Skopje Opens First Day Center for People with Disabilities Aged 14 and Over

Skopje Mayor Orce Gjorgjievski announced that, for the first time, the capital has established a day center for people with disabilities aged 14 and over.

The center was inaugurated on the premises of QKM in the presence of the Minister of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, Gjoko Velkovski. According to Gjorgjievski, the institution aims to provide safety, care, understanding and warmth, welcoming each person with their abilities, wishes, needs and potential. He stressed that society’s obligation does not end with declarations of equality, but must be transformed into real opportunities in everyday life.

At the center, beneficiaries will receive psychological and professional support and take part in educational, creative and recreational activities. The program also provides for the development of practical and life skills, the formation of friendships and improved communication, with the aim of gradually strengthening their independence and self-confidence.

Gjorgjievski emphasized that the service will also provide important assistance to family members, parents and caregivers who face major responsibilities every day. He said the center would reassure them that their loved ones are in a protected, respectful environment that encourages progress. According to him, no one should feel forgotten, excluded or less valued, while Skopje should be a city that cares for its residents and views differences as an asset that makes society more humane and stronger.

The Mayor of Skopje said the focus would not be on people’s limitations, but on their opportunities, talents and abilities. He described the center as a space that goes beyond day care, as it will provide opportunities for socialization, learning, development, support, friendship and new achievements. Gjorgjievski stressed that everyone there should feel that they belong to a community, reiterating that Skopje is a home for everyone and that the city’s duty is to make it safe, dignified and caring for every resident.