President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova had a meeting today with US representatives from the global network Habitat for Humanity International, as well as with the national director of Habitat Macedonia, Zoran Kostov, and the President of the Board of Directors, Dragan Malinovski.
She first congratulated them on the 20th anniversary of their founding, wishing them further success in realizing the noble idea of building a world in which everyone can exercise the right to a decent life.
For her, their selfless commitment and tireless work aimed at improving the quality of housing for poor people is impressive and inspiring, impossible without volunteering, advocacy and raising public awareness for greater solidarity in community development.
“We, like many other countries, must make a special effort to improve the quality of life everywhere and for everyone, putting an end to the substandard conditions in some environments, unworthy of life”, the President said.
Representatives of Habitat for Humanity International spoke with love and passion about their engagements in tackling energy poverty and guaranteeing standards in its use worldwide, emphasizing that they are touched by the kindness, gratitude and activity of the Macedonian citizens. They emphasized the irreplaceable role of non-governmental organizations as credible partners in this regard and pointed to the necessity of constant and intensive government-non-governmental cooperation in order to achieve better results.
The Macedonian representatives presented their work to date, aimed at enabling inclusive and sustainable development of poor environments, such as Roma, but also others, with financial assistance from the EU.
They pointed out active projects in more than 30 municipalities, as well as pioneering partnerships with microfinance institutions. The interlocutors agreed on the need for a strategic approach to housing to reduce, and even prevent, the exodus of the most qualified personnel, as an indisputable and proven promoter of innovation and the main carrier of development in all environments.
