In May 2013, 34 young people from over 7 countries participated in the ‘f.o.c.u.s. globe’ youth exchange in Skopje, Macedonia, focusing on balancing urban living with environmental sustainability. The program involved awareness activities, cultural exchanges, and practical actions like clean-up efforts and discussions on ecology. The participants aimed to promote sustainable practices and foster future cooperation while enjoying local culture.

1. Youth ExchangeYouth Exchange
‘F.O.C.U.S. Globe’‘F.O.C.U.S. Globe’
Macedonia 2013Macedonia 2013

2. 34 young people
representing over 7
countries met in
Skopje between 13th
and 20th of May to
discuss topics about
finding a balance
between living in big
cities while being
environmental
friendly 

3. Expectations
• Raise awareness on human impact on
environment and ways to prevent it
• Visible change (not just talk)
• Learn from multicultural environment
• To learn more about Youth in Action,
Mladiinfo & other NGOs
• Learn new skills
• Share experiencing
• Future Cooperation
• To build a friendly team 
• To have fun
• To discover Macedonian culture and
traditions

4. 1st
day
• We got acquainted and build up a
team
• We gathered information about
the Youth in Action Programs
• We enhanced our creativity by
making posters around the topic
‘Urban Environment as a
Consequence of the Globalization’
and raised awareness of
sustainable ways of living
• We suggested every day actions
that can help the protection of our
planet

5. 2nd
day
• We discovered Skopje
through the City game
(history, environmental
situation, local atmosphere)
• We discussed global
environmental activities
(Let’s Do It!, perma-culture
etc.)
• Dipping into macedonian
culture through national
food, music and dances

6. 3rd
day
• We visited an unspoiled natural heritage of
Macedonia : Matka Canyon (hiking, cave,
monasteries, kayaking etc)

7. 4th
day
Clean Up day on Vodno – we collected garbage in the
resting area of Vodno mountain
By our example we tried to encourage visitors to be more
responsible and aware of pollution of the mountain

8. 5th
day
• We divided into 4 groups and prepared
promotion materials (video, fun page,
interviews and summary)
Right now we
are working on
that 

10. 1. Many discussions on ecology, sustainable
development topics and balance between modern
day progress and contact with nature→ Much
sharing in informal conversations
2. More official event → Non-formal learning process
3. To discover Skopje, Macedonia → mission
accomplished!
4. To build a team→ yep, managed 
5. Sharing experience, educating other people → we
spoke a lot about our countries and shared each
other’s cultures
6. Dirtier Vodno→ cleaner than what we thought
Expectations vs Reality

11. Suggestions for Everyday Actions
• Promote information about recycling
• Prevent waste of water and electricity at home
• To use alternative sources of energy
• Cycling as an everyday means of transport
• To use plastic bottles many times and take water from home
• Recycle
• Do not litter, fines for littering
• Respect others and nature
• more trash bins around the city
• Say ‘NO!’ to consumerism (reuse, reduce and THEN recycle)
• Do not use plastic bags (take bags from home)
• Alternative means of travelling-avoid planes for shorter trips
• To buy local organic seasonal food from farmers or markets
• Workshops to improve hand skills(gardening, build furniture….)
• To be connected with nature and respect it
• Shared gardens

12. Look for us in social medias:
• http://www.facebook.com/FocuseGlobe