assisted a similar number of citizens from vulnerable groups. Children aged 15 already take part in designing and running initiatives aimed at families and individuals whom adults or institutions have overlooked.

"What you do now, and what we did 10–15 years ago, is the responsibility of the state and society. If you have no idea what you have achieved, imagine what would happen if what you have done did not exist. Unfortunately, the institutions have not taken care of these target groups, but you, young people, with your free time, your activities, your enthusiasm, have done work that adults should have done. So be proud of yourselves and of your deeds," said Pencho Andreevski, a former activist and volunteer of the Municipal Organization of the Red Cross in Veles.

This year the PHV volunteers in Veles ran five projects: one to equip a children's room for three children in a family whose house burned down; an intercultural programme bringing together young people of different faiths; renovation of a youth meeting space; publication of a book for people with visual impairments; and an environmental project to install urban furniture outside the Red Cross premises.

Parents and beneficiaries described the personal impact. "I am the mother of a person with autism, who, like others similar to him, is somewhat forgotten in society. Honestly, it was a great honor that someone thought of him and, more broadly, of people with special needs, that someone wanted to do something for them. The volunteers helped a lot; they gave their all in spending time with my son, they showed great empathy and love in every situation and need," said Amela Arizotova.

Volunteer Marija Mateva underlined the selfless nature of the work: "Young people invest themselves, their time, to help someone without receiving any material or financial compensation. Maybe we cannot change the whole world, but we can make one person's world a little better," she said.

Dr. Kevica Shopova-Klifova, president of the Veles Red Cross, thanked everyone who over the years supported the young volunteers and helped their ideas find space. The Week of Promotion of Human Values runs from 21 to 27 September.

Photo: SDK.MK)