A project was promoted Wednesday in Skopje aimed at financially supporting activities enabling integration, interaction and members of different communities to be brought together in Macedonia's educational process.

The "Building Bridges Fund" is a joint effort by the Ministry of Education and Science, the Swiss Embassy and the OSCE Mission to Skopje.

"Joint activities such as workshops, sport competitions or parties could build a bridge that will connect students studying in different languages. Municipalities, schools, teachers, parents or students themselves can initiate those projects," said Minister of Education and Science Spiro Ristovski at today's launch of the project.

The fund offers grants to municipalities, students, teachers, parents and schools for organizing activities that bring members of different communities together, he elaborated.

The OSCE Deputy Head of Mission, Ambassador Marianne Berecz said the fund "can help prepare students for an integrated future in a diverse Europe."

"Diversity should be seen as enriching. Negative attitudes towards diversity undermine the development and stability of a country," she stressed.

Swiss Ambassador Stefano Lazzarotto underlined that the main aim of the fund was to foster interaction among different communities as a way of increasing their mutual understanding and acceptance.

Pop stars Toni Zen, Adelina Tahiri and Rebeka are part of the fund's advisory board.