Skopje, 4 December 2024 (MIA) - Media Information Agency - MIA journalist Slobodan Ivanov was presented with the IT skills category award at the Ability Awards 2024 ceremony celebrating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which was held in Skopje late Tuesday. 

Tuesday's Ability Awards event honoured ten individuals and ten companies that stand for equality and inclusion. This year, an open call was issued and 40 inspiring people with disabilities, who represent the power of determination and creativity through their achievements and stories, were nominated in various categories. 

"I have always believed that disability is not an obstacle to success and progress. My advice is to strive for what fulfils you and everything will fall into place. I would like to thank my family, friends and colleagues for all the support they have given me in life, and of course, the Media Information Agency, for believing in me," Ivanov said after receiving the award. 

Slobodan Ivanov is a journalist at MIA, who regularly includes people with disabilities in his news items. He deals with the flow of information, using his IT skills on a daily basis to deal with software problems he encounters.

In the field of culture and art, an award was presented to Ema Anakievska, a pianist and author of her own musical repertoire. She is a multiple winner of awards at national and international piano competitions. She has performed at the National Opera and Ballet, the Youth Cultural Center (MKC), Daut Pasha Hamam, the Museum of the City of Skopje, Kolarac Belgrade and other venues.

Macedonian Paralympic athlete Olivera Nakovska-Bikova, who won a gold medal at the 2012 games in London, received an award in the field of sports. 

The award for the best employee in the business sector was presented to Erkan Kail, the first licensed delegate of the Macedonian Basketball Federation, as a person with a disability. 

In the leadership category, the award was presented to Elena Kochoska, an advocate for political and legislative reforms, whose work is grounded in the vision of inclusive equality enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She is part of the Management Board of the European Network for Independent Living (ENIL), and President of the Board of the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation, as well as a consultant to the national monitoring mechanisms in the country.

The best in the public sector award was presented to Arberesha Vlashi, project coordinator at the Center for Development of the Southwest Planning Region. He is the chairman of the Struga Municipality Council, and also implements projects that contribute to the development of the economy and the creation of social cohesion.

In the business innovator category, awards were presented to Radmila Perikj and Martin Angelov, owners of the "Ulaf Ste" pizza and café bar. It is the first sign language café and pizza bar in the country, founded in 2020, whose menus are designed to explain to guests how to order in sign language.

The award for human rights activist was presented to Branimir Jovanovski, the first Macedonian winner of a gold Paralympic medal at the games in Barcelona in 1992. He has authored many articles and made TV appearances as a speaker on community rights. Brankica Dimitrovska, a lawyer with a degree in International Public Law and Diplomatic Relations, received an award for influencing social awareness. She is an activist for the rights of persons with disabilities and has appeared as guest on many public TV debates.

In the field of promoter of inclusion, the award was presented to Gere Tripkov, founder of "Equality" Skopje, an organization that fights for the rights of people with disabilities. He is the founder of "Zen", the first fashion brand for people with disabilities.

The awarded companies at Tuesday's event include Sava Insurance, Alkaloid, "Lice v Lice" street magazine, Dauti Komerc, Ipsos, etc. 

Addressing the opening of the event, creator of "Best Online Assistant", Elizabeta Jovanovska, said the voice for equality and inclusion is always stronger and reaches closer to all relevant institutions.

"We have no experience in creating this kind of events, but we wanted to create something that has not happened before in Macedonia. Never before have our significant artists had the opportunity to perform at such events. I am sure that this evening will remain in your memory, because it aims to motivate and inspire, in presenting 40 selected people with disabilities, who have made significant achievements. Whenever we need to do something in the future, we need to have them in mind too," said Jovanovska. 

Only in this way, she noted, can we be equal, only in this way can we all progress together and united.

Minister of Local Self-Government, Zlatko Perinski, Minister of Sports, Borko Ristovski, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Zoran Ljutkov, Deputy Minister of Economy, Marjan Risteski, Slovenian Ambassador, Gregor Presker, Deputy Labour Minister, Gjoko Velkovski, Austrian Ambassador, Martin Pammer, and Deputy Head of Mission at the EU Delegation to North Macedonia, Ben Nupnau, presented the awards at the ceremony on Tuesday.

Photo: MIA