Center for Balkan Cooperation LOJA is a nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization with no political affiliation. It was registered in 2000 within the framework of the Law for Citizens Associations in the Republic of Macedonia and its main activities are in the field of education and Culture.   

LOJA's educational activities take place on both the formal/institutional level and the non-formal/grassroots level. On the institutional level, we aim to extend cooperative ties between all institutions in the educational system in order to support peaceful coexistence and prevent violence in schools. Our recent work has been focused on establishing extracurricular activities in all pedagogical faculties countrywide and transferring the knowledge to schools in Macedonia through future teachers.

The main objective of these activities is to equip future teachers with the skills and competencies needed to implement intercultural activities in schools. LOJA's cultural activities are dedicated to the improvement of cultural and social life and interethnic relationships in Macedonia and the Balkan region. With its innovative programs and field activities, LOJA is establishing the necessary preconditions for cultural production and animation involving creative individuals and groups, cultural organizations and institutions, as well as all the ethnic and social communities in the region. The cultural activities include, for example, festivals, film and video productions, cinemas, stage performances, exhibitions and capacity building for its staff and partners in the long term. LOJA has come a long way in recent years.

From a purely grassroots organization it has built itself into a hybrid organization that, on the one hand, maintains close links with its original grassroots and, on the other, vattempts to influence policy decisions.

From a relatively small organization based in Tetovo, it has now emerged as a leading player in the country and the region. Today, initiatives launched by LOJA in ethnically challenged environments go on to become orientation models for other organizations in the Republic of Macedonia and the wider Balkan region.

Source: LOJA