3. Nashe Maalo: Television, Theatre and Outreach Projects

Nashe Maalo was the first children's television program in Macedonia created to promote intercultural understanding, to encourage conflict prevention in a multicultural society, and to impart specific conflict-resolution skills that children can use in their everyday lives. This unique series, co-produced by Common Ground Productions and Search for Common Ground Macedonia, presents a timely opportunity to influence an entire generation of children in Macedonia in the direction of mutual tolerance and respect. A summative research study, Lessons From Nashe Maalo, has measured changes in attitudes before and after watching the series. The last season of Nashe Maalo was broadcasted in late 2003, however re-runs continued in 2004 on several TV stations in Macedonia.

Children's Puppet Theatre
By the end of 2004, SCGM will have produced three intended-outcome puppet theatre plays, in partnership with the Children's Theatre Center from Skopje. The shows have been designed for children ages 7-9, and will be performed in 12 cities throughout Macedonia. Based on our experience with intended-outcomes arts, these dramas convey messages regarding ethnic and cultural diversity in Macedonia. The messages are carefully designed, age-appropriate and provide new ways for children to perceive themselves in the pluralistic society. Each performance will be followed by facilitated interactive dialogue that will reinforce messages from the play. Magic Horse, the first puppet play attracted 3,603 children, while 748 of them participated in a facilitated discussion and evaluation. The premiere of Friendship or Love, the next play is scheduled for May 2004. One of the main objectives of the project is to develop a local team with necessary skills to conceptualize, design and produce intended-outcomes children's drama on a sustainable basis. Consequently, the project is developing a team with the technical, creative, and conflict-prevention skills to continue production of similar puppet plays after SCGM will have left Macedonia.

Nashe Maalo Outreach
Nashe Maalo Outreach projects were designed to help deepen the impact of Nashe Maalo TV series through various activities, such as children's magazine, parent-teacher guide, music CDs and Nashe Maalo-related charity events. In addition, Nashe Maalo main children cast are often invited to schools, institutions for children with special needs and orphanages, promoting the values of Nashe Maalo.

Children's Magazine
The first and the second issue of Nashe Maalo Magazine were printed in 185,000 copies, in Macedonian, Albanian and Turkish languages. The magazine has a wide selection of activities for children, and the information about Nashe Maalo TV program. There are descriptions of Nashe Maalo characters and their hobbies, activity games, knowledge-based games, information about the main religious holidays of all Nashe Maalo's featured ethnicities, and the quiz questions. Distribution of the magazine is organized through the regional branches of the Ministry of Education. Free copies of the magazine are distributed to every child in Macedonia within the age group 7 to 12.

Parent-Teacher Guide
The guide will include synopses of all Nashe Maalo episodes and will focus on the main massages that each episode aimed to convey. It will also include different activities and discussion questions. There will be an electronic version on the Web, as well as 90,000 hard copies in 3 languages.

Nashe Maalo Music CD
The audiocassette and the CD contain collection of songs that are related to Nashe Maalo series. In each song there is a text with a deeper message. It serves as another entertaining way of bringing fundamental values of Nashe Maalo into the lives of children in Macedonia. With the exception of Turli Tava, an instrumental song, Venko Serafimov prepared all other music. Some of the artists who volunteered to sing for this CD are among the best musicians in Macedonia. The songs are in Macedonian, Albanian, Turkish, and Roma, while some songs combining all languages.

Knowledge Quiz Show
This knowledge-based quiz started in April 2004, coinciding with re-runs of Nashe Maalo on the national television. Viewers are required to answer contents-related questions and submit answers to SCGM, receiving music CD or cassette in return.

Nashe Maalo Live Theatre
The project is based on the characters and principles of Nashe Maalo series, with similar objectives: increasing tolerance among children in Macedonia and promoting inter-cultural understanding. Two dramas will be produced for children ages 11-15, and the plays will visit 12 cities throughout Macedonia. Beyond simple dramatic performances, this theatre will also involve direct communication between the audience and the cast. Following each show, children will be led to a facilitated discussion about what they have seen. This will give them an opportunity to ask questions, make comments, or otherwise explore the experience they had. The first phase of the project will involve formative research conducted among 400 children, based on which the play designs will be made. The actors will be identified from different Macedonian ethno-linguistic communities. Combined with community-based performance, this project will offer accessible, grassroots arts program that will help overcome ethnic mistrust.

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