“Horus” Association awarded OKTA with 2021 Philanthropy award for their partnership in the project “Be IN, be INclusive, be INcluded” with the Step by step Foundation.
In 2021, as a result of this cooperation, three inclusive playgrounds were built in elementary schools in Skopje, Dojran and Struga. The partnership was established within the framework of the project “Be IN, be INclusive, be INcluded”, founded by the European Union. It aims at greater inclusion of pupils with disabilities in primary education in the country, by creating conditions for more accessible infrastructure.
“As part of OKTA’s corporate strategy for social responsibility, we always strive to establish strong partnerships and to be part of projects that significantly contribute to the community advancement. This award is a significant validation of our commitment towards improving the conditions in education and greater inclusion of children with atypical development. We hope that this project will be an inspiration also for other companies and organizations to get involved and provide their support, because every child deserves an equal opportunity for education and development”, said Marija Stavreva, Corporate Social Responsibility and Communications Manager in OKTA.
In the three schools for which this cooperation was implemented, about 3000 elementary school students attend classes, while 86 of them are pupils with different forms of disability. The playgrounds built with the help of the award-winning project, significantly contribute to the physical development of the pupils with disabilities and offer possibilities for their direct socialization with children with typical development.
OKTA and its partner remain further committed to improving the conditions for greater inclusion of children with disabilities and creating better opportunities for their education, development, better socialization and raising public awareness for the importance of their acceptance in the society.
