THE CHILDREN’S HOME IN BITOLA

THE CHILDREN’S HOME IN BITOLA

The opening of the refugee children’s home in Bitola, for the refugee children from Aegean Macedonia, was marked with a special story published by the newspaper “Voice of the Aegeans”. This is what the paper said:

“A children’s home was opened on January 1, 1951 in Bitola in order to bring together the children from the refugee families who have many children and the children who had been orphaned or were with a single parent. To date the home has housed 92 children and that number will soon grow to 120. Here the children have all the necessities for proper development. The younger children attend

elementary school at ‘Sveti Kliment Ohridski’ and the older ones have been enrolled in high school. The home management is responsible for supplying the children with books and other school supplies as well as a school bag. The children here have formed a folk dance group and are preparing for plays. A soccer ball was provided for the soccer enthusiasts. The children are being provided with good food and clothing. The home has a staff of 14 people who look after all the needs of the children. This home is managed by Spiro Lezovski from the village Zhupanishta, Kostur Region, who takes special care of them like they are his own.

With the opening of this home the government of the People’s Republic of Macedonia has solved yet another problem for the refugee children from Aegean Macedonia and has shown that it is indeed interested in caring for them. The parents of these children are deeply thankful. They have been assured that this care will continue to be provided at no cost to them…”

Included among those housed in “Tome Zhelezarcheto” in Bitola were Goche Banushevski, Mitse and Petso Brzovski, Krste Vasilev, Mitko Gluievski, Vangel Dimitrov, Vasil Iapranovski, Stevo Kirkov, Krsto Kirkovski, Stavre, Fote and Sotir Kondovski, Mitse Kronevski, German Langovski, Tsone Mangarov, Vasil Naumovski, Ahilei Papanaumov, Kosta Pishelarov and Tipe Totsev.

THE CHILDREN FROM THE BITOLA HOME GO ON VACATION TO THE BUKOVSKI FOREST

Another news article, published by the newspaper “Voice of the Aegeans”, also testifies to the fact that much effort had been made by the Macedonian government to provide the refugee children not only with decent living conditions and an education, but also with decent vacations during the summer breaks. The newspaper article that follows, talks about the refugee children living in the Bitola home who, one summer, vacationed in Bukovski Forest.

“On June 23, ninety-seven Aegean Macedonian refugee children from the Bitola home found themselves vacationing in the Bukovski monastery ‘Sveti Sotir’.

The good food and clean mountain air is excellent for developing and strengthening the children’s bodies. They have already added weight but now it was time to turn that weight into muscle by devoting themselves to physical education, sports and other activities.

All the children who came to the monastery were given summer shoes and short pants. The home also supplied the children with a variety of gym equipment and encouraged them to form and organize their own soccer team. This team beat the local team during soccer matches.

The top chess players in this group were Kuzman Mitsevski and Vasil Shapakov.

In the morning, from 8 to 10 am, the children were lectured by their teachers in history, geography, physics and other subjects. After that the children were free. From 1 to 4 pm they rested in bed or slept and from 4 to 6 pm continued with lectures. They used their free time playing games and developing their skills in folklore, folk dancing, singing, reciting poems, etc., as well as organizing events. After that they were free until 9 pm.

The People’s government demonstrated its great care for the Aegean refugee children by providing them with a 70 day paid summer vacation in the fresh air in the mountains, which cost the government 4,000 dinars a month for each child.

The children also issued their own bulletin which gives special attention to cleanliness, discipline and doing homework. They even have their own mailbox. Along the walls of the halls where they sleep they have written slogans: “Long live the CPY Central Committee Politburo led by Tito’, ‘Long live the Yugoslav army, a vigilant guardian of our borders’ and so on. The Macedonian and Yugoslav flags, as well as pictures of Comrades Tito and Lazo, fly up high, a sight for all visitors to see.”

“11 OCTOBER” - HOME FOR STUDENTS

One of the many children’s homes opened in the People’s Republic of Macedonia, after World War II ended and Yugoslavia was liberated, was the children’s home “11 October”, opened in Skopje to accommodate the war orphans and any other children who had no parents. The home was founded in 1947 on the initiative of GNO.

This home now houses 93 residents of whom 69 are Aegean refugee children, of whom 40 are girls.

Head teacher of this home is Comrade Dushan Pavlov, an elegant young man who is fully aware of his responsibility. Among other things he told us the following:

“The children here perform two useful things for themselves; they educate themselves and learn a trade. Events in the home are organized to allow the children to develop a versatile routine. They get up early in the morning and do gymnastics before breakfast. After breakfast everyone goes to their trade school. They usually work for five hours. After lunch they rest and then do school work at home. The staff in the home usually helps them with their homework and with other problems that they may have. After that they go to night school.

The cost for each student ranges from 2,500 to 2,800 dinars paid by the GNO in Skopje. From our earnings the children receive 20% in cash and the remaining amount goes to the treasurer of the home. The children receive 3 pairs of shoes annually. This year every student was given one suit and two shirts. Last year they received a work uniform. Every student has their own bed, a mattress, two blankets, a duvet and two sheets. They also regularly go to the cinema and to the baths.

For summer vacation last year the administration, with help from the People’s government, sent the children for a month’s stay at the village Tresontse, Debar Region. This year too they will be sent somewhere to spend their summer. On May 1 the administration organized a picnic for the children in the Skopje surrounding area and gave the children new clothes. The school inspectors are satisfied with the overall performance of the students. The average mark was 3.8 (out of 5) in the first half of the school year. The

students are hopeful that their average will be even higher by the end of the school year. At the end the best students will be rewarded for their performance with school supplies and books.”

We asked the children how they felt living at the home and what life was like there. Alexander Durmovski, one of the top students, said the following:

“I am from the village German located in Prespa. My brother died as a DAG fighter in Gramos. He died for the freedom of his people. My closest relatives are scattered in the various Informburo countries. I work at the Radio Centre and I am trying to learn the secrets of the art. I want to become a master in radio technology. I learn as much as I want to. There are no restrictions or conditions placed on me about what I can learn. It is not like it was back home, in my village, where there were no such opportunities (under the Greek regime).”

Another excellent student Kole Mihailovski, from the village P’pli, Prespa, said the following:

“I am deeply grateful to the People’s government. I come from a poor Macedonian family. Back home we really worked hard and still we had no money to buy things. We walked barefoot, half-naked and hungry. We were exploited and others benefited from our labours. I was never properly dressed or ate as much as I have here. I am learning a trade, going to school and learning things in my own mother tongue, something I could never do back home.”

There are also former DAG partisans at the home. One of them is Kolio Grozdanovski from the village German, Prespa. He fought in Malimadi, Vicho and Snezhnik. Another is German Popovski from the village Nikli, Prespa. He was a headquarters courier. When he fell ill he was sent to a Yugoslav hospital for treatment.

Another partisan here is Stefan Mishkov from the village Liumnitsa, Giumenzhe Region. He was a partisan since 1946. He participated in a number of battles and was wounded four times. Every time he was wounded he was sent to a Yugoslav hospital for treatment. Mishkov is grateful to the People’s government for the care it has given to all

the people, especially the children from Aegean Macedonia, and hopes that each child will strive to become a master in their craft and contribute to building this country.

Included among the people placed at the “11 October” home were Tsana Takova, Kata Golchevska, Fania Iankulova, Mara Kamshikova, Lena Kroneva, Notsa Poitova, Lena Subasheva, Lena Taneva, Vangelia Fiorova and Mara Shaprdanova.