ON THIS PAGE: Churches  /  Tetova Refugees  /  Roma Camp  /  Ihtus Remedium Clinic  /  Macedonian Christians visit UK

Smile has been working in Macedonia since the charity's inception in 1999, supporting the growing churches. In the Kosovan conflict of 1999, many refugees flooded into Macedonia and it was Clive's visit to the refugee camp at Stenkovic with humanitarian aid in May 1999 that brought about the establishing of Smile International later that year.

Also known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the country has a population of 2 million, of which 65% are Macedonian (mostly Macedonian Orthodox) 22% are Albanian (Moslem) and 13% are Turkish, Serbian, Roma and others (predominantly Moslem, with 0.4% evangelical Christians and 1.6% other religions). Just over a quarter of the population live in the capital Skopje. Although the economy is improving, the country is still very poor and unemployment remains high. Ethnic groups live side by side, but most family, social and religious lives are entirely separate between the groups. The Albanian and Macedonian languages are unrelated and though most Albanians know Macedonian, very few Macedonians learn Albanian.

Clive with refugee children during the conflict

Smile supports the growing Evangelical Church at Negotino, which hosts a weekly radio programme, sponsored by Smile, to share the Gospel on the airwaves. Smile has also supported God's Voice Baptist Church. Smile teams have worked with the Pentecostal church in their new church plant in the Roma camp, and helped with the Christian pre-school established there. We have supplied Christmas shoeboxes for children, toys for the pre-school and 5,000 St John's Gospels in Macedonian. We also support other new church plants around the city. 

Jan and Steve Worthy ministering at God's Voice Baptist Church, Skopje

Smile is supporting Dime (above) who serves the Lord with Pastor Goran at Negotino Evangelical Church, ministering in the villages.

TETOVA REFUGEES

Smile ministry teams have regularly worked and shared the Gospel in Shutka, the largest Roma camp in the world, home to over 75,000 people. The camp is on the edge of Skopje near the rubbish tip, from which they scavenge building materials for their homes. Teams have worked with children's groups in partnership with the local Pentecostal church, as well as taking part in Gospel concerts to hundreds of people.

   
 Clive with Roma children – team visit to Roma camp – Scavenging from nearby rubbish tip

Smile continues to financially support the Christian Ihtus Remedium Clinic in the capital Skopje which cares for those too poor to afford medical treatment. Their mobile clinic takes medicines to the poor and needy in remote mountain villages throughout the country.

Smile Trustee Geraldine (2nd right) with staff at Ihtus Remedium Clinic

Volunteer medical team