Today, our hearts are full of joy and pride as we share this year’s SONCHEVA GORA planting plan! ☀️🌳
Through the united, continuous efforts of our incredible partners, we have planted over 150,000 trees since 2022!
A huge THANK YOU to Pivara Skopje, Pakomak, Nula Otpad, Saubermacher, Iute, EVN, Sparkasse, Makstil, KAZ Group, Titan Usje, Carter Weiss & Mitreski Family Foundation, ZELS, the Red Cross, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Environment, and more than 600 organizations, private supporters, and the 81 municipalities that joined GENERALKA WEEKEND to make this milestone possible!
Together, we have brought SONCHEVA GORA to life in forests, parks, town squares, along rivers and boulevards, and in school and kindergarten yards across 48 municipalities so far.
Our vision is clear: by 2031—marking the 40th birthday of our homeland—there will be a SONCHEVA GORA in all 81 municipalities of North Macedonia. Wherever you see a SONCHEVA GORA, you’ll know you are home. ❤️
🌿 This year, we are growing even further by planting a new SONCHEVA GORA in:
Gradsko
Kratovo
Probishtip
Karbinci
Cheshinovo-Obleshevo
Kochani
Zrnovci
Saraj
Struga
Kichevo
Jegunovce
City of Skopje (19 locations including parks, boulevards, and streets)
We are so thrilled and proud to share that our partners at Titan Usjehave again agreed to support us in the SONCHEVA GORA plantation project this year!
A contribution to “SONCHEVA GORA,” aimed at improving local green spaces, protecting the environment, and promoting a more sustainable community. Our aim is to create a ‘SONCHEVA GORA’ in every municipalityacross our country by 2031. With the continued support of the best companies in our country, our institutions and citizens, we are bringing greenery back into our parks and to our communities. We believe that meaningful partnerships and collective action are essential for making positive, lasting change, and developing more sustainable future for our community.
We are very happy and proud to announce the continuation of our partnership with Sparkasse Banka Macedonia in GENERALKA WEEKEND and SONCHEVA GORA.
Sparkasse is our partner since 2020 and therefore one of our longest lasting partners in several projects that we realised together over the years. Continuity, persistence and honesty are the values that have paved the road that we are driving the environmental development of our country together and big things are awaiting us in the future!
Since the beginning of our journey to create a clean country by connecting all layers of society beyond all political, ethical and social borders, Pivara Skopje stood with us. Through challenges and successes – the people at Pivara proved countless times that with all their experience, expertise and their hearts they do what they believe in: Work hard to make our country a better place! Without the support and wise consultations of Pivara Skopje, GENERALKA WEEKEND and SONCHEVA GORA would have never become reality and Pivarci became a synonym for unstoppable passion! Thank you for your trust and let’s rock!!! 🙂
We are incredibly honored to have participated in the high-level debate “Climate Change – Risks and Challenges”, hosted today by President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova.
We believe that the time for disaster response is over; as the President emphasized, we must move towards preventive action and integrated policies.
We were privileged to hear and learn from top experts from vital sectors:
– Climate Science and Environment: Deep insights into the changing patterns of our world.
– Forestry and Agriculture: Understanding how to protect our “green lungs” and food security.
– Seismology and Security: Analyzing the physical and social risks of climate change.
Our immense gratitude to President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova for opening the doors to civil society and emphasizing coordination.
and to Prof. Dr. Vlado Spiridonov for expert moderation and leadership.
As well as to all the distinguished professors and researchers who shared innovative solutions for adaptation.
Let’s turn this expert knowledge into lasting change!
We are very honoured to announce that our partnership with Makstil Skopje goes into its third consecutive year. After the remarkable successes in the last years our collaboration in GENERALKA WEEKEND and other projects continue with great pleasure, energy and enthusiasm! Thank you for your trust and its time to continue to master the challenges that lay before us together!
With great pleasure we are proud to announce that our partnership with EVN continues in 2026. Since 2020 we are working together with EVN, creating projects like the “Ambassadors of SONCHEVA” interview series, GENERALKA WEEKEND as well as SONCHEVA GORA plantations.
We’re delighted to announce today that KAZ Group and MAM are new partners for GENERALKA WEEKEND 2026. This 38-year-old family-owned company embodies the true strength of our economy: innovation, precision, continuity, reliability and a profound commitment to society. These shared values unite us and inspire us to drive positive change in our country and society.
The event, organized by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection in cooperation with the Austrian Embassy in Skopje, gathered experts in waste management and high-level government representatives to discuss opportunities for sustainable employment and the transition towards a circular economy.
Mr. Andreas Opelt, Board Member and COO of Saubermacher, provided an insightful overview of the wide range of green job opportunities the waste management sector offers — from site workers and drivers to operators of specialized equipment, chemists, researchers, administrative staff, and managerial positions. He emphasized the transformative potential of the circular economy, stating that “the green transition and implementation of circular economy, according to the most recent studies of an Austrian university, will produce substantially more and better-paid green jobs than if we don’t implement it. Ecology drives the economy, and innovation endures the domestic market!”
Mr. Opelt also presented the current state of operations at Saubermacher Tetovo, highlighting benefits for employees, future development plans, and new opportunities the company envisions in North Macedonia. He further underlined the importance of advancing through the key phases of the waste management process in order to apply circular economy principles and achieve an environment worth living in.
Representatives from Man & Mountain Skopje, Mr. Hannes Jaekl and Ms. Gordana Sofija, shared the success story of “Generalka Weekend” – the largest eco-initiative in North Macedonia, organized annually for the past five years. They stressed the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders – central and local government, state institutions, NGOs, and academia – to raise awareness about waste management and environmental protection.
Mr. Vaitkus Zygimantas, representing the European Investment Bank (EIB), reaffirmed the Bank’s readiness to support serious initiatives and projects in the field of waste management in North Macedonia, noting the strategic importance of such efforts for the country’s sustainable growth.
In the concluding discussion, participants agreed that the waste management sector holds significant potential for green job creation but stressed the need for strong commitment and support from authorities, as well as closer cooperation between all stakeholders – including citizens – to achieve long-term environmental and social benefits.
We are very proud that the Arnold Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative published ZELENA SONCHEVA (GENERALKA WEEKEND | SONCHEVA GORA) on their website as an outstanding climate action! Together we can do it!
