Skopje, 5 June 2025 (MIA) – To provide skills and knowledge for sustainable employment of women, mainly those who are not included in the education and training process, and of people with disability that will allow them to actively engage in the labor market and to build economic independence is the goal of the Black Swan project by Impact Hub from Austria and the Sizigija Foundation. 

A forum took place Friday in Skopje as part of the project, which Fatmir Limani, Minister of Social Policy, Demographics and Youth, called an important platform for dialogue, cooperation and joint planning. 

“But most of all, it is a reminder that institutions, organizations or individuals cannot on their own build an inclusive society. Joint efforts, clear vision and concrete action taken by all is key,” said Limani. 

We need to be the change for marginalized people, he added saying the event puts an accent on young women and people with disabilities through training, internship and active job engagement.

Inclusion is not only a commitment, it is a necessity, the Minister stressed. 

“The Ministry of Social Policy, Demographics and Youth is committed to creating policies aimed at full social and economic inclusion through strategies, programs and support, subsidised employment measures, cooperation with local communities and civil organizations as well as to establishing a system that not only recognizes the needs of vulnerable people, but also removes obstacles enabling their involvement in public and economic life,” Limani told the event. 

International solidarity is becoming crucial at a time when social inequality rises across the world, said Andreas Schaller, head of the bilateral sector of Austria’s Federal Ministry for Social Affairs.

“We cannot afford standing aside and looking at how poverty rises around the world. We have to act, it’s our duty,” he stressed. 

The Austrian ministry for social affairs, he added, has been supporting various projects in the country so as to reduce poverty, improve professional inclusion and improve the standards for living.

“’Black Swan’ addresses key issues related to poverty and unemployment of women, especially those who are not included in the education and training process and the marginalization of people with disabilities in North Macedonia. This issue is addressed by providing skills and knowledge for sustainable employment of the target group. The project uses an innovative approach, which is the institutionalized cooperation framework, to address multiple challenges for the target group. These measures are key to implementing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” stated Schaller.

Harald Breza-Fugger, attaché for social affairs at the Austrian Federal Ministry for Social Affairs at the Austrian embassies in Tirana and Skopje, said “Black Swan” works with jobless young women, who are also out of the education process, and with people with disabilities. 

“The employment rate of women in Macedonia is very low, amongst other things due to traditional roles. Young women who don’t work or aren’t in the educational process are highly at risk of poverty and oftentimes, they are in violent relationships due to the lack of economic independence. The level of qualifications and the employment rate is also low among people with disabilities. A limited number of people work in the primary labor market and some of them work in specialized workshops,” said Breza-Fugger citing one of the recommendations of the EU’s screening report on the country that every form of discrimination should be avoided. 

Photo/video: MIA