november 2021
voices MAGAZINE FOR ALL YOUNG PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD
Editorial
Едиторијал
N
ovember is the month of gratitude, and though it is rough this year, it is a reminder that we must reflect, be mindful and grateful for what we have already achieved, while setting goals and aiming higher and higher. And so did Tomasz Sobania, a 23-year-old guy, who ran the equivalent of a marathon every day from Poland to Italy. It is also the month of remembrance where we take time to remember Krystyna Skarbek, a Polish-born spy during the Second World War, and get nostalgic while discovering Yugoslavia-made cars in Skopje. Not to forget Macedonian stray dogs taken care by Daisy Family Rescue. Lots of events took place over the course of the last month. Some of our volunteers had the chance to attend a football match: Macedonia vs. Germany. Guess who won? Meanwhile, a group of 25 European youngsters travelled to Struga for a life-changing experience and discussed ways to tackle intolerance and discrimination. Prepare yourself a cup of warm tea and get ready for reading your favorite monthly magazine! Lucile Guéguen
Н
оември е месец на благодарност, и иако е некако груб годинава, сепак е потсетник дека мораме да размислуваме, да бидеме свесни и благодарни за она што веќе сме го постигнале, притоа да поставуваме цели и да се стремиме повисоко и повисоко. Истото го направи и Томаш Собанија, 23-годишно момче, кој секој ден трча еквивалент на маратон од Полска до Италија. Тоа е, исто така, месец на сеќавање каде одвојуваме време да се потсетиме на Кристина Скарбек, шпионка родена во Полска за време на Втората светска војна, и да бидеме носталгични додека откриваме стари автомобили во Скопје. Да не ги заборавиме и локалните кучиња - скитници згрижени од „Daisy Family Rescue“. Многу настани се случија во текот на минатиот месец. Некои од нашите волонтери имаа шанса да присуствуваат на фудбалскиот натпревар меѓу Македонија и Германија. Погодете кој победи? Во меѓувреме, група од 25 европски младинци отпатуваа во Струга да стекнат искуство кое ќе им го промени животот, разговарајќи за начините за справување со нетолеранцијата и со дискриминацијата. Подгответе си шолја топол чај и читајте го вашиот омилен месечник! Лусил Геган
VCS DIRECTOR: Nikola Stankoski COORDINATORS: Andrej Naumovski Goran Adamovski Goran Galabov Selina Niemi Ewelina Chańska
VOLUNTEERS: Christopher Machold Clarissa Leute Yvan Barbeau Anna Marek Kacper Król Jolanta Ciopcińska Niina Koivula Lucile Guéguen
EXTERNAL WRITERS: István Gál Dafina Veselinoska TRANSLATORS: Martina Danilovska Dora Arifi PROOFREADERS: Elen Wright-Stead Edward Stead
DESIGNERS: Lucile Guéguen Selina Niemi Ewelina Chańska Clarissa Leute Yvan Barbeau Anna Marek Kacper Król Jolanta Ciopcińska Niina Koivula Christopher Machold
CONTACT: Volunteers Centre Skopje Emil Zola 3/3-1, 1000, Skopje +389 22 772 095 vcs_contact@yahoo.com www.vcs.org.mk
VOICES magazine is coordinated, designed and created by ESC and local volunteers with support of Erasmus+ program.
content
VOICES November 2021 - issue 11
topic of the month 4
20
Living car museum
Kacper Król
Жив музеј на коли
Kacper Król
music 6
A musical step to save the planet
Anna Marek
reportages 8 10
Every dog deserves a good life
Niina Koivula
Inflation is hitting hard across the globe
Yvan Barbeau
12
István Gál
14
Witches – from fairytales to becoming one On His Majesty’s secret service
Jolanta Ciopcińska
16
Clarissa Leute
18
22
Let’s heal the world with colors Egypt’s pharaonic new capital city
Lucile Guéguen
Çdo qen meriton një jetë të mirë
Niina Koivula
sport 24
Anna Marek
26
A German in disguise
Beyond the limit
Christopher Machold
erasmus+ 28
PeerAct
Kacper Król
poetry 30
18
Се запознавме во ноемри Dafina Veselinoska
Cover: Kacper Król
12 8
topic of the month
LIVING CAR museum "Old cars can be repainted but they still keep moving in the same old ruts" - Mongo Beti
4 - VOICES
тема на месецот
Sirenje, ajvar, tafche-grafcze, rakija, kebab, shopska salad, amazing nature, sun and amazing atmosphere created by people - these are some of the first associations I have in my head about Macedonia. I believe that most people who have visited this country at least once in their life would say the same. As a volunteer for the European Solidarity Corps, I have been living in Skopje for almost five months. This is enough time to get used to the new everyday life. After such a long time, it is difficult to be surprised by anything...
...EXCEPT IN HERE!
E
very day, I see new things and experience different situations that make it impossible to get bored. Cars are one of those things. And maybe Macedonians do not pay much attention to them because they are obvious to them. For tourists, it is a natural attraction that can bring back a lot of memories. In many countries, the flagship cars that were produced in Yugoslavia, i.e., Yugo, Zastawa, and Fico, and those produced in other parts of Europe, such as Skoda or Fiat, can only be seen in museums. In Macedonia, I see them every day. In many places, forgotten, abandoned in scrap yards in others, they are pearls for collectors who are ready to pay large sums to buy specific models, and here still operational and ready to ride every day, they make walking the streets of Skopje back in time. Just as our clothes often reflect our personalities, so are cars. Many owners of old school cars appreciate the spirit of the times. The climate is also complemented by double-
decker red buses, of which there are fewer and fewer. All this makes Macedonia an ideal place for people who want to feel the atmosphere of the 90s, not only through cars but also through postcommunist, modernist, and brutalist buildings. Fun fact: Yugo is a Serbian brand of passenger cars produced at the Kragujevac plant in former Yugoslavia since 1984. This factory was established in 1953. Previously it was used to manufacture military equipment. From 1954, the factory produced cars under the license of Fiat - Zastava. The most popular models of the Zastava were the 1100, which were also assembled at the FSO factory in Żerań. In return, Yugoslavia received a Fiat 125p, which was called Zastaa 125pz. In 1980, based on Fiat 127, Zastava Yugo, also known as Yugo Koral, was created. Kacper Król Source: Auto Swiat: Yugo
VOICES - 5
music
A MUSICAL STEP TO SAVE THE
PLANET
6 - VOICES
музика
Not only limiting plastic during concerts, setting up own foundations, promoting an eco-friendly lifestyle, or writing songs. Musicians are taking another step to fight climate change. Recurring concerts and new album premieres show new ways of dealing with the crisis.
