The donation of “Matica Makedonska” made through the Macedonian Association “Ilinden”-Tirana, represents the largest gift of books to Macedonians in Albania.

A major donation to Macedonians in Albania concludes the “Give a Book, Give a World” initiative of “Matica”

The donation of “Matica Makedonska” is the largest and most valuable gift of books in the Macedonian language ever given to Macedonians in Albania.

Today, a major donation of books to Macedonians in Albania concludes the “Give a Book, Give a World” initiative that “Matica Makedonska” launched on the occasion of the International Book Donation Day, in the framework of the celebration of the 35th anniversary of its founding. Key books on Macedonian history, studies on the Macedonian language, selected works by some of the most important Macedonian poets and prose writers, works from and about Macedonian literary history, monographic publications on Macedonian culture and anthologies are just a part of the donation from “Matica Makedonska” to the Macedonian Association “Ilinden” from Tirana. The association was founded in 2009 with the aim of protecting the Macedonian national minority in the Republic of Albania and is the first association of Macedonians abroad to be an equal member with voting rights in the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN). The donation from “Matica Makedonska” is the largest and most valuable gift of books in the Macedonian language ever given to Macedonians in Albania.

The Macedonian Association “Ilinden”-Tirana expresses its sincere gratitude to “Matica Makedonska” for the valuable donation of Macedonian literature. This important initiative represents a strong support and an additional incentive for the preservation, cultivation and affirmation of the Macedonian language, culture and identity among Macedonians in the Republic of Albania. Such acts of solidarity and cooperation strengthen cultural ties and create new opportunities for further support and joint activities. The gesture and commitment of the first publishing house in independent Macedonia, to offer Macedonians from Albania, including the younger generations, the opportunity to read and educate in the Macedonian language from valuable works, while learning a lot about the Macedonian identity, is of fundamental importance for us and for achieving our goal, emphasizes the president of the Macedonian Association “Ilinden” from Tirana, Nikolla Gjurgjaj.

The donation from “Matica Makedonska” contains publications that will be able to cover all areas where the Macedonian national minority lives in Albania and where the Macedonian Association “Ilinden” has activities, including through the Branch in Golloborda. This action of the first publishing house in independent Macedonia is taking place in a crucial period of challenges for the Macedonian national minority in Albania, and immediately after this the Macedonian Association “Ilinden”, on February 6, celebrated 17 years of existence.

Otherwise, the initiative “Donate a Book, Donate a World”, which is rounded off with this donation, was launched by “Matica Makedonska” with the idea of ​​celebrating the International Book Donation Day, established for the first time in Macedonia at a higher level, established to encourage the love of reading and to ensure access to books for children all over the world. But with the interest aroused by the initiative, which was joined by socially responsible companies, public figures, institutions and a large number of readers from the “Matica” club, it turned into the largest action and initiative for book donation in our country, with an extremely massive interest.

In the past weeks, as part of the “Give a Book, Give a World” initiative, “Matica Makedonska” has made several other significant book donations. The Macedonian Emigrants Association “Egemakgoc” in Izmir, Turkey, also received a large donation of books. In this Association, in addition to Turkish emigrants who, although they emigrated in 1957, still proudly speak the Macedonian language, their descendants are also members – up to the younger generations born there in the 21st century, who want to learn and speak, read and write in the language of their country of origin – Macedonian, and to pass on their love for it and for Macedonia from generation to generation. Just one day after it was announced that the Macedonian language and culture will be taught in another school in Croatia, in the town of Sveta Nedela near Samobor, the first donation from Macedonia to the school has already taken place. “Matica Makedonska” sent a large donation of books to Croatia, for students who will study the subject of Macedonian language and culture at Sveta Nedela. On the International Mother Language Day, together with “Alkaloid”, “Matica Makedonska” donated major works for Macedonian studies to the Department of Macedonian Language and Literature at the Faculty of Philology at the University of Ljubljana – the first center of Macedonian studies at a university outside of Macedonia. On the eve of the 65th anniversary of the opening of the first Macedonian language lecturer in the world, this donation is also the first support in this format sent by Macedonia to the Department of Macedonian Studies in Ljubljana on this occasion.

The month of donations within the framework of the initiative “Give a Book, Give a World” has ended, but the donations that “Matica Makedonska” constantly makes within the framework of its mission to affirm Macedonian literature will continue.

“Matica Makedonska” continues with numerous activities in honor of the 35th anniversary of its founding, with many new publications of value for all generations.