about the Project

Contents:
- Web site for traditional customs and crafts from Reka region (A1)
- Reka Cultural Summer (A2)
- Education of local population how to develop village tourism on the basis of cultural heritage (A3)


Background and problem explanation
    Macedonian Muslims are Macedonians who accepted Islamic confession during 18-th and 19-th century but they kept most of their orthodox traditions enriching them with new elements from Islam, which create unique habits, and cultural traditions. The most of the population of Torbeshi live in the region of Valley of Radika River known as Reka. Even they have very specific traditions and habits, wider audience is not introduced with or never heard about them. This rarity should be presented and preserved.
    The socio-economic changes and industrialization can get the values and traditions into a difficult situation, even more to forget or loose their veracity by being conveyed from generation to generation. The needs for continuation of the tradition can be enabled with the cultural events that can be visited by local population and attracted visitors from the country.
    These people have not had any education and training in order to present and preserve their ethnology, cultural values and traditions and they should have a chance for cultural development.


Goals and Objectives
    The aim of the project is the preservation and revitalization of the cultural heritage, traditions and crafts of the Macedonians with Islamic confession in the region of Reka.
    The web site will enable wider audience for easier introduction with the life of Torbeshi, their history, cultural traditions and rare customs (especially the unique celebration of the Holly month of Ramadan). Also, it will be presented the unique kitchen that still exists (rechka pita, maznica, alan diti etc.).
    This web site will contain 100 pages of text for history, tradition, disappeared crafts, traditional architecture, religious ceremonies, present life in Macedonian and English. It will also contain 200 photographs and 500 seconds of traditional music.
    Reka cultural summer will be a yearly event with basic aim of promotion and presentation of local cultural values, ethnology, traditional crafts and traditional kitchen of Torbeshi people as well as upgrading the quality of the cultural life of the local population.
    Reka cultural summer will include exhibition of old artifacts and ethnological objects, old photographs from the region, concerts of local bends and performances of local dancing groups on traditional music, days of promotion of traditional kitchen.
    Lectures and workshops will be intended to preserve cultural heritage and enable young generation to become aware about importance of their cultural tradition and its persistence. Lecturers and workshop leaders will be people from different professions - ethnologists, art historians, architects, and community empowerment experts. This will improve the interest of cultural heritage.


Activities and time frame
    The CAC - Skopje has a very close collaboration with the NGO MEC Rekanski Biser from Rostushe and the community in past few years (there were few projects already realized in Rostushe). This collaboration will continue in this project also. MEC Rekanski Biser will help us to supply the old materials contacting us with local people. The local authority will help us to provide the necessary information about the present condition and statistics for the Region. Together with MEC Rekanski Biser, the program of the Cultural summer will be made. The local authorities will help us to find appropriate venues. The Museum of Macedonia will be our consultant for finding appropriate experts. The CAC - Skopje will be in charge of the project implementation.


Total time frame: 12 months

A1 Activities:

Expected results
    The project will dynamically contribute in preservation and revitalization of the cultural heritage, traditions and crafts of the Macedonians with Islamic confession in the region of Reka.
    The web site will introduce wider audience with the Torbeshi people and their cultural heritage.
    The cultural summer in Reka region will develop the attitude towards cultural heritage and increase the interests for traditional music, dance, crafts and gourmet.
    The lectures and workshops will enable young generation to preserve their cultural tradition and its persistence.


Sustainability explanation
    The web site will contain possibility for commercial income: the local authorities can be interested to continue the web site and to advertise the Region as a place with rare cultural heritage for visiting.
    Reka Cultural Summer will attract visitors out from the region and the art crafts and prepared food specialties will be for sale.
    The workshops and lectures could bring ideas for development of cultural tourism in the Reka Region.
 

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