In North Macedonia, this abandoned Little Pioneers youth camp used to be a lively place during the era of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia. Now in ruins, the resort echoes memories of the past, reminiscent of the “Little Pioneers” song from old textbooks. The song went: “Little Pioneers, we are a proper army. Like the green grass, we grow daily. Death to fascism, freedom to the people. My mum will call me her little Pioneer.”
History
During Yugoslavia’s Communist era, from 1945 to 1992, the constitution outlined various forms of self-governance that were actively promoted by the state. One notable model was SIZ, or Samoupravne Interesne Zajednice (Self-governed Interest Communities), which were run by groups of self-organized individuals.
These SIZ communities were responsible for deciding how to allocate the funds they collected, which primarily came from collective work efforts and direct donations from members. Typically, the money was used to support projects that benefited the entire community.
Many hotels, summer camps, and holiday resorts were built through the SIZ system. Despite being one of the smaller Yugoslav republics, the Socialist Federal Republic of Macedonia had five resorts specifically for children’s activities. The largest of these was Tito’s Pioneers, named after the communist revolutionary and Yugoslav president, Josip Broz Tito. This resort covered nearly four square miles along the shore of Dojran Lake, near the village of Nikolikj, close to Greece but without an official border crossing.
Nikolikj remained relatively quiet and unfrequented, as the main town of Dojran is about 15 kilometers away. Children from all over Yugoslavia could stay for free in the resort’s avant-garde buildings, which stood out with their stark lines and raw material design typical of the period. The facade featured a mix of solid and transparent surfaces, clearly revealing the interior functions. Unique concrete monocle-shaped windows provided each room with a distinctive view through their round frames. The complex consisted of five identical arrow-shaped buildings, each almost touching the next, with each unit having two wings of rooms and a central communal area.
Abandonmend
The camp was abandoned in the 1990s during the Yugoslav wars. However, the locals of Nikolikj village still fondly remember the “golden era” when over 300 residents were employed there. Today, the camp lies in ruins, with nature slowly reclaiming the site.
The complex is neither guarded nor secured, making it free and easy to access, though potentially dangerous. Most of the windows are broken, allowing anyone to explore the interior. Everything of value has been taken, leaving only the basic structure. In 2015, the Republic of Macedonia tried to auction off all the SIZ resorts. Sadly the Little Pioneers Youth Camp attracted no buyers.
