EVS in Kocani

EVS in Kocani

January 2014

NO. 6

A soldier injured in Afghanistan: "It doesn’t matter if I die here on in Estonia!"

Sended by : Kalmer Liivmaa Edited by : Mari Põldma

In 2011 in Afghanistan survived defence forcers Kalmer Liivmaa and Alvar Aasa talk about their biggest fright in their life.

Friday, 17th of June in South-Afghanistan, in Helmand’s province Camp Bastion in military base. Two man are walking over the military base to logisticians base’s smoke and restrooms.

In the same there was Estonian defense minister who just got out of sauna with Estonian soldiers and eating salad and grilled meat.

Kalmer Liivmaa and Alvar Aasa are both really ragged and looking at the ground but in the same time they both try to be sociable.

Soldiers Liivmaa and Aasa just 30 hours ago survived the biggest fright of their life when they got attacked by anti-government rebels. In five years there have been 5 fallen soldiers, injured 54 soldiers and 16 of them are injured badly. Reading news every day about fallen .man in Afghanistan we have to admit that these two man had really good luck It was supposed to be like a regular Thursday. Shooter Aasa and orderly Liivmaa get out of the base in 6 in the morning to drive to the normal patrol in Nad-e-Ali village with other soldiers. From the base it is about few kilometers away. Squad stops in one point, limited by clay wall and behind these are fruit gardens. They stopped because Aasa sees a porthole in the wall.

The „cleaning“ is Aasa’s business. He grabs the metal detectors and is going towards the porthole. Detector is nessecery because two out of three fallen man are died because of self made ordnance.

And suddenly, BOOM!!

Few hours later Aasa and Liivmaa are both in Camp Bastions hospital in the surveillance of Estonian surgeons. Aasa do not have any open wounds. He hurt his ankle. Liivmaa got hurt by the fragments of the grenade which got in to his knee and he had a operation.

Man are both really tongue-tied and they still don’t understand how lucky they are. They don’t show their fear because fear is weakness for a soldier.

Minister Laar visited injured man in Camp Bastion and wished them good luck and speedy recovery.

Aasa stepped on the ordnance but still by a miracle survived. He just flew a little away and injured his ankle when landed.

Liivmaa says that he ran to Aasa and saw that everything was okay. "For a second I thought that this are really bad. He just made one wrong step. " Aasa himself doesn’t know much about incident. “I was just in shock and remember companion around me. I didn’t feel scared before but now I do. I will certainly be more careful and look where I walk."

After the explosion Aasa got quick first-aid and then was taken to the patrol base. In the spot of the explosion the pioneers discovered two more ordnance and the unit stayed to wait for the mine clearers. And suddenly someone threw a grenade over the cray wall which landed just near to Liivmaa's feet.

"I just heard how grenade pin was pulled out. I thought that it was miniflare kind of pistol because I thought I saw a racket in the sky. If the man would thrown the grenade a little stronger the grenade would land in the ditch but it landed in front of me and there was not much to think..."

What did you do?

I had time to turn around and take two or three quick steps and lay down. At first I understood that my eyebrow was bleeding and that my foot was also bloody but luckily I got out of there myself.

Were you the closest person to the grenade?

Basically yes.

What did you think or feel?

I didn’t have any emotions. Usually after the explosion we get some kind of handgun contact but this time it didn’t come. Usually it does.

Was your head clear?

Yes. Everything was fine.

What happened to the guy who threw the grenade?

I don’t know. I got evacuated and what happened next – I have no idea.

Did it hurt?

No. Even in the hospital I didn’t feel much pain.

Was there a lot of bleeding?

No. The unit’s Paramedics tied bigger wounds up and I got taken away.

You were taken to the patrol base by armour and from there with a helicopter to Camp Bastion hospital. What were you thing during this?

Nothing much. I was just thinking about getting better and going back to the unit and continue where I left from.

Did you feel scared or unsafe?

No. You had a little operation in hospital.

What do you think about the diagnose?

Soldier Liivmaa waiting for the helicopter.

The worst part is that these fragments will be in my leg forever. In the future I might have problems in airports. The biggest fragment they took out was 4 millimeters. The doctors think that it is risky to start taking out all the fragments. They think it will cost more problems than results.

How are you feeling right now?

Good. I would like to have a barbeque and have some beer But you cannot have beer, right?

No. And we also don’t have it here.

Did this accident made you feel different about your job?

No, definitely not.

What will you do differently next time you go to the patrol?

Maybe next time something seems suspicious then the situation will go through my head.

But I don’t think I would be scared. If I make black humor then it doesn’t matter if I die here or in Estonia.

Fear is natural. How can you keep it down?

I think about beautiful and good things. The things that wait me at home. This takes my mind off these bad things. For example : friends, vacation, family...

Do you have a family of your own?

Yes. How did they found out about the accident?

I called them myself. I let them know that it is nothing bad and there is no reason for panic.

How did they react?

Basically like this: “Are you okay? Come home, this is not worth it".

But why is being here important for you?

I haven’t thought about this. I like my job. I like defence force. In here you can learn medicine, armament and many more things.

You are abroad doing foreign thing – for what?

Everybody has their own opinion. I am doing it because I like my job. I can see closely what Estonians are doing here. Person who hasn’t been here can think what ever. Come here and check this out and probably will change their minds.

Your mission is until December?

Yes. Well it depends how me wounds will heal. Maybe I have to leave my mission unfinishedWhat is your prognosis for recovery?

It should take about two weeks and also I should completely recover. Hopefully I can run and do sports later again but let’s see what the future will bring.

