"Trafficking in Persons" presentations and panel discussions tour the American Corners

Observing January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

U.S. President Obama declared that “We rededicate ourselves to preventing and ending human trafficking, and we recognize all who continue to fight this serious human rights violation.”

This month, Embassy officers, in partnership with local NGOs and representatives from the Government of Macedonia, will be hosting panel discussions to raise awareness on human trafficking, or what Secretary Clinton has called “modern day slavery.” Please join us at an American Corner near you in a discussion on efforts to combat human trafficking, and further progress needed to end this horrific crime.

Schedulle:

• American Corner Skopje: January 18, 2011

• American Corner Bitola: January 24, 2011

• American Corner Tetovo; January 24, 2011

• American Corner Stip:  January 26, 2011

• American Corner Struga:  January 27, 2011

TIP Panel Discussion at American Corner Skopje

TIP Awareness at the American Corner Tetovo

What does January bring at our American Corners?

American Corner Tetovo

American Corner Struga

American Corner Bitola

American Corner Stip

American Corner Skopje

ExchangesConnect 2010 Photo Contest: “Postcards from Home”

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is organizing a photo contest!

Please read more about the contest below:

Postcards from Home: Show us Where You're From

What does home mean to you? A special spot in your neighborhood? A community festival? A family gathering? Grab your camera, get creative and share a photo that represents your unique cultural backyard!

Prizes

• Two Grand Prize winners will receive a Netbook computer (Asus Eee PC Seashell 1201n) and their entries will be displayed at the U.S. Department of State.
• Runners-up will receive ExchangesConnect T-shirts and real postcards featuring the top 20 submissions.

Important Notes

• You must be at least 14 years old to enter the contest.
• If you are under 18, you need permission from a parent or guardian to participate.
• Each member may submit a maximum of two (2) entries for consideration in the contest.
• Entries will be judged by a panel from the U.S. Department of State on originality, creativity, effectiveness, and photo quality. What are these?

1. Submissions will be accepted from November 9 until December 17, 2010.

• Read the full rules to learn more.



Follow These Steps to Enter

1. First, you must sign up for ExchangesConnect.

2. Take an original digital photo that addresses our theme and represents a unique aspect of your home.

3. Click the "Enter Photo Contest" button below for further instructions on adding a descriptive title, caption, and tagging your photo

For more info and for the "How-To" video, please visit the contest page.

The fifth American Corner in Macedonia opens in Struga

The U.S. Embassy opened a new American Corner in Struga on Tuesday, November 30.

This brings the number of American Corners in Macedonia to five, including the already successful Corners in Bitola, Skopje, Tetovo and Stip. The Corners host American speakers and bring cultural and educational events to student audiences and the larger community. The Corners are a great place to learn more about study opportunities at universities in the United States. The Ambassador also visited Niko Nestor and Ibraim Temo high schools to meet with students and Directors, Vasil Maksimovski and Urim Kreka.


"This is our fifth Corner in Macedonia – part of our American Corner program worldwide. The Corners bring cultural and educational events to audiences – but more importantly, they become part of the fabric of their community and a home to students and speakers of English and our guests from the United States." - said Ambassador Reeker in his remarks. (click to read the whole speech)

Ambassador Reeker is joined by Mayor Ramiz Merko of Struga in opening the new
American Corner, as well as Kastriot Dauti (far left) and Xhemi Hajredini (far
right) from the Municipality, the new Corner staff Olgica Totoska (second from left) and Ardita Emush (second from right) and
Public Affairs Officer Angela Aggeler (center).

VIDEO: see the photos from the event:




Stay up to date! Visit the American Corner Struga facebook page !

December 2010 montlhy programs

American Corner Skopje

American Corner Bitola

American Corner Stip

American Corner Tetovo

Photo Exhibition "Macedonia: Cultural Diversity" by Ana Kotevska

AC Skopje intern Ana Kotevska would describe herself as a “photography aficionado” – an epithet she rightfully deserves after the great success of her first independent photo exhibition “Macedonia” Cultural Diversity”, hosted by the American Corner Skopje.

