Skopje – On April 1st, 2026, a high-level visit was held at the Gymnasium “Josip Broz Tito” as part of the Superschools Exchange Programme, connecting secondary schools from Skopje and Shkoder, Albania. The event brought together representatives of the European Union Delegation to North Macedonia, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in North Macedonia, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, and as well as the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, and the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO).
The visit was an opportunity to showcase the ongoing student exchange between the two schools and highlight the importance of engaging young people in intercultural dialogue while building meaningful and lasting connections across the Western Balkans 6 region.
The partnership “Traditions That Connect Us: Building Tomorrow Together” brings the two schools together through activities that promote cooperation and mutual understanding, cultural exploration and sports for development activities. During the visit, students from the Gymnasium “Josip Broz Tito” from Skopje and the High School “28 November” from Shkoder participated in an interactive cultural exploration workshop with the institutional representatives, sharing their experiences from the Superschools programme and reflecting on the importance of mobility, cooperation and joint learning. This was the second exchange, hosted in Skopje, following the first student exchange hosted in Shkoder at the end of 2025.
The Superschools program enables students from different local communities to take part in six-day exchanges, during which they engage in joint activities that foster intercultural dialogue, share experiences, and participate in peacebuilding initiatives across the region. This program encourages young people to develop tolerance, openness, and a better understanding of regional perspectives by directly experiencing the cultures, traditions, and values of their peers.
Mr. Fatmir Limani, Minister of Social Policy, Demography and Youth
“When young people meet, prejudices fall and trust is born – the foundation of any healthy and sustainable society. Therefore, student exchanges are a direct investment in our common future and have real value for the policies we create.”
Mr. Driton Sulejmani, Deputy-Minister for Education and Science
“Building partnerships is at the heart of the Superschools program. When a school receives a partner school from around the region, it is a lasting bond and collaboration between the two institutions, the teachers, and most importantly – the students.”
Mr. Vladimir Obradovic, Secretary General of RYCO
“This visit to the Superschools exchange, together with other high-level representatives, is a powerful reminder that reconciliation starts with young people. Seeing students connect, share experiences, and build understanding across the region shows the real impact of our work and the importance of sustained support for these initiatives.”
Mr. Michalis Rokas, Head of the EU Delegation to North Macedonia
“Young people are the true wealth of the Western Balkans and are at the heart of EU‘s support for the WB region”
Ms. Petra Drexler, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to North Macedonia
“It was a great experience to attend the school exchange session this morning. At first, not every student seemed aware that there are even differences in how we celebrate April 1st, which made the young people explaining their cultures even more special. Today, a touch of carnival met Macedonian traditions and Albanian April fool’s pranks. This perfectly captured the spirit of understanding and connection that the Superschool program fosters.”
Mr. Nikola Mihail Angelovski, Young European Ambassador:
“On April 1st, I had the opportunity to attend the RYCO Superschools project workshop, an inspiring initiative that brings together young people from across the Western Balkans to learn, collaborate, and grow. This experience reaffirmed my belief that connecting youth beyond borders is one of the most powerful ways to build understanding, empathy, and a shared European future.
As a Young European Ambassador, I strongly believe that when young people work together, they not only exchange ideas but also create networks of trust and friendship that transcend beyond geography. Projects like Superschools give us the tools and motivation to break stereotypes, strengthen regional cooperation, and turn dialogue into lasting partnerships.
The Western Balkans next generation is ready to shape a more inclusive, united, and forward-looking region. Through platforms such as WeBalkans and initiatives like RYCO, we are reminded that every shared story, conversation, and collaboration brings us one step closer to a Europe whole and strong built on understanding, respect, and youth.”
About the Superschools program
“Superschools” is a program for school exchanges in the Western Balkans. Its objectives are to support peacebuilding, reconciliation, and intercultural learning and dialogue among schools, students, and their communities. The program is part of the multi-donor project “Western Balkans School Exchange Scheme,” co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) together with the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO).
