In May, a promising workshop on parent discussion groups was held in Skopje based on the materials for parents on the Living Democracy website.
As a parent, everyday life can be stressful and overwhelming. One good way to connect with other parents and support each other is to join a parent discussion group. These groups are composed of parents who meet in person to share experiences and ideas, and develop a sense of community. Parents can support each other with problems arising from the upbringing of their children due to different opinions, values, interests, beliefs, and attitudes. How do we deal with these situations? How do we try to resolve conflicts? What skills and resources can we use when dealing with others? Our shared democratic values—such as freedom, equality, and the dignity of each individual—do not permit violence or the right of the strongest. Parents as well as children need alternative ways to treat each other with respect and peacefully in order to cope with such situations in their everyday lives.
As part of the Sustainable Democratic Culture (SUDECU) project, the Macedonian NGO TAKT (Together Advancing Common Trust) and the Department for International Projects in Education at the Zurich University of Teacher Education aim to establish such parent discussion groups in North Macedonia. A first workshop based on the information for parents on Living Democracy was organized in May in Skopje. Parents who attended the workshop, led by Dr. Nadine Ritzer and Prof. Dr. Maja Raunik Krikov, participated with great interest and dedication. Their active involvement provided valuable insights into the everyday challenges of parenting. They have now been tasked with trying out the peer group concept and reporting back on the results. Based on their experience, it may be possible to expand this pilot project into a larger program for North Macedonia and beyond.
More information on SUDECU is available on the official project website.
