STAR’s team wholeheartedly approves of the decision made by the Position Assignment Committee designated by the President of the Association, to appoint Eleonora Stojanovikj as a Program Director of STAR.
Having had a prolific professional background, as well as being a staunch cultural and social activist that we have had the pleasure to witness Nora doing so throughout the years, her personal enthusiastic dedication in terms of improving the social, healthcare and legal status of sex workers in this country could not leave any of us indifferent. Her expertise knowledge in the area of management and governance of civil organizations, networks, informal groups and project cycles, without running the risk of being modest or humble, could be acknowledged as a significant driving force in the development of an open and democratic society.
Eleonora Stojanovikj is one of the co-founders and the very first Executive Director of HOPS – Healthy Options, a recognized STAR’s partner in the fight for improvement of and advocating for sex workers’ rights. Among other things, Eleonora’s professional biography includes the management of the biggest harm reduction program in Southeast Europe, development and implementation of the very first HIV/AIDS prevention program, including social reintegration and re-socialization for sex workers in the Republic of North Macedonia, as well as participation in numerous internationally recognized governance bodies.
- In the last three years, STAR has had a significant growth and development of its programs redirecting their scope of action from a local to a national level. Currently, STAR is implementing eight projects having won over the trust of many local and international partners who have recognized and supported our commitment as marginalized members of the society. In order to be able to maintain that commitment and attain the projected results and goals, it was rather necessary to incorporate an expert associate who is going to help us in the process of managing the project cycles and organizational programs, management with human resources in our family which has become remarkably bigger, as well as assist us in making day-to-day decisions that sometimes prove to be a strategic challenge for the organization. In 2008, the period of STAR’s informal founding, Nora was one of the rare individuals who was not a member of the community, but the community of sex workers have accepted and adopted her as one of their own. In actual fact, our very first Vision and Mission as an informal group were first put down on paper by Nora’s kind help and contribution. I thank the Commission for having made this decision, despite the very tough selection they had to make among other eminent candidates, and I am firmly convinced in the determination and success that come hand in hand with the new Program Director – Borche Bozhinov stated, STAR’s President.
- I consider this opportunity as a personal and a professional challenge, as well as a huge responsibility, as STAR’s successes do entail that the same need to continued and perfected. In the last two years, I had the opportunity to collaborate with STAR in the successful conduct of projects in the field of utilizing the new media and creative activism. Bearing in mind that we do share the same values and viewpoints regarding issues related to sex work, I boldly and decisively commence to put sex workers’ and the organization’s governance structures decisions in action – stated Eleonora Stojanovikj, STAR Program Director.
Dear Nora, we are thankful that you have decided to stand with us on the margins, and we welcome you to our family.