Intro
On 24th September 2025, citizens from Veles gathered at Europe House to participate in the first FIC-Fighters Citizen Workshop under the theme “Voices for Change – Exploring Solutions for the Veles Stack”.
The event aimed to reconnect the community with the legacy of the local phosphogypsum landfill — an industrial by-product that has shaped both the landscape and collective memory of this Macedonian city. Through dialogue and creative mapping exercises, participants explored how their environment has changed, what challenges remain, and what kind of future they envision for the area.
Context
Veles, located in central North Macedonia, was once home to a major phosphoric acid production facility whose operations left behind a large phosphogypsum stack. Decades after its closure, the site still has this legacy, yet, many residents no longer associate the area with environmental risk. The issue of phosphogypsum has gradually faded from public discourse — replaced by more visible or closer concerns such as air or soil pollution due to the industrial past of the village.
The Workshop
Organised by the FIC-Fighters consortium, led by ALDA, coordinated by AtClave and in cooperation with local partner CEIM, the session gathered local residents, representatives from NGOs, educators, and youth groups.
The workshop followed a participatory format structured in two main activities:
- Mapping Risks and Impacts: participants identified perceived threats related to the PG site and its surroundings.
- Imagining the Future: small groups developed scenarios of how Veles could evolve over the next 15 years under positive transformation.
The methodology fostered open discussion, creativity, and collective reflection — shifting the focus from fear to possibility.
Watch the summary video from the event:
Insights from the discussion
The workshop revealed how Veles’s relationship with its phosphogypsum stack is shaped as much by memory and perception as by science.
For many younger residents, the “White Hill” has almost disappeared from collective awareness — a form of environmental amnesia that contrasts with the vivid memories of older generations, who recall the factory as a source of work and pride rather than pollution.
Participants also voiced a persistent distrust in institutions and the slow pace of public action. Health concerns focused less on the stack itself and more on air quality and chronic pollution in the village, perceived as part of everyday life.
Despite differing views, the conversations revealed a shared hope for transformation. Citizens imagined the site reborn as green space, combining remediation with recreation and education. Schools, youth councils, and NGOs were recognised as key actors to rebuild awareness and civic participation.
Ultimately, the dialogue showed that the challenge for Veles is not only environmental but also social — to recover trust, memory, and the capacity to act together toward regeneration.
Download the full report here.
What it means for the project
For the FIC-FIGHTERS initiative, the Veles Citizen Event demonstrates that environmental impact must be understood through people’s perceptions as much as through data. The workshop helped uncover a silent but significant social gap — between what is known scientifically and what is remembered collectively. It also encouraged us to apply the agreed participatory methodology to future events, as it was very successful and it was well received by participants.