W
riting songs whose main idea is to draw attention to the situation on our planet is nothing new. It has been known for many years to create music that expresses certain messages. Creating ecological songs as early as the 1980s caught the attention of a wider audience, for example, Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song.” However, recently artists are paying more and more attention to the difficult situation, also trying to direct their actions in such a way as not to waste tons of plastic or significantly reduce the carbon footprint. As it is known, the music industry and popular music are synonymous with a large sum of money, where it is easy to forget higher purposes. Therefore, the activities of world-famous bands can contribute to changing the mindset of people. Before the musicians had to cancel their tours due to the pandemic, many of them tried to do something for the planet during traveling around the world and playing concerts. Among others, Milky Chance joined forces with Eden Reforestation Project. Thanks to this, for each ticket purchased, one tree was planted. So far, more than 80 thousand trees have been planted thanks to this action.
It is known that artists profit from the sale of records: the more records, the more money. But also the greater the harm to the planet, as more and more plastic is produced. And the musicians also receive music recording certification, which confirms these numbers. For example: In the United States, 500 thousand records sold are gold, one million platinum, and 10 million are diamond. Therefore, some artists have decided to either completely abandon the sale of albums or change the approach to this. One of such artists is Lorde, whose latest album, “Solar Power,” only contains cardboard, paper, and download code. Each album is carbon-neutral. Emissions were offset by planting trees, so assured the artist. It seems that a good solution is to use streaming services. However, as Kyle Devine’s research shows, listening to music from them is also very disastrous for the planet. The amount of plastic used to make physical records has fallen from 61 million kilograms in the 2000s to about 8 million kilograms in 2016. But the energy it takes to stream and download digital music has caused greenhouse gas emissions to rise. Currently, the energy needed to transmit music for streaming is estimated to be between 200 and 350 million kilograms. Musicians not only make a living by selling records, but a large part of their careers is also touring, especially for the most famous, where the organization of the world tour is a huge undertaking, and thus, great harm to the planet. That is why some people have given up touring or are trying to do it in a more sustainable way. One of such bands is Coldplay, which stopped touring two years ago. After this period, a new tour was announced.
The next one will partly be powered by a dance floor that generates electricity when fans jump up and down. So basically, when they move, they power the concert. Also during the concerts, there will be bicycles to do the same. Just like Milky Chance, Coldplay will also plant a tree for every ticket sold. The team created a 12-point plan that includes, among other things, creating a set with materials picked for their environmental credentials, restricting air travel, and introducing an app that will allow fans to plan their journeys to and from the show with the lowest possible emissions. Even with many changes, it is still not possible to cut the environmental impact of some parts of touring. However, creating an entire show using renewable energy seems like a big step towards change. The music industry is trying to change the approach to non-ecological behavior, but fighting the entire system is very difficult. Taking steps is often associated with losing money, which many musicians are not ready for, choosing the easier path. However, the examples of many musicians who set their goals for their own interests show that music can also give hope. After all, art should bring people together for the greater good, which has been successful many times in the past. Anna Marek Sources: Milky Change: Tickets for trees BBC: Coldplay: Band ready for backlash over the eco-friendly world tour Rolling Stone: Is streaming music dangerous to the Environment? Stuff.co.nz: With a plastic-free album, Lorde confronts the hidden carbon of data
VOICES - 7
reportage
Every dog deserves a good life Throughout the times, dogs have been people’s best friends. Humans and dogs have lived together for 15,000 years. Dogs are loyal family members and play an important role in working life, where they can act as guide dogs or drug dogs. In addition, dogs save several lives each year. Researches show that dogs have a positive effect on human health. But what has happened that the dogs have drifted into the streets? Why do they no longer live in our home as family members but on the streets alone?
“It takes nothing away from a human to be kind to an animal.”
-American Actor Joaquin Phoenix
8 - VOICES
I
t’s a regular workday when one of Daisy’s volunteers saw dog lying at a bus stop at a window. The worker has a lot of meetings that day, so he doesn’t hesitate to see if the dog is all right. The dog did not move, and he remained in the same position for 4 hours. Many people walked past, some got off the bus, some got on the bus, but no one went to see if everything was okay with the dog. When all the meetings were over, the worker took the water and food with her and rushed to check on the dog, hoping everything was fine with him. Upon arrival, the dog did not want water or food, and when the worker finally got the dog moved, she noticed that he had an open bloody wound under his stomach, and some of his bodies were exposed outside. Of course, he was immediately taken to the vet, where he stayed until he fully recovered. All the people ignored him that day, but now he has been happily adopted in Germany, and he is living the best of his life. A Daisy Family Rescue volunteer told the previous story. “I started volunteering at Daisy’s over a year ago. Before I was welcomed into the team, I had a chance to meet some of the founders and hear more about their work, what they do and how they manage to help the stray dogs in Macedonia,” says a Daisy volunteer. Daisy Family Rescue is a non-profit organization that has existed since the end of 2016 (unofficially), officially registered in Macedonia in 2019. Daisy Family Rescue is helping street dogs in Macedonia. The story originated from a dog named Daisy, who was the first rescued dog. The organization also operates in Germany, where it is registered as a non-profit “Tierschutzverein.” The organization rescues dogs from Macedonia to Germany, where dogs are adopted. There are currently 201 adopted dogs. It is estimated that only in Skopje, the number of stray dogs is up to 7000, so on the whole territory, this number is even higher, but there are no official results on this subject. There is not enough
knowledge in Macedonia to help street dogs, and the animals on the street are a real problem here. Also, the government is not doing enough for the street dog problem. There are a few organizations in Macedonia that help dogs, but the problem is significant. The core issue is that many of the stray animals are not spayed/neutered. Another problem is that many owners allow the dogs to wander outside (without properly walking them on a leash). These dogs then breed with strays that are not spayed/neutered. Such irresponsible actions from the owners increase the population of stray dogs even further. Many dog owners have female dogs that are not spayed, and they decide to mate their dogs, but after the birth of the puppies, they see that either they cannot take care of them or find new homes for them, so they decide to throw them on the streets. So what do volunteers do in Daisy Family Rescue? Now Daisy has nine volunteers in Macedonia and Germany. In Macedonia, volunteers take the dogs to the vet and ensure that the required tests are done. Volunteers also visit the dogs in the kennels and make sure everything is okay. They also go outside with the dog to have some walk with them. Volunteers can also prepare the dogs for their trip and ensure that all the documentation is ready to travel safely. In Germany, volunteers welcome the dogs that arrive and introduce them to their new adopters/fosters. Volunteers also do home checks and are in constant communication with the adopters/fosters to make sure all is okay during the adjustment period of the dogs.communication with the adopters/fosters to make sure all is okay during the adjustment period of the dogs.
репортажа
• Feeding dogs, making shelters for them during the winter, or giving them medicine if necessary. • Never leave a hurt animal behind, not wait on organizations to help because every minute matters, always to find a way to take the animal to the vet so that it gets the necessary medical care. • By volunteering. • By talking and writing about street dogs. • Following Daisy on social media. • By donating to Daisy Monthly support: www.patreon.com/join/ daisyfamilyrescue, Macedonian account for donations: 2700733927501-14, ДЕЈЗИ ФЕМИЛИ, Скопје, HALKBANK, PayPal: (daisyfamilyrescue@gmail.com) Niina Koivula Sources: www.daisyfamilyrescue.de Rover: Dogs are called mans best friend
How can an ordinary person help? “Anyone can help a stray animal if they are willing to help,” says a volunteer from Daisy.
