Vocational Training and Character Formation
The World Bank´s most recent diagnostic of North Macedonia records one of the worst development of human capital records in Europe, where N.E.E.T. (youth who are Not in Education, Employment or Training) levels run very high1. Within this context, the north of Skopje, the capital city, possesses some of the worst educational outcomes within Macedonia.
This is the background to Operation Mercy´s engagement for youth through football:
Our project has valued the boys from the poorest neighbourhood, many of whom do not have a chance to play with a club due to lack of money or connections. Others have socialisation issues or carry too much weight.
In Spring 2025 Marcos*, a professional football coach from Paraguay, held a football (soccer) camp with us for our regular football kids. The camp also offered training to our sports trainers, to provide a simple format of skills, life skills, game practice, and feedback. For a place with so little resourcing and inputs, the teaching provided a welcome equipping for our coaches, who have been holding training sessions three times a week after school. Other exercises offered new experiences for the boys: football golf, overhead ball balancing, clap-speed-reaction drills and dragon-team-ball-snatching games offered a lot of fun as well and skills development. As for life skills, teamwork, communication, perseverance, emotional self-control, and discipline were all on the curriculum, and it helped that our visiting trainer was a genuine South American football coach.
Marcos was chuffed to be found recently on social media by one of the kids from the camp. How did he find him? He did not know, but the boy remembered the experience of that week and had questions about a Barcelona-Real Madrid game.
After his trip, Marcos described “moments of connection” with the young players. He wrote, “It was a very meaningful experience for me… I felt truly blessed to be able to encourage them… I was deeply encouraged… I believe this opened the door for future visits and collaboration.”
The football camp also saw us say goodbye to a cohort of participants, who had been with our school club for three years from age 11 to 14, and for whom it was now time to graduate from the programme. Many have attended three times a week, and a measure of the programme’s impact has been that school grades have improved over the course of their participation. Another positive impact is improved behaviour, and another has been developing leadership, which is displayed by the oldest to the youngest. We see these as indicators to what happens when there is investment in lives, and when human value is recognised.
A recent evaluation of the kids showed a few of them wanting to be professional football players. Who knows if this will be a reality, but the club helps build the likelihood that these kids will later see themselves as candidates for vocational training and employment, and not for N.E.E:T. or the darker destinies of drugs and daggers in the enclave.
* name changed
The Road to the Top
Our Galaxy Event for STEP graduates each year is a dazzling display of talent and creativity. Dresses, wedding gowns, hairstyles, and stunning cosmetic creations are there for all to admire.
Ties that Bind
The STEP program helps women from the north side of the city literally take a step and to move forward together with others.
Germination for Change
Young mother Amina*, a graduate of the Skills/Startup Training Empowerment and Practice (STEP) vocational training programme, is opening her dress shop today. The 31-year-old completed the course in 2022,
“If you are with me, I’m not afraid to go forward.”
She told us, “If you are with me, I’m not afraid to go forward.” We believe in her and trust that she will take the next step towards making her dream come true.
Building Bridges through Education
Sher Azam is a community leader who supports public projects among the shepherd people in remote villages in northern Pakistan, including making improvements to education in village schools.
Helping Me Accomplish My Dreams
“Recently I completed my master’s degree in mathematics. I give all the credit to the Scholarship Program that has always stood behind me from kindergarten to university education.
Everyone Deserves Access to Education
Nahida likes to study but she never had a chance to go to a school because her parents always moved from one place to another. “I always had a desire to go to a school but I come from a shepherd family and in the summer we move up to high pastures with our livestock and we are not allowed to live in the village,” explains Nahida.
Can I Change?
Shy, nervous, tense. Sarah, a 29-year-old mother of two, heard about our character and trauma training from a friend and wanted to see if she could change.
Professional Excellence
Operation Mercy’s partner organisation has worked to develop a monitoring and evaluation program to ensure its programmes are pursuing professional excellence
Rescued From Revenge
After forgiving, Enam no longer desires to take revenge and now even prays for her former husband.
Talent in the Room
The quality of training and product in all areas was professional; the standard had been raised.
“I’m not going anywhere!”
Ajnur* came to STEP 4 following her sister, who had completed STEP Cycle 3 before her. Both were orphans on their father’s side, bonded not just by blood but by loss.
Transforming Grief into Hope
Our work goes far beyond seminars and trainings.
Equipping the Next Generation
Working in partnership with local education institutions, more than 2,000 students go through various parts of the life skills program each year.
Character Affects Relationships
While attending a character development training, Heba was reminded of a past conflict with her manager and close friend at work. Once, while her manager was traveling,
Looking Back, Looking Forward
Looking forward, we have our ears to the ground, to listen to the community and discern a path of hope into the future.
Partnerships Transform Families
Sharif* grew up in a very conservative village. He was bullied at school by students and teachers. His family had heard of our partner’s Scholarship Program and their partnership with the local center to provide housing and support for students just like him.
Underdogs
“When we have the breaks in the training programme, some of the boys catch me and want to talk about how things are going at home.
Human Capital
The World Bank´s most recent diagnostic of North Macedonia records one of the worst development of human capital records in Europe, where N.E.E.T. (youth who are Not in Education,
“I’m playing for my family.”
North Macedonia – STEP: Rrustem’s StoryRrustem joined us three years ago when the football project first began, and he has remained one of the chief “veterans” of the Skopje Eagles.