ACKNOWLEDGING THE WORLD DAY OF AUTISM – APRIL THE 2ND SKOPJE, REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Abstract

Following the tradition of acknowledging the International Day of Autism, the Macedonian Scientific Association for Autism this year also organized sports and entertainment gathering. The event was held on April the 1st at 11 o’clock, in the hall “Macedonian Sun”, a part of the Elementary school “11-ti Oktomvri” in Skopje. The gathering was opened by Fariz Selmanovikj, child with autism who for the occasion recited two poems. The introductory speeches were given by the secretary of the City of Skopje, Mrs. Gordana Klincharova, the Director of the Agency for Youth and Sport, m-r Lazar Popovski and the President of the Macedonian Scientific Association for Autism (MSAA), Prof. d-r Vladimir Trajkovski. The event was hosted by Rebeka, an artist and a mother of a child with developmental disability. The tournament in indoor football had a revue character and the following teams participated: parents of children with autism; the former stars of FC Vardar; the Agency for Youth and Sport of the Republic of Macedonia; the professors of MSSA and the Faculty of Philosophy; Sportsko Radio; the association “In my world”; students from the Institute for Social Work and Politics and the City of Skopje. In the semi-finals played the teams of the Agency for Youth and Sport, the Association “In my world”, Sportsko Radio and the City of Skopje. The final match was plaid by the team of  the Agency for Youth and Sport against the team of Sportsko Radio. The competitions had duration of 40 minutes and after each competition a performance with two songs by Macedonian musicians was inserted. In the entertaining intervals performed Joce Panov, Riste Tevdoski and DNK, who gave CD-s albums of their music to the children that were present at the event. The event was visited by over than 350 visitors who received pamphlets from the volunteers of MSSA, containing basic information regarding autism. Main organizer of the event was the Agency for Youth and Sport of the Republic of Macedonia and the Municipality Centar as a general sponsor. The media coverage of the event was done by Sportsko Radio. Two days prior to the manifestation a press-conference in the premises of the Agency for Youth and Sport of R.M. was held, at which the pairs for the competition were drawn.
On the 2nd of April, the Macedonian Scientific Association for Autism (MSSA) was a co-organizer of the gathering which was prepared by the Association “In my world” at Square Macedonia in Skopje, the capital of the Republic of Macedonia. In addition to the speech of the President of the Association “In my world”, Mr. Zlatko Stojanovski, the President of MSSA, Prof. d-r Vladimir Trajkovski also held an introductory speech. The whole event was enriched with musical program and some interesting activates for the youngest present among the audience.
By MSSA initiative and with the support by the Municipality Centar, as a part of the campaign Light It up Blue the fountain called “Warrior on a Horse” on the 1st and 2nd of April was lit in blue. The shops in the TC Soravija also gave their support by placing their shop-windows in a blue color.