VOICES - 9
reportage
INFLATION IS HITTING HARD ACROSS THE GLOBE The specter of the Covid pandemic has often been feared, but as time goes by, its effects are increasingly visible. A significant part of the world faces severe inflation, and no one can predict how long it will last. What are the causes and the characteristics of this inflation? Here are parts of the solution:
10 - VOICES
репортажа
A
ccording to specialists, inflation in 30% of the world has been superior to 4% since the beginning of the year. These countries are mainly developing countries, which are the most likely to have a more significant impact on the world economy. In the Eurozone, consumer prices increased by 3,4% over a year in September, whereas gas tariffs’ rise has not yet been taken into account. This is the highest number recorded in thirteen years, according to a report delivered by Eurostat on the 1st of October. Inflation has made progress each month in the Eurozone since June. It hit 2,2% in July and 3% in August. In Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom, it now fluctuates around 4%. In America, inflation is even higher, especially in the United States. In July, prices have increased by 5,4% over a year. According to the Federal Reserve System, inflation in the future should be higher than initially planned and should reach 4,2% over the year. Financial aids allocated to households as well as vaccination in the country is responsible for this phenomenon. Energy prices rose by more than 17% over the year and represent half of the overall inflation’s increase. The other half comes from the rise of services and hard goods’ costs, which reflect global, supply difficulties and shortage of components. As a result, raw materials costs have also increased. “With mass vaccination, lockdowns are less implemented, which leads to more mobility in societies, which in turn fuels consumption,” explains Paola Monperrus-Verroni, an economist at the Crédit Agricole. “The rise in prices can be explained by an excess of demand in comparison to the available offer, as opposed to the previous year when we
attended the opposite scenario.” As economies reopen, there is stronger consumer demand, and prices are bouncing back from drops during the pandemic in some sectors. At the same time, shipping costs have also increased. According to the OECD, persistent supply shortages could lead to a longer period of higher inflation. Many economists are worried about this global situation, like those working at the Bank of America, for example. According to one of them, “inflation is suddenly everywhere. Since the beginning of the year, the cost of tin has increased by 74%, gasoline by 60%, coffee by 52%, aluminum by 47%, and the list goes on. The energetic crisis has reached historic proportions, with the cost of gas in Italy reaching a 385% rise since the beginning of the year”. The interviewed economist adds: “This inflation era puts an end to the era of largesses. In September, central banks have increased their rates thirteen times, the highest level since a decade. Besides, interest rates on government loans on both sides of the Atlantic have climbed since the end of August, and they might go further”. Other economists are more optimistic though, and as AnneSophie Alsif – the head economist of the BDO analytical cabinet – says, “the inflation phenomenon is often linked to energy because its prices are the most fluctuating. Yvan Barbeau Sources: L'article à lire pour comprendre pourquoi l’inflation décolle avec la reprise de l'activité économique postcrise du Covid-19 (francetvinfo.fr) -Inflation to remain higher for two years, warns OECD - BBC News -L'inflation en zone euro au plus haut depuis 2008 | Les Echos
VOICES - 11
reportage
W itc he s
12 - VOICES
Ph ot o:
Co nt en tP ixi e|
Un sp las h
- fr o m to f be air co y mi tal ng es on e
репортажа
When we think of a witch, the first thing to pop up in our heads is an old, green-skinned hag riding a broom in the night sky, with a black cat next to her. Or rather, that’s what the media made us think of witches. But how do they look like then?
T
he answer is, they look like anyone else. The definition of witches, written in medieval times, says that a person who got powers from contracting with Devil himself is a witch. Anyone could be one of them, even men, but women were thought to be easier to get tricked by the Devil’s seducing methods. In some folklore, these people were said to be engaged to Lucifer, who gave them quests, like making a person ill, or someone dies. The general folk were so terrified of the Devil’s fiancées that some people had nightmares of a witch using them instead of a broom.
more witchcraft than the culprits. Just to mention a pair of methods, to find out who is a witch in a village, I’ll start with a common problem. A workers cow milks bloody milk. This is caused by several infections, but back then, it was someone who cursed the stable. In this situation, the cow’s owners put the milk in a bucket and started hitting it with an ax. If someone in the village started screaming in pain, they were the witches who laid the curse. Another method was to thrust a shear into the edge of a sieve and hold it on the table by grabbing the pair of scissors. The charger yelled the
down the rituals, practices, and the new books of shadows, grimoires were written. The first modern witch groups, called covens, were based, where more and more people joined. Nowadays, witches are everywhere. It could be your teacher, a classmate of yours, the friendly, green thumb neighbor, or the mysterious colleague.
These nightmares, often sleep paralyzes, became frame-ups and led to killing innocent bevy of maidens. Widows, young ladies, and infertile women were sent to terrifying trials. We all heard about what happened in Salem and the whole of Europe, so let’s talk about the end of the witch-hunts.
names of villagers into the sieve and let the shear go. If the machination fell over, the person whose name was shouted was not guilty. On the other hand, if the sieve stayed still on its edge, they knew the name of the witch.
purposes or without malicious intent, the Wiccan witches who follow the guidance of the Wicca religion, and the green witches who practice natural rituals and mainly are based on natural sources. There are also located ones, like sea witches, kitchen witches, or cyber witches, practicing their witchcraft in the said places or platforms.
Dollar Gill | Unsplash
Modern witches are sorted into different classes. The first is the baby witches, who just started and need mentoring to find the right path. Then we have the white witches who use magic for benevolent
After the mid 19th century, the pointless accusations became nearly nonexistent, owing to the decreasing power of the church. Even though the hunt ended, the lower class still believed in the being of witches. For many decades scuttlebutts and stories were told about old widows, who acted suspiciously, grew herbs in their garden, gathered leeches, or lived an average, lonely life. This led to a ludicrous turn when the chargers did
The scurries were a witch and the Devil having their wedding, and when the clear sky thundered, Lucifer was beating his wife. These little folktales and beliefs kept their heads up until the early 20th century. The storm of the world wars silenced the rambling witch pursuits and made them silent for almost five decades. In the 80s, people interested in astrology, future telling or esotericism, started searching for notes, scripts, and texts about witchcraft. They started writing
If you are interested in becoming a witch, you can find many forums, groups online, where you can learn the path you like the most and meet mentors who will guide you. Please take the opportunity, because we all know you won’t end up at the bonfire! István Gál
VOICES - 13
On His Majesty’s Secret Service
Aston Martin passes the streets of picturesque Italy. The girl asks the driver to speed up, to which the driver replies: “We don’t need to go faster. We have all the time in the world.” This is how “No Time to Die”, the newest Bond begins, although so far in every other movie, he was usually in a hurry. This Bond is unlike any other. And there is not only one agent 007 this year. Behind every great man, there stands a woman… 14 - VOICES
Photo: Craig Whitehead
reportage
репортажа
B
ond might have been a superstar in the novels and cinemas, but women often did the most high-risk spy work outside Hollywood. The woman you will read about was on everyone’s lips, especially in the Intelligence Agencies world. She might be the inspiration for Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale, as one of her lovers was Ian Fleming, the author of the James Bond novels. The Polish beauty queen and Britain’s first female special agent of World War II - Krystyna Skarbek, a.k.a. Christine Granville a.k.a Pauline Armand. Beautiful, intelligent, and deadly. The British government awarded her with the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and the George Medal and French with Croix de Guerre. She became a resistance model for the French. The Israelis, even today, put Skarbek among their bravest soldiers in history. What about Polish compatriots? Poles turned her into a traitor. Since childhood, Krystyna has loved sports and adrenaline. Her father instilled in her a love of horse riding, mountain climbing, and skiing. The health condition is critical in the history of Skarbek. She was diagnosed with a benign tumor in the uterus, which made her unable to become pregnant. She, however, used this to her advantage, getting involved in numerous romances that helped her later work in the Secret Intelligence Service. Before the war, she worked in a Fiat factory, where exhaust fumes from cars irreversibly damaged her lungs. Her doctors advised her to spend time at the Tatra Mountains in Zakopane, Poland, where clear air might help offset the damage caused to her lungs. Some sources say that she made friends with vodka and cigarette smugglers during her stay in Zakopane, with whom she soon began to cooperate. She had no interest in it except adventure, though she didn’t know then how much she would need help from the smugglers later.
