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| Roma children attending
computer classes at ARKA Center for Education and Internet
Club in Kumanovo |
An Honor for “ARKA”
USAID Macedonia Community Self-Help Initiative (CSHI)
The Roma Rights Forum "ARKA" received recognition
at CSHI’s Sunshine Awards Ceremony, for their contribution
to education and sustainable economic development in Kumanovo
through the establishment of the "ARKA" Center
for Education and Internet Club.
The Center is a facility where Roma people and others can
learn computer skills and access equipment otherwise not
available to them due to their economic and social disadvantages.
The Center sustains itself financially through nominal
fees for its services and tuition. To date, more than 600
children
and youths have gained knowledge and certification of some
level of computer training through the Center, and many
have found employment.
The "ARKA" Center for Education and Internet
Club is open to all residents of Kumanovo, serving to reduce
prejudices by encouraging interaction among the ethnic groups.
As an education center the facility also provides an important
service to local companies and organizations needing employees
with computer skills, by training people in this area. To
further this function the center has joined forces with the
local "Job Club" established by PriSMa in cooperation
with the Ministry of Labor Office.
"ARKA" initiated this project with materials
and financial support from USAID’s Community Self-Help
Initiative (CSHI) program, and as a result of this experience “ARKA” continues
to develop additional projects to benefit the Roma community:
a new branch of ARKA in Kriva Palanka, a multi-lingual website
(http://www.arka.org.mk),
an office for legal support for refugees and stateless persons,
to name a few. To support
these projects, “ARKA” continues to develop new
profitable activities such as “Roma Radio” for
the Kumanovo area.
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