In Macedonia, the national partner Open the windows (OtW) organized a study visit for primary school students to their telecentre. They had an opportunity to discover the work of the association, and watched Powerpoint presentations from OtW’s beneficiaries. They also talked and associated with their peers with a handicap and gave interviews to a journalist from the student radio on how they use computers and internet.
The conference “For e-Accessible Primary Schools: Assistive Technology in Primary Education in Macedonia” brought together over a hundred representatives of national and local educational institutions, relevant civic organizations, school directors, teachers and parents of students with disabilities. The participants were informed about the campaign and assisted by one of the OtW’s beneficiaries to fill the Get Online Week survey by using assistive technology.
This year again, Open the windows (OtW) was the only organization from Macedonia that joined the Get Online Week Campaign.
1.286 people supported the Get Online Week in Macedonia. More male (61%) than female (39%) filled the online survey form, most of them (48%) between the age of 5 and 40. 57% were employed, 24 % students, 16% unemployed and 3% retired. 91% were online users, only 5% never used computer and internet before and 4% were only supporters of the campaign. Most of them (49%) filled the form from their homes.
Media coverage:
The Get online week 2012 campaign was promoted on three different national television channels on 26, 27 and 29 March. OtW representatives participated in the very popular morning programs “Hello Macedonia” (Kanal 5 TV), “Good morning Macedonia” (Macedonian National Television) and “5 to 7” (Alfa TV) where they discussed the campaign with the journalist and talked about Telecentre-Europe, the campaign of last year, the planned activities this year and Skillage.
Also the meaning of computers and the internet for persons with disabilities was at issue.
Overview of activities:
- March 28
Conference “For e-Accessible Primary Schools: Assistive Technology in Primary Education in Macedonia”
Over a hundred representatives of national and local educational institutions, relevant civic organizations, school directors, teachers and parents of students with disabilities participated at the conference. The participants were informed about the campaign and assisted by one of the OtW’s beneficiaries to fill the Get Online Week survey by using assistive technology. 
March 29
OtW representatives promoted the campaign in SOS Children Village in Skopje and presented the activities and work of the Center for Assistive Technology, as well as several assistive devices. The colourful big-button keyboard attracted great interest from the children, who used it to register at the GOW digital counter. In a cheerful atmosphere, the participants discussed the possibilities and benefits of computer and internet use for all.- March 30
OtW representatives promote the Skillage application to the Youth Employability Skills (YES) project. This network’s goal is to enhance the employability skills of young people in Macedonia aged between 15 and 27. They were very interested in the tool, who they said will be very useful to the youth.
- March 30
Primary school students from “Vasil Glavinov” visited the OtW association.
They had an opportunity to discover the work of the association, and watched power point presentations from OtW’s beneficiaries. They also talked and associated with their peers with a handicap and gave interviews to a journalist from the student radio on how they use computers and internet.
» read more about this visit at our community site
» Download the complete report of Get Online Week 2012 in Macedonia
