The ESIPP project brings positive approaches to autism to the border area of Debar

On February 17th and 18th, the city of Debar held the final funded trainings through the Equity and Social Inclusion through Positive Parenting project (ESIPP), co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme, for parents of autistic children delivered in the FYR of Macedonia.

More than 25 people gathered in this small town of the FYR of Macedonia, on the border with Albania, to learn about positive approaches to autism. Being an area where historically families have had little support, the sessions were attended not only by parents, but also learners with different profiles, including people from a local NGO that is dealing with intellectual disabilities and administrative matters in the municipality of Gostivar.

The ESIPP Parent Education Programme (PEP), consisting of six modules, was delivered by trainers Dr Vladimir Trajkovski, Dr Jasmina Troshanska and Ana Shikaleska from the Macedonian Scientific Society for Autism (MSSA). The sessions did not go unnoticed by both Macedonian and Albanian media outlets, having had great coverage on television, radio and online newspapers.

Since the launch of the project in September 2015, six different training sessions have been delivered across the FYR of Macedonia, including in the cities of Skopje, Bitola, Ohrid and Debar. Led by the MSSA, more than 120 parents benefited from the ESIPP project and learnt positives approaches to autism. The project has also made its name in the FYR of Macedonia thanks to a multiplier event held in Skopje in November 2017, attended by more than 150 parents, professionals, academics, decision-makers and other stakeholders. The conference was largely covered by local and national media too.

Recent Posts