Paradoxically, it was the poor condition of her lungs that saved her later from execution in Hungary. How did her work in the Secret Intelligence Service start? During her stay in Kenya, she heard the news of the outbreak of WW II. Determined to help defend her country, she immediately hit the road and went to London. After arriving in Great Britain, it was too late to enlist in the army at home, so Skarbek reported to the Special Operations Executive and offered her services in smuggling propaganda materials, radio codes, and intelligence plans from Hungary to Poland. To get the job as a spy, Krystyna Skarbek had to undergo extremely murderous training. She completed it with honors, becoming the first woman in the British intelligence agency. She learned to kill with a knife, rope, and bare hands, and in the future, she was to become an explosives specialist. On her first mission in Budapest, she conducted underground activity. She traveled to Poland through the Slovak mountains as a courier. And this is when she used her contacts with vodka and cigarette smugglers. Unfortunately, not everything went as planned. Gestapo arrested her in Hungary. After two days of interrogation, Skarbek decided to risk everything. It was the greatest acting feat of her. She bit her tongue and began to cough while spitting her blood on the officer. When asked what happened, she replied that she had a severe form of tuberculosis and would die soon. She was immediately taken for a medical examination. During the X-ray, the Hungarian doctor noticed traces of the disease in her lungs. Only Skarbek knew that these traces were a remnant of a minor illness she had contracted during her work in a Fiat factory from the prewar period. Terrified of tuberculosis, the
Germans said she would die soon anyway, so they released her home. To help her escape, the British embassy gave her a British passport and a new name. Krystyna Skarbek became Christine Granville. Skarbek provided the British with countless valuable information. Data on where the German army is stationed, documentation on German war crimes and cruelty towards civilians, and the date of the German attack on the USSR (Operation Barbarossa). No wonder Churchill called her his favorite spy. During a mission in south-eastern France, she took the name Pauline Armand. As a courier of a spy network, she moved alone through enemy-held territory, conveying messages between the members, preparing and coordinating actions, and keeping everyone motivated. Skarbek also took an active part in the attacks of guerrillas on bridges and German ammunition dumps in France. After her mission in France, she returned to London. During that time, Warsaw was engulfed by the uprising. She wanted to help her compatriots in the fight for the liberation of the capital, but her superiors refused her pleas. Embittered, Skarbek returned to Cairo, where she was demobilized. When the war ended, the SOE paid Skarbek off. With only 100 pounds! She never returned to active service. What did Skarbek do after her spy career? She was a maid, telephone operator, saleswoman, and ship purser. She could ski over the hazardous mountains and cross snowy hills. She carried a pistol and a knife as it was no big deal. She delivered the messages that were a threat to her life. Skarbek was the perfect spy. A charismatic, fearless, and altogether extraordinary woman. Despite having had a lot of success in her life, she didn’t get the happiness and respect she deserved. She was too Polish for the Britons, too British for the Poles, too Jewish for everyone, and just too feminine... The woman who risked it all found no hero who could save her. Christine was murdered in a London hotel. Her killer was a man she’d met while working on a passenger ship, the man who became violently obsessed with her.
Jolanta Ciopcińska Sources: Clare Mulley: The Spy Who Loved: The Secrets and Lives of Christine Granville Historia.org.pl : Krystyna Skarbek - zapomniana bohaterka
VOICES - 15
reportage
LET’S HEAL
THE WORLD WITH COLORS Three years ago a teacher from Macedonia came up with an idea. He was teaching German in Vienna when a primary school student was looking out the window at the grey school walls. “Why don’t we make them more colorful?”, he suggested.
T
hat’s how Gerasim Dimitrov started the art project “Let’s heal the world with colors.” He started in Vienna in 2019 and eventually implemented the project in his home country Macedonia. The first group to support his idea was the “German Teacher Association”; later the Red Cross and several schools followed. Together with the students he painted on the school walls in Radovis, Bitola, Chair and Karpos. To underline the connection that art brings, they left puzzle pieces across the four walls. “The idea is to project all the puzzle pieces to the first wall in Vienna”, Gerasim explains. Covid-19 stopped the project for a long time but on a October morning the project continued in the private school Yahya Kemal College in Karpos. “In my opinion the name suits even better now. Especially during a pandemic art is essential for connection and expression.”, the teacher says.
16 - VOICES
Students from Yahya Kemal, Red Cross volunteers and VCS volunteers spent one day in the school to paint the hallway walls. The school provided breakfast for the thirty volunteers. After that, painting was on the schedule for four hours. At the end of the day we could see rainbows, a tree made up with colourful hands, a red cross (from the Red Cross) and many pictures related to the never ending learning journey. “In the beginning we were all careful and a bit shy with painting on the wall. It’s a wall, not a paper. The painting will be there for a long time. But after a while we felt more secure and let go of the insecurities”, tells our German VCS volunteer Chris. “Also I like the social aspect. Everybody from my group spoke perfect English so there was quite a lot of exchange.”
репортажа
About the school and the activities One week later I am once again invited to Yahya Kemal to speak with the teachers. Right when I entered, a concert in the auditorium took place – at some point even the Maths teacher performed a guitar solo. The coordinator of activities sat next to me and explained why they have over 100 activities including music clubs, science competitions, environmental workshops and Erasmus exchanges. “We are always ready to offer new activities. It is essential to teach the students how to build their character.”, the coordinator of activities tells me. “I think when they participate in projects their motivation goes up. When they feel good, they will be kinder to their friends and their environment.”
