The wife of the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Ms. Maja Ivanova, attended today the launch of the "Programme for complete socialization of children with special needs in their communities" project, funded by the European Union and implemented by the Apollonia Foundation - Gevgelija, in partnership with the Macedonian Scientific Society for Autism - Skopje.

Within the project, one therapeutic and three sensory rooms for children with special needs were opened in Gevgelija, Bogdanci, Dojran and Valandovo.

In her address in the day center for children with special needs in Gevgelija, Ms. Ivanova expressed support for the "Programme for complete socialization of children with special needs in their communities" project.

"My role, as wife of the President of the Republic of Macedonia, for me, is a serious challenge, but also a great responsibility, to invest all my strength and capacities to support initiatives which could at least make the slightest change for the youngest in the society, and even more for children with special needs. I am doing it primarily as a mother who sympathizes with parents of children with special needs and understands the challenges they face every day," said Ms. Ivanova.

According to Ms. Ivanova, the opening of a therapeutic room in the day center for children with special needs in Gevgelija opens a new chapter in this municipality to improve conditions and increase opportunities for children with special needs. She added that the children will work with their parents, medics, special educators, speech therapists, therapists and educational staff.

In her address in Bogdanci, Ms. Ivanova said that the opening of the sensory room within the elementary school "Petar Musev" in the municipality of Bogdanci is a positive example of cooperation between local governments, local educational institutions and NGOs.

"Their joint and dedicated work to improve the conditions for social inclusion of children with special needs yields results and I believe it will meet the needs of children with disabilities in Bogdanci and their families," said Ms. Ivanova.

At the opening of the sensory room within the elementary school "Koco Racin" in Dojran, Ms. Ivanova stressed that the project, implemented by Apollonia Foundation, in partnership with the Macedonian Scientific Society for Autism and supported by the European Union Delegation, is extremely positive example that should be an inspiration for other municipalities and regions on how to improve the conditions for social inclusion of children with special needs.

In her address in Valandovo Ms. Ivanova noted that many of her activities are intended to support projects for improvement of the living conditions of children with special needs, such as opening a sensory room within the elementary school "Josip Broz".

"Projects of humanitarian, educational, cultural or social nature, with an ultimate goal of helping the social inclusion of children with special needs, always have my full and unconditional support," Ms. Ivanova said.

The main objective of the "Programme for complete socialization of children with special needs in their communities" project is to increase social integration and development of children with special needs in these 4 municipalities of southeast region: Gevgelija, Bogdanci, Dojran and Valandovo, and will be implemented by February next year.