Centre for Common Ground

17/04/2026

🏅 “Together we play – together we grow”

Today, at the “22 November” Primary School in Gazi Baba, we proudly held the final Community Outreach Sport Event!

More than 220 students from across ten multiethnic municipalities in North Macedonia came together in mixed teams to play, connect, and promote inclusion, teamwork, and unity through sport.

Sport is more than just a game — it’s a bridge that connects young people, supports their well-being, build multiethnic relationships and nonviolence by fostering inclusion and understanding. 💪🌍

We had the pleasure of welcoming HE Ambassador of Embassy of Sweden in Skopje Mr. Ola Sohlström and his team on this event, where we express sincere gratitude for their support. We express a special thanks to the principal of the “22 November” primary school and to all the teachers and students for their participation and energy.

The activity is part of the project “Empowering youth for promoting nonviolent and inclusive communities” funded by the Swedish Embassy in Skopje.

🤝 Building friendships. Celebrating diversity. Growing together.

13/04/2026

24/03/2026

Today we had the pleasure of meeting with the Mayor of Prilep, Mr. Dejan Prodanoski, where we discussed the importance of building trust and understanding within our community.
This trust building dialogue is part of the project “Empowering Youth for non violent and inclusive communities “ implemented by Centre for Centre for Common Ground with support from the Embassy of Sweden in Skopje.
Together, we are working to empower young people, promote understanding and collaboration between different communities and highlight the value of multicultural living. By encouraging dialogue, collaboration and mutual respect, we aim to reduce tensions and build a more inclusive and peaceful environment for everyone.

20/03/2026

23/02/2026

From 16–17 February 📅, CCG held an engaging Social Cohesion & Critical Thinking training at Hotel Romantik (Romantique), Veles 🏨🌿—bringing together students from all four partner faculties/universities 🤝.

Participants from the Faculty of Educational Sciences – University of Tetovo 🎓, University “St. Kliment Ohridski” – Bitola 📚, the Faculty of Educational Sciences – University “Goce Delcev” – Shtip 🏫, and the Faculty of Pedagogy – “St. Kliment Ohridski” – Skopje 👥 explored identity 🧩, social cohesion 🤝, critical thinking 💡, and conflict transformation ✨ through interactive games 🎲, group work 👥, role-plays 🎭, and practical exercises 🛠️.

Across two dynamic days ⚡, students reflected on identity, strengthened collaboration 🙌, practiced constructive dialogue 💬, and built skills for navigating differences and resolving conflict—while connecting with peers from diverse backgrounds 🌍🤗.

Let’s keep empowering young people to build stronger, more cohesive communities 🚀🤝!

12/02/2026

On the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism🕊️, we reaffirm our commitment to build safer and more united communities.

Violent extremism can be prevented through dialogue 💬, inclusion 🌍, and strong community partnerships 🤲. Preventing violent extremism requires collective efforts—across institutions 🏛️ and communities 🏘️.

Let’s stand together 🤝 to build safer 🔐, more united 💙 communities by promoting peace 🕊️ and social cohesion 🌐.

Together, we can make a difference ✨.

17/12/2025

On December 11–12, 2025, CCG provided a space for learning 📚, exchange 🤝, and connection 💬 in Veles, bringing together students from the Faculty of Educational Sciences, University “Goce Delčev” – Štip and the Faculty of Pedagogy “St. Kliment Ohridski” – Skopje 🎓🎓.

Through a carefully designed two-day program 🗓️, participants engaged in an active learning environment using simulations 🎭, teamwork 🤜🤛, and guided challenges 🧠. Together, they explored how personal perspectives 👀 shape society 🌍, how critical thinking 🧠 strengthens dialogue 💬, and how conflicts can be approached with understanding rather than division 💙.

The experience also created space for students from diverse academic and social backgrounds 🌈 to learn from one another 🤝 and build meaningful connections ✨.

Moments like these highlight the important role of youth 🌱 in shaping inclusive and supportive communities 🚀.