“Are children heard enough? Do they have a voice?”, I ask Gerasim while walking through the school halls. “No, unfortunately not. They are taught what to do and how to behave but they are not asked what they actually want. There is not enough time for them to be wild and simply children.” The coordinator of activities agrees. “But we want to hear their voices, know what they feel and know what they see.” Before I leave thew school I pass by the hallways one last time. One week later the paintings are almost finished. Now everybody could spark colorful paintings on the former white walls. Clarissa Leute
VOICES - 17
reportage
EGYPT’S PHARAONIC
NEW CAPITAL CITY
“Cairo is in a state of becoming…We just don’t know what it’s becoming yet.” - Daniel Joseph Monti, Michael Ian Borer, Lyn C. Macgregor
I
n 2020, Egypt’s population officially hit 100 million people. Most Egyptians are crammed into the banks of the Nile River. Cairo’s capital city has proliferated over the last few decades: it has witnessed a growth of about 700% between 1950 and 2020. In 2016, the city of a thousand minarets had an estimated population as high as 12 million, with a metropolitan population of 20.5 million, and is set to grow to 35 million by 2050. For more than 1 000 years, Cairo has stood on the same site until becoming the most populated city in the Middle East and Africa. Egypt’s overpopulation has implications on the whole country. Basic natural resources, such as land and water, are pressured by the fastgrowing population. Egypt is a rainless country, and 97% of the country’s territory is desert, resulting in the problematic expansion of agricultural land. It has also increased pollution levels. According to a report issued by the World Health Organization, Cairo is the second most polluted large city globally. The once ‘City Victorious’ is also affected by high unemployment rates, road congestion, and the rising cost of living, among others. Cairo has become so congested, polluted, and overcrowded that the Egyptian government has unveiled an ambitious project to relocate its capital city. In 2015, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi ordered a new capital city to be built from scratch. It is located 18 - VOICES
in the desert on the road to the Suez Canal, around 45 kilometers east of Cairo’s sprawling metropolis. With its 700 km2, the city will be equals to the size of Singapore, or seven times over the Paris area and 4.5 times over Washington D.C. It is boasted to be the biggest planned city ever. It aims at alleviating Cairo’s increasing congestion, creating jobs, and boosting the economy by strengthening and diversifying the country’s economic potential.
“Egypt is now turning into an example for the developed world of good governance”. Tarek El Khouly Egypt wants its new capital city to be up there among financial centers such as London, New York, Singapore, and Seoul. It will enable us to rebrand Egypt as a stable and internationally inviting place. Tarek El Khouly said: “Egypt is now turning into an example for the developed world of good governance”. The city will combine Pharaonic and Islamic architectural styles to link the new to the rich heritage of the
country’s past. The development of the brand-new capital has been divided into three phases over ten years for an initial cost of 58 billion USD. Rising up from the Sahara Desert, the dubbed ‘Sisi-City’ will serve as the new administrative and financial capital of Egypt. It was designed to house a presidential compound eight times the size of the White House, the Egyptian Parliament, and government ministries, as well as 6.5 million people. It will also contain an international airport, over 1 000 mosques and churches, offices, residential areas, healthcare, educational and sports facilities, hotel rooms, shopping malls, a giant urban park larger than New York’s Central Park, and even a massive theme park bigger than Disneyland. The new capital city will be connected to Eastern Cairo through a monorail, which travel time will be less than an hour. Egypt’s new administrative capital has already taken shape. In 2019, on the eve of Coptic Christmas, the Egyptian president simultaneously inaugurated Middle East’s largest cathedral, which can hold 8 000 worshippers, and Egypt’s most prominent mosque that can accommodate roughly 17 000 people. “We are one, and we will remain one,” el-Sisi said, referring to Egyptian Christians and Muslims and the frictions often erupting between the two communities. The new capital indirectly aims at uniting the different religious groups.
репортажа
The project is futuristic. The grandiose new capital was designed to integrate smart infrastructure to provide many services to citizens. Future residents are promised smartcards and a single app to pay utility bills, unlock doors, access local services, and report complaints. The smart city will be fitted with over 6 000 wireless cameras with the aim of tracking and reducing crime. The slated metropolis is also meant to be a sustainable city. Advanced technology systems will help reduce waste by detecting leaks or faults and by allowing residents to keep an eye on consumption. The future world’s largest smart city will also contain 90 km2 farms of solar energy. The Egyptian authorities hope that the new capital city will guide the country into digital transformation and sustainability. The Dubaiintended to business
style city is be a new hub for
all of Egypt. The Iconic Tower will be the symbol and trademark of the business district at the centre of the city. Upon completion, the futuristic building will be 385 meters high and 80 stories tall, overtaking Johannesburg’s Carlton Center, which has been Africa’s tallest building since 1973. The new city will also be home to 20 giant buildings and twelve business complexes. The plan to swap Cairo for a new high-tech capital in the middle of the desert is very ambitious. Egypt is not the only place in the world where purpose-built cities are being erected. History holds examples of other countries, which have relocated their seats of power to new cities designed from scratch: Brazil, Australia, Myanmar, Kazakhstan, and Nigeria are among the most famous examples. Built in a recordsetting four years, Brasília was planned from scratch as an ideal city by architect Oscar
Niemeyer. His objective was to build a new capital to bring progress to the interior of Brazil. In April 1960, Brazil moved the capital from Rio de Janeiro to Brasília, which became the world’s youngest capital at the time. Brasília’s population is now estimated at over four million inhabitants. So ensuring Egypt’s new capital city is planned correctly is critical to it being a great success. Lucile Guéguen Sources: WSCF: Egypt’s new capital Design Curial: Egypt plans a new capital city Ahmed Adel Abdelrahman Hussein and Eric Pollock 2019 IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 297 012027
VOICES - 19
reportage
Çdo qen meriton një jetë të mirë Përgjatë gjithë kohërave, qentë kanë qenë miqtë më të mirë të njerëzve. Njerëzit dhe qentë kanë jetuar së bashku për 15,000 vjet. Qentë janë anëtarë besnikë të familjeve dhe luajnë një rol të rëndësishëm në sferën e punës, ku ata mund të shërbejnë si qen udhërrëfyes ose qen droge. Përveç kësaj, çdo vit qentë shpëtojnë disa jetë. Hulumtimet tregojnë se qentë kanë një efekt pozitiv në shëndetin e njeriut. Por çfarë ka ndodhur që qentë kanë dalë në rrugë? Pse ata nuk jetojnë më në shtëpinë tonë si anëtarë të familjes, por vetëm në rrugë?
