About Shpresa
In the Albanian language, the word "Shpresa" means hope. Association of people living with disabilities (APD) Shpresa is a non-governmental, non-profit, multiethnic and humanitarian organization dedicated to the improvement of living conditions of people with disabilities and their families. APD Shpresa was established in December 2002 and since then, our organization been actively working to advance the rights of people with disabilities to increase participation in civil society, raising public awareness of the rights of people with disabilities, and lobbying for improved legislation and its implementation in Macedonia. The mission of APD Shpresa is to promote new social policy that will encourage inclusion and respect for the human rights of for people with disabilities.Presently, APD Shpresa has 500 registered members of multiple ethnic backgrounds, covering the capital city of Skopje as well as the surrounding villages. In 2006, a coalition was created through which APD Shpresa now works in the outside of Skopje, throughout the Republic of Macedonia.