PROJECT DETAILS

Thematic Priority: Encouraging tourism, cultural and natural heritage Implementing institutions: Union-National Council for Gender Equality – Lead Partner Centre for Women Dera e Hapur – Partner Website: http://www.sozm.org.mk/ http://www.womensnetwork.org/?FaqeID=34&n=10 Duration: 20 months Project value: EUR 228,945.60 EU Contribution: EUR 179,264.40 Co-financing: EUR 49,681.20 This action will be implemented through activities to promote equal opportunities for marginalized groups through fostering gender balance and encouraging involvement of women and youth society level on introducing traditional, cultural and national values of Kosovo and Macedonia. Action specific objectives will be undertaken to improve tourism services by promoting and preserving in particular the intangible cultural heritage values through encouraging involvement of grass root communities, local, regional, national institutions and business community in developing and expending business opportunities and trade relations. Artisanal artists around the bordering area will increase their capacities through valorisation and marketing of their products. Through this action the entrepreneurial skills of the targeted groups and the quality of touristic offers will highly improve and become more competitive. On the other hand the traditional handicrafts and culinary services will be preserved and promoted. This way the overall impact of the action will contribute to the diversification of the touristic offer, economic growth and overall socioeconomic development in the Northern region of Macedonia and the East economic Region of Kosovo. Overall objective: Fostering gender balance and youth society level by encouraging the involvement of women and youth in the introduction of the cultural, traditional and national values of Kosovo and Macedonia Specific objectives: Facilitation of trade cooperation through promotion of traditional, cultural and national handicrafts Generating self-employment opportunities through preservation and promotion of traditional handicrafts Direct Beneficiaries: Women, youth, and minorities, handicrafts producers and entrepreneurs Results: Generating self-employment opportunities for women and youth through preservation and promotion of traditional handicrafts Facilitation of trade cooperation through promotion of traditional cultural and national handicrafts 150 direct beneficiaries trained in weaving, embroidery and bead-work 200 participants (women and youth) in training and capacity building schemes interested in creating tourism startups 30 of the women and youth participants (disaggregated by gender and age) in training capacity building schemes interested in creating or developing a tourism products or services in rural and natural protected areas 150 women and youth trained in management and provision of tourism products on intangible cultural heritage assets 6 promotion campaigns and events organized to raise awareness for the tourism products Folk dance and Food Festival organized across the border to promote the values of cultural heritage 60 new supported artisan’s products commercialized 20 new creative enterprises run by young people or women 150 women and youth population of rural areas within the targeted area benefiting from the improved network and cooperation possibilities for the preservation of the intangible cultural heritage 60 new handicrafts products available in the market and an increase in the workforce with at least 55 new artisans providing new products and services within the intangible cultural heritage