“Njeriu nuk humb asgjë nëse sillet mirë me një kafshë”
-Aktori amerikan Joaquin Phoenix
20 - VOICES
I
shte një ditë e zakonshme pune kur një nga vullnetarët e Daisy vëren një qen të shtrirë në një stacion autobusi në dritare. Punëtori kishte shumë takime atë ditë, ndaj nuk heziton të shohë nëse qeni është në rregull. Qeni nuk lëvizte dhe qëndroi në të njëjtin pozicion për 4 orë. Shumë njerëz kaluan pranë, disa zbritën nga autobusi, disa hipën në autobus, por askush nuk shkoi për të parë nëse gjithçka ishte në rregull me qenin. Kur mbaruan të gjitha takimet, punëtorja mori ujin dhe ushqimin me vete dhe nxitoi të kontrollonte qenin, duke shpresuar se gjithçka ishte mirë me të. Me të mbërritur, qeni nuk donte ujë e as ushqim, dhe kur punëtorja më në fund e lëvizi qenin, ajo vuri re se ai kishte një plagë të hapur të përgjakshme nën bark dhe disa pjesë të trupit e tij ishin ekspozuar jashtë. Natyrisht, ai u dërgua menjëherë te veterineri, ku qëndroi derisa u shërua plotësisht. Të gjithë njerëzit e injoruan atë ditë, por tani ai është adoptuar i lumtur në Gjermani dhe po shijon jetën. Një vullnetar i Daisy Family Rescue tregoi historinë e mëparshme. “Kam filluar të punoj vullnetar në Daisy’s më shumë se një vit. Para se të më mirëpritnin në ekip, pata rastin të takoj disa nga themeluesit dhe të dëgjoj më shumë për punën e tyre, çfarë bëjnë dhe si arrijnë të ndihmojnë qentë endacakë në Maqedoni.” thotë një vullnetar i Daisy. Daisy Family Rescue është një organizatë jofitimprurëse që është themeluar nga fundi i vitit 2016 (jozyrtarisht), por e regjistruar zyrtarisht në Maqedoni në vitin 2019. Daisy Family Rescue po ndihmon qentë e rrugës në Maqedoni. Historia filloi nga një qen i quajtur Daisy, i cili ishte qeni i parë i shpëtuar. Organizata gjithashtu operon në Gjermani, ku është e regjistruar si një organizatë jofitimprurëse “Tierschutzverein”. Organizata shpëton qen nga Maqedonia në Gjermani, ku adoptohen qentë. Aktualisht ka 201 qen të adoptuar.
репортажа
një problem serioz. Gjithashtu, qeveria nuk po bën sa duhet për problemin e qenve të rrugës. Në Maqedoni ka disa organizata që ndihmojnë qentë, por problemi është shumë më i madh. Problematika kryesore është se shumë nga kafshët endacake nuk janë sterilizuar/kastruar. Një problem tjetër është se shumë pronarë i lejojnë qentë të enden jashtë (duke mos i shëtitur siç duhet me zinxhir). Këta qen më pas shumohen me endacakë që nuk janë sterilizuar/kastruar. Veprime të tilla të papërgjegjshme nga pronarët e shtojnë edhe më tej numrin e qenve endacakë. Shumë pronarë qensh kanë qen femra që nuk sterilizohen dhe vendosin t’i çiftojnë qentë e tyre, por pas lindjes së këlyshëve, shohin që ose nuk mund të kujdesen për ta ose u gjejnë shtëpi të reja, ndaj vendosin ti lënë rrugëve. Pra, çfarë bëjnë vullnetarët në Daisy Family Rescue? Tani Daisy ka nëntë vullnetarë në Maqedoni dhe Gjermani. Në Maqedoni, vullnetarët i çojnë qentë te veterineri dhe sigurojnë që të bëhen analizat e nevojshme. Vullnetarët gjithashtu vizitojnë qentë në lukuni dhe sigurohen që gjithçka është në rregull. Ata gjithashtu dalin jashtë me qenin për të shëtitur me ta. Vullnetarët gjithashtu mund të përgatisin qentë për udhëtimin e tyre dhe të sigurojnë që i gjithë dokumentacioni të jetë gati për të udhëtuar në mënyrë të sigurt. Në Gjermani, vullnetarët mirëpresin qentë që mbërrijnë dhe i prezantojnë ata me adoptuesit/birësuesit e tyre të rinj. Vullnetarët gjithashtu bëjnë kontrolle në shtëpi dhe janë në komunikim të vazhdueshëm me adoptuesit/ birësuesit për t’u siguruar që gjithçka është në rregull gjatë periudhës së përshtatjes së qenve.
Vlerësohet se vetëm në Shkup numri i qenve endacak është deri në 7000, pra në tërë territorin ky numër është edhe më i madh, por nuk ka rezultate zyrtare për këtë temë.
Si mund të ndihmojë një person i zakonshëm? “Çdokush mund të ndihmojë një kafshë endacake nëse është i gatshëm të ndihmojë.” thotë një vullnetar nga Daisy.
Në Maqedoni nuk ka vetëdije të mjaftueshme për të ndihmuar qentë e rrugës, dhe kafshët endacake përbëjnë
Ushqyerja e qenve, krijimi i strehimoreve për ta gjatë dimrit ose dhënia e ilaçeve nëse është e
nevojshme. Asnjëherë mos lini vetëm një kafshë të lënduar, mos prisni që organizatat të ndihmojnë sepse çdo minutë ka rëndësi, gjithmonë ekzsiton mundësia për ta dërguar kafshën te veterineri në mënyrë që të marrë kujdesin e nevojshëm mjekësor. • •
• • •
Duke dhuruar për mbështetjen mujore të Daisy: www.patreon.com/ join/daisyfamilyrescue Llogari maqedonase për donacione: 270-0733927501-14, DEJZI FAMILY, Shkup HALKBANK, PayPal:(daisyfamilyrescue@gmail. com) Duke u bërë volunterë Duke folur dhe shkruar për qentë e rrugës. Duke ndjekur Daisy në rrjetet sociale
Niina Koivula Përkthyes: Dora Arifi Burimet: www.daisyfamilyrescue.de Rover: Dogs called-mans best friend
VOICES - 21
topic of the month
Жив музеj на коли
22 - VOICES
тема на месецот
Сирење, ајвар, тавче-гравче, ракија, ќебап, шопска салата, прекрасна природа, сонце и неверојатен амбиент создаден од луѓе-ова се само некои од првите асоцијации кои ги имам во глава за Македонија. Верувам дека најголем дел од луѓето што ја посетиле оваа држава барем еднаш во животот, ќе го кажат истото. Како волонтер во Европскиот солидарен корпус, живеам во Скопје речиси 5 месеци. Сосема доволно време да се навикнам на секојдневниот живот. После долго време, тешко е да се биде изненаден од било што.
... Но не и тука!!
c
екој ден гледам нови работи и искусувам различни ситуации кои здодевноста ја прават невозможна. Автомобилите се една од тие работи. И можеби Македонците не обрнуваат многу внимание на нив, затоа што им се вообичаени. Но, за туристите е природна атракција која може да врати многу спомени. Во многу држави, колите кои биле произведени во Југолавија, како на пример „Југо“, „Застава“ и „Фиќо“, и оние произведени во другите делови на Европа, како постари модели на „Шкода“ или „Фиат“, можат само да се видат во музеите. Во Македонија ги гледам секој ден. На многу места, заборавени, напуштени во дворови, тие се бисери за колекционери кои
се подготвени да платат големи суми за да добијат одредени модели, при што тие се дури во возна состојба со штого прават шетањето по скопските улици како враќање во времето. Како што нашата облека често ја рефлектира нашата личност, така се и колите. Многу сопственици на стари автомобили го ценат духот на времето. Климата, исто така, е надополнета од двокатните црвени автобуси, кои ги има сè помалку и помалку. Сето ова ја прави Македонија идеално место за луѓе кои сакаат да го почувствуваат амбиентот на 90-тите, не само преку колите туку и преку посткомунистичките, модернистички и бруталистички згради.
