In the heart of the Pelagonia region, where the sun sets over the industrial chimneys of Bitola and the vast agricultural fields, a new kind of revolution is brewing. It’s not one of gears and steam, but of data, media literacy, and civic courage. The Civic Tracks Association, a Bitola-based NGO, has officially launched its latest initiative: “Digital Action for Green Reaction.” Supported by the Digital Spark grant, this project is bridging the gap between digital skills and environmental activism, turning 11 young locals into the region’s first eco-advocates.
For decades, the Pelagonia region has faced an environmental crisis: severe environmental pollution and a lack of transparent, fact-based reporting. While the air quality (AQI level) often hits “hazardous” levels during winter months, and landfills can be encountered at every turn, the information reaching the public rarely reveals the whole picture. Consequently, the local citizens’ critical thinking around pollution and green advocacy remains largely unreinforced.
“The problem isn’t just the pollution; it’s the silence and the misinformation that follows it,” says Dr. Aneta Shijakova, President of Civic Tracks Association. “Young people here are vulnerable to ‘fake news’ regarding ecological topics. Without the tools to verify facts or access institutional data, they remain spectators of the environment’s degradation.”
From spectators to sentinels
Between late May and early June 2026, Bitola hosted the first major milestone of the project — a rigorous two-day training. Eleven motivated young people from Pelagonia gathered to master the “weapons” of modern advocacy: Investigative journalism and media literacy.
The training was led by top-tier experts, ensuring a blend of traditional journalistic ethics and cutting-edge digital verification. One such expert was Dr. Aneta Shijakova, an award-winning journalist with a career spanning national and international media, including years as a producer and host for the Voice of America (VOA) in Washington, D.C. She brought the “Global Standard” of reporting to the local Pelagonian context. Another facilitator was Dr. Zoran Kotevski, an IT expert and professor at the Faculty of Information and Communication Technologies (FIKT) in Bitola. His sessions focused on the technical side of truth — specialized fact-checking services and digital tools used to debunk disinformation.
Mastering institutional transparency
One of the most impactful segments of the workshop was the practical training on Free Access to Public Information (FOI) requests. Participants didn’t just learn about the law; they learned how to use it and weaponize it for public good.
“Until now I didn’t know that as a citizen, I have the legal right to ask the municipality exactly how much money is allocated every year for environmental protection and how it is spent,” shared one of the participants. By learning how to hold local authorities accountable, these young advocates are moving swiftly from passive concern to active oversight.
Armed with their new skills, the young eco-advocates did not waste any time. They have already selected the critical environmental topics they will investigate in the coming months.
First on their agenda is forest protection. The youth will investigate what is being done to protect the local forests, which serve as the crucial “lungs” of Pelagonia. This is a matter of regional survival, as practically all the fresh air entering the valley comes directly from Pelister National Park. Understanding how this natural shield is being managed is their top priority.
Second, the participants are tackling the region’s eyesores: Illegal landfills. They will actively investigate what the local self-government and municipal public utility companies are doing to manage, clean up, and prevent these toxic dump sites that scar the Pelagonian landscape.
To ensure their hard work reaches the public, the project includes the creation of a dedicated web platform. This digital hub will serve as the official publishing ground for the investigative journalistic stories and data visualizations created by the young participants.
This platform will be a tool for real-world impact. Through this approach, the youth will practically navigate the entire process of civic advocacy through media activism. They will see the tangible results of their work live on the internet, shaking up public discourse.
Ultimately, the “Digital Action for Green Reaction” project recognizes that lasting change happens only when young people feel a deep sense of ownership over the project’s results. By giving them the data and the voice, Civic Tracks Association is teaching activism and cultivating the next generation of Pelagonia’s guardians.
