North Macedonia
The STEP class of this year has been a story of new beginnings.
Hot Tea for Syrian Refugees
Thanks to Macedonian volunteers, the team was able to maintain a daily presence in a key location in the camp in this border village; however, with trains full of refugees pulling into Tabanovce all through the night,
Shpresa – Hope
This encounter with our physiotherapist through our Operation Mercy Hope and Health project has made a big difference for one girl with a disability who now,
Hope and capacity, pure and simple…
Our staff are very proud of Venera who represents not only a success story through the STEP project, but a source of inspiration and hope for others struggling in the tough northside of the capital.
Stepping Out of the Circle of Death: Vocational Skills Training
The Project offers a program of Life -, Business – and Vocational skills training, in areas such as tailoring, hairdressing and cake decoration. And the net we were throwing out was especially looking for vulnerable women who had lost husbands for whatever reason.
Warmth and Golden Hands
“This clinic is filled with positive energy because of your warm behaviour and your golden hands, which are achieving the impossible…”
Pulling Us Closer
Operation Mercy normally tries to plan with a theory of change. This is a like a map of how and why change is supposed to happen in a community between interventions or activities and the outcome of desired transformation.
Cracks in the Darkness
Hope and Health is a place where psycho-social and physical recovery meet. Here is a haven where people can be listened to in confidence, and where their unresolved grief can see the light of day.
The Class of Transformations
The STEP class of this year has been a story of new beginnings.
Two Dolls
The Sad Red Zelfija doll with a big heart is always there for everybody. The Happy Blue doll does not just live for everyone else.
Upward spiral
As a beginner in the field with no previous knowledge of sewing, she progressed quickly. Meanwhile, she also started to relate well with the other ladies in the STEP programme.
When I prosper, my children prosper
Ayete has been able to tell her story as part of Operation Mercy’s community motivational meetings which have kicked off the pilot year of a brand new project –
Bridging the Divide
“Today was a day I cannot describe. Special thanks to all of you who made it possible for us to be part of your organization, I love you forever,
Everyone Needs To Know They Are Not Invisible
The third wave of Covid brought a shaking up in the community in the capital of North Macedonia. One way our Operation Mercy team made a difference was by coming alongside the medical vaccination personnel in practical ways.
Two Lives on the North Side
STEP aims to help women who are inactive in the workforce to have the confidence, resilience and support to move ahead despite others thinking they have no future as husband-less women.
Seeing Lives Transformed, Including Our Own
Japan’s mindset changed through serving in the European Refugee Crisis
You have healed me with your exercises!
“When I come here all my worries go away.” Exercises and social support are making a difference in women’s lives.
Getting Close
Serving at Hope & Health has given our staff the opportunity to be make a difference in people´s lives in Skopje, in a way that can only happen over time.
Community Partnerships Are Key
If a Skills, Training, Empowerment and Practice (STEP) project is going to succeed, community partnerships with the local school are a key component.
‘Now I am living my dream’
“Now I’m living out my dream,” Bukurija said. “I’m a different person: I’m driving my car after many long years. I’ve started to have a smile on my face.
We have no words
“Nobody helped. No other organisation came.”