Gostivar, North Macedonia · since 1993
Mesecina — the Humanitarian and Charitable Association of Roma — has stood with families across Gostivar, Tetovo, Debar and Kičevo for three decades: from emergency relief during the Balkan crises of the 1990s to long-term work in education, human rights and economic opportunity today.
About Mesecina
On September 2, 1993, a group of local Roma founded the Humanitarian and Charitable Association of Roma — Mesecina — the first organisation of its kind in Gostivar, and among the very first NGOs in modern-day Macedonia.
As the Bosnian conflict escalated, the refugee influx strained local services and put the Roma community — already at high risk — under further pressure. Mesecina responded with urgent material aid: hygiene products, clothing and food, for local Roma and refugees alike.
Refugees fleeing violence found relief two hours south in Gostivar. Mesecina used its crisis-response experience to help organise local and national efforts, and opened branches in Tetovo, Debar and Kičevo to reach more of the community.
As the region stabilised, Mesecina made a deliberate shift — from emergency humanitarian aid toward long-term development, advocating for better local and national policy to secure lasting improvement for Roma families.
Today Mesecina's work is organised around four sectors — Coordination & Information, Education, Human Rights & Ethnic Relations, and Socio-Economic Integration. If crisis returns to the region, a fifth sector — Urgent Aid & Assistance — is ready to activate, just as it did in 1993 and 1998.
Where we work
Each sector runs its own programmes, but all four exist to close the same gap: equal opportunity and equal treatment for Roma families in North Macedonia.
Sector 01
Keeps Mesecina connected to the community, NGOs, local government and international partners through field visits, surveys and public events.
This sector shapes Mesecina's overall policy direction, manages publications and public-awareness materials, and represents Mesecina in national and international networks — including RNGO 2002 Federation of Macedonia without Discrimination, Civic Platform, and the Coalition for Fair Trial.
Sector 02
One of Mesecina's founding priorities — expanding access to education for Roma children in Gostivar, from preschool through to tertiary level.
Mesecina has implemented education projects for Roma children, built cooperation with every primary and secondary school in Gostivar, and helped raise the number of students continuing on to secondary and higher education.
Sector 03
Promotes mutual respect and equality before the law, and runs a legal office helping undocumented people access basic civil rights.
Without documentation, people are shut out of education, healthcare and welfare. This sector also works to build inter-ethnic tolerance and dialogue in a region shaped by past conflict, and collaborates with other NGOs on a shared code of conduct for multi-ethnic project work.
Sector 04
Supplementary education and training aimed at helping Roma families build lasting economic independence.
Through a long series of projects, this sector has run training for both target groups and partner NGOs, aiming to strengthen the socio-economic condition of the Roma community from the ground up.
On the ground
Latest calls & announcements
Recent public calls, published in Macedonian for the communities they concern.
Почитувани жители на Гостивар, Кичево и Дебар, ХДЗР Месечина, Гостивар е во процес на спроведување на проект насловен како „Борба против ширењето и ублажувањето на најлошите, негативни последици од пандемијата COVID-19 меѓу маргинализираните заедници во Западен Балкан", финансиран од Германското сојузно министерство за надворешни работи, спроведуван преку CARE Deutschland e.V. во Република Северна Македонија.
Gostivar · Kičevo · Debar
Јавен повик за доделување грант средства за поддршка на маргинализираните групи на ромско население од територијата на општините: Гостивар, Кичево и Дебар. Во соработка со 10 локални партнерски организации, CARE спроведува проект финансиран од германската влада за борба и намалување на негативните ефекти од пандемијата COVID-19 врз маргинализираните заедници.
In partnership with CARE Deutschland e.V.
Mesecina in media
Photos from the field, event announcements and community updates are posted first on our Facebook page — the fastest way to keep up with what we're doing in Gostivar.
Get in touch
Whether you're a partner organisation, a donor or a member of the community — we'd like to hear from you.
Follow us
