About us

About NDC Skopje

Nansen Dialogue Centre is locally based non-governmental organization, established by the end of year 1999 by young enthusiastic youngsters with the support of the outsanding Norwegian Professor Mr. Steinar Bryn. This organization is part of the Nansen Dialogue Network, and the history of this project starts back in 1995, in Lillehammer, Norway.

The Nansen Academy in Lillehammer initiated a project named: “ Democracy, Human Rights and Peaceful Conflict Resolution”. The aim was that potential leaders from the Balkans through a 12 week course (Training Program), would be skilled to actively work for, and promote democracy, human rights and peaceful conflict resolution in their own communities.

By the end of 1999, with the initiative of Steinar Bryn, director of the project, several meetings were organized in Skopje with some of the students who had been part of these training courses.

Professor Bryn’s initiative was to launch a new non-governmental, non-partisan, non-profit and multiethnic organization which would work on the development of civil society, promoting dialogue as the main/ basic tool for peaceful and constructive conflict resolution among individuals and groups. After the selection of employees to NDC Skopje and approval of the project by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway (the main donor of this organization), NDC Skopje was officially opened in January 2000, and started its work as the second out of ten Nansen Dialogue Centres constituting the Nansen Dialogue Network.

Mission:

Promoting dialogue as a tool for non-violent resolution and transformation of conflicts, providing a safe and neutral space for dialogue, empowering people who live in conflict situations and areas, and supporting the reconciliation processes between different sides. Additionally, we endorse democratic values, human rights, tolerance and mutual cooperation.

What is actually Nansen Dialogue?

There is nothing mystical or magical related to dialogue. It is simply an open and sincere talk among two or more sides, in which there is an equivalent relationship between talking and listening. The aim is not necessarily to reach agreement, but, to enhance the level of understanding between the involved sides. Nansen Dialogue can be recognized by the effort to provide a safe, neutral and open space. In such settings, different participants- who are part of the conflict, would have an opportunity to meet tete-a-tete in sincere and open communication. The purpose is to decrease enemy images of each other and to increase the level of understanding for various positions, interests and needs. Facilitators and lecturers aspire to simulate the cognitive analysis of the conflict. The focus is not on who is right or wrong, or who is more or less guilty. It is about building respect towards democratic principles, human rights and peaceful conflict resolution, in order to improve the society in the future.

The Nansen Dialogue Centre Skopje office hold the name of one of the most outstanding Norwegians Fridtjof Nansen, the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Donor:

The main donor of NDC Skopje is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway and the Norwegian Embassy in Skopje.

News:

[17 March 2008]

"Training for bilingual and interactive education"

On 15 March, in the primary school in the village Preljubishte, municipality of Jegunovce, NDC Skopje started with cycle of trainings for bilingual and interactive education where all the teachers of the courses that NDC organizes for students from fifth to eight grade in the central primary school of Shemshovo, municipality Jegunovce, participated. (more)

[March 8, 2008]

”Joint celebration of March 8th”

NDC Skopje in cooperation with the Central primary school ”Semsovo”, municipality of Jegunovce and the satelite schools has begun with the implementation of the first activity from the Program for active participation of the parents in the schools in Jegunovce municipality. On March 8th, more than 200 mothers (Macedonian and Albanian) have jointly celebrated this holiday. (more).

[February 1, 2008]

”Beginning of courses in IT, Macedonian, Albanian and English languages”

Since February 1st, NDC Skopje has started a new cycle of courses for learning IT, Macedonian, Albanian and English language. Theses courses include more than 190 students from 5th to 8th grade from Jegunovce municipality. (more)