Крагуевац во поранешна Југославија од 1984 година. Оваа фабрика била основана во 1953.
Забавен факт: „Југо“ е српски бренд на патнички коли произведен во
Извори: Auto Swiat: Yugo
Претходно била користена за воена опрема. Од 1954, фабриката произведувала коли под лиценцата на „Фиат-Застава“. Најпопуларните модели на „Застава“ биле – 1100, кои биле достапни и во FSO фабриката во Зеран. За возврат, Југославија добила „Фиат 125р“, кој бил наречен „Застава 125pz“. Во 1980, според „Фиат 127“ била создадена „Застава Југо“, уште познато како „Југо Корал“. Каспер Крол Преведувач: Мартина Даниловска
VOICES - 23
sport
BEYOND
THE
LIMIT Some people find it extremely rewarding to push their boundaries. One of the ways to do that is a seemingly simple activity running. Certain runners have decided to use this passion for constant challenges to help others. Tomasz Sobania, a Polish runner, set himself the goal of running the marathon distance every day to finally cover the distance from Poland to Italy to help the ill girl.
24 - VOICES
cпорт
I
t started inconspicuously. His adventure with running began because he went everywhere at the last minute and had to run to make it on time. In high school, he ran so as not to be late to school or for the train. He also dealt with sport thanks to football, played by his dad and brothers, and thus also Tomasz. “I think I was a bit lucky. Because I have already had contact with sports before, it was easier for me to introduce myself, start running and training. It seems that it is most important at the beginning of your running adventure to find what you like. I found such beautiful moments of complete freedom”, explains the runner. It turned out that Tomasz not only liked running, but was also good at it. So he started to run longer distances, including a 300-kilometer run to Santiago de Compostela, achieved in 7 days. He had been planning his trip to Rome for a long time. This year, he finally made his dream come true. The runner started his run in Częstochowa, Poland. The goal was to reach Rome, covering the marathon distance by day, which is 42 kilometers. The entire route was almost 1,500 kilometers, the sum of 35 marathons. Tomasz wanted to collect money through his run to help a little girl. Because of that, it was easier to reach Italy.
persistence in exercises, as well as hundreds of phone calls and e-mails exchanged daily. Tomasz ran through several countries, which also required finding sponsors who could cover the costs. Therefore, the run itself was not so stressful for him. “I had freedom and joy all the time, which was mainly related to the fact that I did not have to deal with all these organizational matters. It fell on my team, on three people who were with me: Kasia, Mateusz, and Paulina. They helped me a lot, and they relieved me so that I could only run and not worry about anything. That was the freedom: you have to run a marathon every day, and you don’t have to think about anything, about any problems. This is really cool.” he says. Every runner knows that running a marathon distance is related to enormous physical effort.
Tomasz decided to cover this distance not once but many times, every day. It is clear that there are moments of crisis during such a physical activity. He explains: “It is difficult to deal with crises, and I don’t have any remedy for it, but it helped me a lot that I knew why I was doing it. I knew this was my dream. Besides, I was waiting a lot for Rome for this goal of mine. It gave me strength and the fact that I ran for charity. The fact that I was running for someone, not only for myself.” After 35 days, Tomasz ran the whole distance. In total, it was 1,485 kilometers, which is almost two million steps. Thanks to this run, he managed to collect 45 thousand polish zlotys, equivalent of 10 thousand euros. Satisfaction after the run is still with Tomasz. To some extent, he still cannot believe that he has achieved his goal. However, he explains that it is natural to already think about the next expeditions. “Setting goals is a natural process, in my opinion. If it turned out that I got somewhere, I don’t have another goal, and I don’t want to set it, then something is wrong.” he ends. Anna Marek
He shares: “When it is difficult, I know that I am not doing it just for myself, and then it is becoming a little easier. During this run to Italy, I didn’t realize what was happening. I still feel it even now. There were such wonderful moments when I really felt that I was alive and that it was worth doing such things.” However, preparing such a run, both logistically and physically, is not an easy task. It is connected with
VOICES - 25
reportage
A German
in disguise Macedonia against Germany - for many people, that’s just another football game. For Macedonia, since the 31st of March 2021, it has been part of their sports history. Half a year later, both teams were entering the ring again, this time in Skopje, and for me, it was the perfect occasion to see the German national team playing for the first time in my life.
26 - VOICES
e
репортажа
I
t was Monday, the 11th of October 2021, the Day of Macedonian’s Uprising against fascism, and the day Macedonia wanted to write history again. It was raining cats and dogs when the German national football team came to Macedonia to take revenge for what happened on the 31st of March. Back then, the Macedonian national team had beaten ‘Die Mannschaft’ 2:1 on German ground. Germany has been undefeated for 35 matches or almost 20 years on the FIFA World Cup qualifiers until that day. David won against Goliath, and people in Macedonia were celebrating on the streets and just incredibly happy about the victory. I was happy for them too, even though I’m German.
they consider me to be a German? The question remains unanswered since I positioned myself to my friends when the first half was over, but I felt safer being a German in disguise. You can hardly anticipate how Macedonian football extremists after ten Skopsko would react to their biggest enemy. Who knows, maybe they would even consider me being a spy and put me into their torture chamber that is probably located somewhere in the fortress. Jokes aside, from my experience, people in Macedonia are nice to Germans, so probably the worst thing that would have to happen is a spicy comment about the previous encounter of the two teams… at least during the first half.
After living in a country for several months, it’s just normal to become attached to it, its people, its stories, and its life. Knowing that a triumph for Macedonia would mean a billion times more to them than just another win for Germany to me makes it even easier to cheer for the underdog. So I went to the game, under the rain, with a Macedonian scarf and a ticket that cost 100 Macedonian Denars. In case you are not familiar with the exchange rate, that’s around 1.70 Euros. So basically I went to see the German national team playing for the same price as 1 liter of petrol in Germany at the moment. I guess that’s one more reason to support the Macedonian team during that evening.
The second half started - with a goal for Germany in minute 50. I was now with my friends, and none of us were happy about the goal. The German fan block next to us, though, knew how to celebrate. With their drum sets and their beer-oiled voices, they were dominating this part of the stadium likewise the German team did. For 20 more minutes, there was still hope for Macedonia to turn the game into their favor, but when Timo Werner scored twice in minutes 70 and 73, even the most optimistic Macedonian had to admit that history was not going to repeat itself. After that, more and more people had already left the stadium, what’s understandable when your team is losing, and the ticket for the match is cheaper than the potential petrol costs for being stuck in a traffic jam.
