ANALYSIS
country by hosting more than 1.000 volunteers on its
job sites, mainly from abroad. However, HFH Macedonia has coordinated just two successful local volunteer initiatives: one involving an international
company and another in cooperation with an international school. The participation of high-profile volunteers and civil society organizations in these initiatives did, however, make a tremendously positive
impact on HFH Macedonia’s reputation and position
in the country.
HFH Macedonia supports viable initiatives from socially responsible companies and encourages their
management to promote volunteerism on its job
sites as a team-building activity that both helps local communities and inspires bonding and greater
teamwork between employees.
International volunteer working on the Habitat build site,
October 2009, Veles
The 2007 Macedonian Law on Volunteering provided a basic framework of rights and obligations with
regard to organized, longterm volunteering, recognizing the practice something to be encouraged in
the country. Unfortunately, the Government’s 2010
adoption of a 2010-2015 Strategy for Promotion and
Development of Volunteerism has not led tangible
change, given that the related Action Plan was never funded appropriately. Were this strategy to be reanimated, the country could see much needed promotion of volunteerism to the general public and via
the national educational system, an increased level
of volunteering for civil society organizations and an
established system of institutional support and monitoring of the practice.
18
Why Habitat Works
Macedonia’s Ministry of Labor and Social Policy recognizes that volunteering in the country is slowly
catching on in its Strategy for promotion and development of volunteering (2010-2015). However, the Strategy also emphasizes the lack of awareness about the
benefits of volunteering and the lack of a centralized
system of public information about volunteering opportunities, especially among elderly people. Habitat has been successful because of the transformative, lifelong impact it has. GV trips are life-changing
experiences for volunteers as well as for the families
who benefit from their work.
HFH Macedonia is a pioneer with its volunteering
model, despite the official definition of philanthropy
in Macedonia of “helping those with immediate need
of medical care.” Donations (in-kind or in cash) help
to build single family homes. However, as the family
starts paying back its no interest loan Habitat, another family is helped with its housing need. This model
allows the organization to impact many families in a
number of ways, sustainably.
Habitat’s volunteer model is particularly exciting because it provides both an opportunity to directly help
a family in need of decent housing as well as financial
support for families who benefit from the program.
HFH Macedonia welcomes companies to participate
in this positive change by helping to solve the housing problem of families in need. Building a brighter
future and impacting the community while building
a better team has never been easier. Join the millions
volunteers worldwide and help a family in need!
Volunteer from an international Thrivent Builds team,
June, 2013, Veles
Emerging Macedonia Spring 2014 Issue 41