About Shpresa
The Association of People with Disabilities (APD) “Shpresa” is a nongovernmental, nonprofit, citizens, humanitarian and social organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with physical and mental disabilities and their families. We are working to advance the rights of the people with disabilities the field of education, health, social care and employment, self- participation, raising public awareness for the rights of people with disabilities, lobbying for changing the legislation and its implementation. Our association works to change societal attitudes about disability from an issue of health to an issue of human rights.APD “Shpresa” implements typical social projects. These projects include services like securing medical equipment for people with disabilities, providing our members that follow regular school, starting from the primary all the way to the higher education, with school materials and securing diapers for those members who are in need.
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.