Agenda:

1. Introduction of new participants/adoption of minutes.

Minutes of the last meeting were adopted; participants introduced themselves.
SOS Kumanovo sent their apologies.

2. Brief Update on present situation.

UNICEF reminded participants that although the situation in fYR Macedonia remained stable, the situation in general was tense and liable to change.

3. Update on ongoing field work, mobile teams etc.

For a Happy Childhood shared photographs and materials from their exhibition held on Saturday 9 March 2002. The event was attended by many local officals as well as beneficiaries of the programs For a Happy Childhood has been running, including the local Minister of Education, the Mayor of Brvenica, representatives of the Community of Jegunovce, the head of the Organization of Disabled People in Tetovo, the President of the Parents’ Council from the Elementary School in Jegunovce, Vice principal of the Gimnazija in Tetovo, representatives of international organisations located in Tetovo (USAID, IOM, IRC), local NGOs, many teachers, parents and children and young people. The media were also in attendance. Roma children from the NGO "SONCE" from Tetovo came to the exhibition and expressed their wish to cooperate with us and have workshop activities of this kind. For a Happy Childhood agreed to deliver workshops to this NGO in the near future.

UNHCR continues to implement QIPs projects, which may be utilized to fund psychosocial activities implemented by local NGOs. 2 projects have been approved in Kumanovo area with a psychosocial focus. Also the nationwide program "Peace is …", to be implemented by the local NGO MICS, has been initiated in conjunction with support from IOM and Soros as well as UNHCR.

Safe Childhood has been operating minimal activities during the recent month; volunteers visit the remaining IDP population in collective centres in Skopje on a sporadic basis. It was noted that virtually all NGO and Donor supported psychosocial support for IDPs remaining in collective centre and host family accommodation in Skopje has ceased in recent months. This was felt to have created a ‘gap’ in providing humanitarian assistance. The group asked that this concern be passed to international NGOs and donors in order to try to identify funding sources for assistance to IDPs remaining in Skopje.