16/12/2025

📢 Articulating Responses to Ethnonationalism and Far-Right Extremism in the Western Balkans

GCERF organised a hybrid Community of Practice on Ethnonationalism and Far-Right Extremism, highlighting how these ideologies risk reversing progress made through Rehabilitation and Reintegration (R&R) programmes and contribute to political violence and social fragmentation. Addressing them is critical to building inclusive societies, preventing future radicalisation, and promoting long-term peace and stability.

The Global Community of Practice (GCOP) provides a safe, collaborative space for GCERF partners to share experiences, reflect on challenges, and explore practical approaches to countering these threats within their programme contexts.

🌍 Partners Spotlight
- Edutask Institute (Kosovo) builds community resilience through dialogue with village leaders, training for influencers, thematic discussions, and community centres.
- Ngo Aktiv (Kosovo) counters ethnonationalist narratives and promotes cooperation across divided communities.
- Centre for Common Ground (North Macedonia) fosters trust among youth through inter-ethnic dialogue and joint activities.

🙏 Thank you to Dr David Malet, member of GCERF’s Independent Review Panel, for his opening remarks and for setting the scene on how ethnonationalism leads to violence in GCERF partner countries and around the world.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office European External Action Service - EEAS U.S. Department of State Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken

08/12/2025

🎙️ Empowering Future Journalists! ✨
On December 3rd, 2025 CCG had the pleasure of organizing an inspiring workshop with the well-known investigative journalist and editor in chief of TV Telma Snežana Lupevska Sozen together with students from the Journalism department from the Justinianus Primus Faculty of Law, at the University Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje.
📚 During the session, students explored what is an ethical reporting, responsible journalism, what requires an investigative journalism, the importance of unbiased storytelling and how to report on sensitive topics such as about the returnees and their integration in the local communities.
💬 The participants were engaged actively through discussions, questions, and real-life examples shared by trainer, gaining valuable insight into the realities of modern journalism. During the workshop we showed CCG’s documentary film “Shattered chains: Returning from Isis” which was basis for a lively discussion as it presented true stories of the two women and their children who were reintegrated in our country after returning from ISIS.
👏 A big thank you to all the motivated students for their active participation and to Snežana Lupevska Sozen for her professionalism and dedication to strengthening ethical journalism and building capacities of the young journalists!
🌟 Together, we continue building informed, responsible, and resilient young voices in our communities!

This activity is part of the project “Building Resilient and Inclusive Communities (BRIC)”, funded by the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) 🌐 and implemented by the Centre for Common Ground (CCG) in partnership with the Македонско здружение на млади правници／Macedonian Young Lawyers Association(MYLA) ⚖️ and the Center for Tolerance and Long-Life Learning (CTLL) 📘.

18/11/2025

From 4–5 November in Ohrid 🌊🏞️, CCG held an engaging Social Cohesion & Critical Thinking training with students from the Faculty of Educational Sciences – University of Tetovo 🎓 and University “St. Kliment Ohridski” – Bitola 📚!

Across two dynamic days, participants explored themes like identity 🧩, social cohesion 🤝, critical thinking 💡, and conflict transformation ✨ through interactive games 🎲, group work 👥, role-plays 🎭, and practical exercises. Students reflected on identity, strengthened collaboration, practiced constructive dialogue 💬, and learned effective approaches to resolving conflict — all while connecting with peers from diverse backgrounds 🌍.

Let’s keep empowering young people to build stronger, more cohesive communities! 🚀🤝

18/11/2025

18/11/2025

From November 13–14 in Veles, CCG held an engaging Social Cohesion & Critical Thinking training with students from the faculty of educational sciences - University “Goce Delcev” - Shtip and the faculty of Pedagogy - “St. Kliment Ohridski” - Skopje in Veles!

Across two dynamic days, participants explored themes like identity, social cohesion, critical thinking, and conflict transformation through interactive games, group work, role-plays, and practical exercises. Students reflected on identity, strengthened collaboration, practiced constructive dialogue, and learned effective approaches to resolving conflict — all while connecting with peers from diverse backgrounds.

Let’s keep empowering young people to build stronger, more cohesive communities!