I wasn’t reading my ticket carefully before entering the stadium, neither did the authorities. So I just went straight inside, followed people in front of me, and went to the seat number written on my ticket. I was waiting for my friends, and when I spotted them in another part of the stadium, I knew I was sitting in the wrong chair. I was only looking at my row and seat, not at the block where my seat was. But there I was, surrounded by Macedonians, though having a way better view of the field than my friends, who were sitting behind Manuel Neuer’s goal during the first half. The atmosphere was good, and the Macedonians were euphoric during the first half. A couple of times, they started singing some national songs, which of course, I didn’t know and therefore couldn’t sing. The people around me probably noticed that I’m not Macedonian, but did
Eventually, Germany won 4:0 against Macedonia. The final whistle of the referee also marked the end of the rain. The merciful weather god gave the defeated Macedonians at least a dry walk home. To me, it was a nice but slightly weird evening. Some of my Macedonian friends wanted to congratulate me afterward for the victory. I don’t know if they believed me when I said that I was not happy about it. I guess it’s hard to understand those kinds of things if you are not born in a country where having national pride is basically not allowed. Christopher Machold Source: BBC
VOICES - 27
erasmus+
Another step in the development of future facilitators!
Diversity & antidiscrimination was the main topic of the "Peer Act" training course in Struga. Youth in the partnership countries still discriminate and show intolerance towards their peers (based on religion, gender, ethnicity, race, disability, or sexual orientation or simply not fitting the social norms). This situation is not compatible with EU values, and a solution for combating this phenomenon is needed. Youth NGOs need to tackle this issue through an effective solution and resources to implement a high-impact solution at the local level. 28 - VOICES
F
or a few days, international mobility took place in Macedonia, with all participants who will have organized their short local workshops. Seventy participants were trained for ten days in a few groups by two certified trainers/groups of +-25 participants. Each day they were allocated to one of the program’s learning units, as follows: introduction to facilitation, planning a workshop, facilitation skills and techniques, assessing participant’s facilitation skills, evaluation and follow-up. In addition to acquiring skills and knowledge on facilitation, workshop management, giving and receiving feedback, participants had the opportunity to take the floor and deliver activities they’ve
previously experienced to get advice from their peers and assess their competencies. They received the EPTO AWOD Manual for peer trainers and became “Peer Certified,” which allows them to facilitate longer workshops promoting non-discrimination, tolerance, solidarity, and equality in the youth environment back home. The theory of change is that by involving young people in the workshops that use the AWOD antibias methodology, we will foster the knowledge, understanding, and ownership of fundamental EU values among at least 70% of them. It of
is an international effort nine partners from eight
еразмус+ European countries to contribute substantially to building societies and to tackling all forms of discrimination, intolerance, and inequality by involving youngsters and communities from different backgrounds and countries. It is based on the “A world of difference - AWOD” training program, which has been used for more than 20 years and has already proven its effectiveness in fostering non-discrimination, tolerance, solidarity, and equality on more than 350 000 worldwide beneficiaries. Participants shared their thoughts about their experience in Struga:
Ana Rita, Portugal
“This week in Struga really changed my life. The way I saw myself and how I thought people saw me made a complete turn. I don’t know how to explain this feeling, but it’s like I never knew who I was, and now I’m starting to know. Besides that, I met people that I want to take with me for the rest of my life (you included) for a lot of reasons, but the main one is their big warming heart. Of course that during this training, we learned a lot about discrimination and diversity and how to organize a workshop overall, but I like to think that everyone (participants
and trainers) learned more about themselves and changed for the better (even if it’s just a few days of happiness and laughter). The impact of this week is steel not complete within me, but the ones that are close to me said I’m completely different and that they would like to have this experience.”
Delia, Romania
“I’ve discovered a hidden feeling of thirst for knowledge and a keen desire to share awareness. Having people with the same goals, views of the society, and making connections was also one of the best parts of this experience.”
Stefan, Macedonia
“I realized that being a trainer is challenging but a very rewarding job. Despite the fact that you are there to train others and help them selfreflect, the more important thing is that you are growing in the process as well. I am very glad that I was lucky enough to get to experience the time in Struga, and I’d like to say something to everyone who is reading this - Be courageous and grasp every opportunity life throws at you; fear is temporary, regret is forever!”
Adelisa, Serbia
I noticed a huge difference between friends in my town and friends that I recently made during this project. I love how open-minded people in Struga were, and they made me feel welcomed and free to talk about my thoughts that I’m not usually saying because I’m afraid of judging. They said that we would create a safe space for all of us, and we did, and it made me express my true self.”
Irina, Macedonia
“A week full of rain can never make a bad appearance out of a positive atmosphere! The point of the workshops was not only to be trained as a facilitator but also to meet new cultures, lifestyles, and personalities and how to respect each and every one of them! Wanting to go back again clearly shows that we had an amazing and productive time in Struga.” The project is hosted by Volunteers Centre Skopje and implemented by EPTO | European Peer Training Organisation; partner organizations are: Pomoc deci, Youth on the Move, Ofensiva Tinerilor, Par- Respostas Sociais, and Humanitas Charity.
Kacper Król
“Since I’m coming from a small town,
VOICES - 29
poetry
Се запознавме во ноември Носев црно, ти сиво И добивме бело
Се вљубивме во декември Бевме во занес до јануари А среќни-до февруари Не немаше од март до март На сон, мој беше
Во јули носев цвеќиња-ти сино И двајцата пиевме пиво Во август славевме Бог знае што Месечината ја гледавме По Југославија мечтаевме Септември пребрзо дојде А нашето време сепак не дојде...
И сега скоро ноември ќе е Октомври не постоевме А сега скоро пак ноември ќе е Камо во 2019 ноември да може да е. Дафина „Даффне“ Веселиноска
30 - VOICES
Our monthly magazine has a very simple, yet powerful, mission to be the voice of youth. And how do we do that? We encourage young people to take an active part in today’s society through journalism and designing by giving them a platform to express themselves. VOICES is produced in Skopje, Macedonia, and published online every month and four times per year as a printed edition.
Join VOICES team! Contact us in our social media pages or write us an e-mail. What would you be interested in doing?
Writing articles
VOICES accepts articles about anything, except politics or hate speech. Brainstorm your ideas with us and write articles once, twice, or every month!
A Б Translating articles
VOICES is published in three languages: English, Macedonian and Albanian. If you are a native speaker or fluent in these languages, join our translation team!
www.voiceskopje.org voiceskopje voiceskopje issuu.com/vcsvoices
Featuring your work
If you are an artist, photographer, designer or other, your work can be presented in the magazine. Send us your method of art and a short bio of yourself!
contact_vcs vcs.sending@gmail.com VOICES to Hear
voices to hear podcast
having a word with the world. Our fresh podcast provides you with interesting content around the world. All the episodes are in English and available for everyone. VOICES to Hear VOICES to Hear