The U.S. Ambassador Reeker inaugurated the opening of the photo exhibit. Ambassador Reeker greeted the initiative, and complimented each of the photographs during the personal tour he received from Ana.
Having personally known the late President Boris Trajkovski, Ambassador Reeker said he is sure that the President
would have been pleased that indeed Ana is one of the recipients of the “Boris Trajkovski Foundation Scholarship”



To see all the photos from the opening, please CLICK HERE.
To see the photo gallery exhibited at the American Corner please CLICK HERE.

American Corners Regional Retreat!

American Corners Regional Retreat
November 19&20, 2010
hosted by American Corner Skopje


The fruits of a year-long planning process came to existence on November 19 and 20, as 13 AC employees from Romania, Bulgaria, Kosovo and Albania traveled to Skopje to meet with 10 AC employees from Macedonia, during the first American Corners Regional Retreat.
The retreat was an informal networking event for colleagues working in the same filed and an opportunity for exchange of best practices and success stories. This event was greatly supported by the US Embassy in Skopje. Cultural Attaché John Surface and IRC Officer from Rome, Laura Kaspari Hohmann were the ones to officially open this meeting and ACS Coordinator Olivera Trajkova wished everyone a fruitful first retreat.
The first day agenda covered the topics “Using Social Media for AC Outreach”, “Intern Programs for American Corners” and “Best Practices from the Region”. The topic “Working with Embassy Public Affairs Staff” was continued at the U.S. Embassy with PAO Angela Aggeler, Program Assistants Renata Trajkovska-Bubevska and Mustafa Ferati, as well as IRC Director Albion Abdullai. A special treat for everyone was H.E. Ambassador Reeker joining the last 30 minutes of the session.
The second day of the retreat was reserved for the topics “Education Advising”, “Fundraising for ACs” and “Working with PCVs and USG students and alumni”. English Language Fellow Mary Bromwell closed the agenda with tips on “Working with EL Fellows”.
After the official part ended, participants were given a walking tour of the Skopje city center, the square, the old bazaar and the Kale fortress by the AC staff and Interns.


Based on the feedback forms, the first American Corners Regional Retreat was a great success! The participants got to know their colleagues and exchange ides, they found the presentations useful (though they wished some were longer) and especially liked the visit to the new Embassy building and meeting PA Staff and the Ambassador.

To sum it up with one of the comments on the evaluation forms:
“It was a great opportunity to meet people who do the same thing, but in a different way”.

ClICK HERE to see more photos of the visit to the U.S. Embassy.

Click HERE to see photos from the Retreat.

November 2010 monthly programs

American Corner Bitola

American Corner Stip

American Corner Tetovo

American Corner Skopje

Halloween Parties everywhere! oh, my!

Do you know the story behind Halloween?

The pagans who lived in Britain two thousand years ago celebrated their New Year on 1 November. Then the Christians came and people celebrated Hallowmas, a three-day festival between 31 October and 2 November.

31 October was called All Hallow's Eve and slowly the name changed to Halloween.

In November, winter is near, and hundreds of years ago people thought that bad spirits, like ghosts, came in the winter. They wanted the bad spirits to go away, so they made fires outside and made jack-o-lanterns. To do this they took a big autumn vegetable - usually a pumpkin- and cut off the top. They made a big whole inside the pumpkin and cut a face in the side. Then they put a light inside the pumpkin and put the top on again. People still enjoy this today! (from "Seasons and celebrations" by Jackie Maguire)



Don't miss the Halloween party at an American Corner near you!

American Corner Skopje - Super Scary Halloween (more info)

American Corner Stip - Trick or Treat Halloween Party (more info)

American Corner Tetovo - Halloween Party (more info)

American Corner Bitola - Halloween Party (more info)

Manaki Festival Highlights American Contributions to Cinema

The US Embassy Skopje played a large role in this year’s Manaki Brothers Film Festival. The Ambassador awarded Cultural Diplomacy Awards to actress and director Daryl Hannah and cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond.



We also hosted a Reception at the Hotel Millennium for the American Corner Bitola’s 7th Anniversary and for the closing of the Festival, bringing together cultural contacts, fans of cinema, American artists, local media and the honorary consuls of Bitola.

H.E. Ambassador Phillip Reeker and Mrs. Solveig Reeker with the AC Bitola Staff

Happy 7th Anniversary American Corner Bitola!