Have you thought about why this happened to you yesterday?

No. As they say – days are not brothers. We are not even fully protected here in the base. I did my routine job yesterday.

You regret anything?

No. I am doing my job as well as I can and if I can I help others also.

How much have you communicated with locals here?

Quite alot. Locals come and ask for medical help and since I am the only medic here so I communicate pretty much. The locals are really friendly.

Can you tell by people faces that they are either enemy or “own” people?

No. We have our instincts which tell by the look on their faces who they are but you can be wrong also.

Do you believe in this country?

Chances are 50:50. Afghanistan can do well but it takes long long years. The locals think if we take foreign troops out of their country The Taliban take control again.

What do you think about Afghanistan’s army and police capability?

If you look at the local police – these guys are 16-17 years old. It’s hard to think something about this. They can’t get manage without help.

In every war you have an enemy. Who is your enemy?

The one who opens fire towards me.

Who or what is The Taliban for you?

I haven’t thought about this.

If you have the chance to come back here after the mission, will you come?

I need to think about this. Right now I have to finish my mission now and then let’s see what the life brings you. It depends a lot of your friends and family – nobody like that I am here.

But it is my life and mostly I decide what to I do with it.

Did your decision to come here came fast?

Yes. If you go – you go. What is there to think about? This is not the place where you can ask your friends for advice.

What do you dream about? What are these things you definitely want to do and where to be?

I don’t have any goals. I will see for how much longer my body endures this and for how long I can do the same job. Sometimes I would really like to break out of routine?

But you want to continue as a soldier?

Yes. I have different options. I could study for unit’s paramedic. I am not afraid of blood – I won’t faint if I see it. It is my job and I do it and that’s that.

Heating system Gertrud K천ima

Winter is mostly a cold season. People need to be able to warm up their residences. I think nowadays the most common way to get warm is central heating, but not everywhere.

We can classify heating system as : *Heating type (wood, gas, sun, electricity) *Location of heating source (district heating, building or room heating) *By the heating energy carrier (water, electricity, air, steam) *Type (constant, periodic, temporary) *By heater (radiator, firplace, panel heating)

The building heating needs as well as the boiler, heat pump or heating assembly required power and it is usually listed in projects. Independently replacing the heating system, the boiler must be selected in accordance with the capacity of the heated surface area. One rule can be considered as the new and well insulated buildings can be based on the 70 W/m2, the older and poorer thermal insulation houses can be with 100 W/m2. Thus, the heated surface of 100 m2 and building that has insufficient insulation, it is wise to install 10 kW power heating source.

Electric heating and air-to-air heat pump installation are the most advantageous. Solid fuel, gas fuel and liquid fuel heating systems are the next best ones. The heat pump heating system requires a larger investment, but it is also one of the most fuel efficient way. Obstacle, however, is often a lack of the necessary land or .unsuitable soils

Always, it is possible to construct the combined heating system.

For example: *Electric radiator with air-to-air heat pump on fireplace *Radiator with solid fuel air-to-air heat pump *Radiator with liquid gas or fuel plus solar energy

There are more options, but the more complex it is to build a system, the more it also requires investment.

How insulation works

The amazing French food!!!

Geoffrey Chanal-Raffier The France is very famous for her gastronomy ! Some french cooks are known in all the world and the French food have multiple origins.

Le pot-au-feu, le boeuf bourguignon, la blanquette de veau, la choucroute, le foie gras, la sole meunière, la mayonnaise, les crêpes, le soufflé au fromage, la ratatouille, le far breton, les madeleines, les profiteroles, la charlotte aux fraises...all are extraordinary french dishes !

We have too much of amazing food to speak about all here (and I begin to be really hungry now)!!

Yes, in France, we are very proud of our cooking...

It's true we have strange food...We eat frog's legs with a butter sauce, snails with a butter sauce and cheeses which stinks (without butter sauce). It's really delicious but I can understand that doesn't make dream everybody.

Let's begin lighter ! Come with me, we go to discover the french food in Lyon ! Lyon is one of the biggest city in France (more than 450.000 inhabitants). The city is very pleasant and have rich history and architecture. Lyon has a lot of culinary specialities.

So, we are in the city and you are hungry. Oh, you have not a lot of time ? Damn...We can go in a Kebab, McDonald, Pizzeria or Tacos shop to eat some fast-food. It's not the best but it's cheaper and quick...But come on ! You are not in France to eat this kind of stuff!

Now you have one hour ? I see...Come with me in a Boulangerie (bakery) ! Take a good sandwich (like a jambon-beurre) make with tasteful french bread ! With, you can take a good croissant or un éclair au chocolat (pastry). We can also go in a Bistrot ! I order for you a steak-frites with some salad and a glass of french red wine (and a good french bread of course).

Oh, you think you have more than one hour ! You found your appetite, right ? Perfect ! Let's in a typical Lyon's restaurant : un bouchon lyonnais ! Come on ! Enter in this one, it's a family restaurant.

Take a chair and let I tell you the menu. The french meal have four time: l'entrée (to open the appetite), le plat de résistance (for the happiness of your stomach), l'assiette de fromage (the cheese plate) and le dessert (the sweet time).

So, in un bouchon lyonnais you can order some of this typical first dishes : une assiette de charcuterie (a plate of delicatessen; pork meat), un saucisson brioché (a sausage in a brioche), une salade lyonnaise (salad with little piece of bread toasted, eggs, pork and vinaigrette sauce) or une soupe à l'oignon gratinée (an onion soup with browned cheese on the top).

For the second dishes (le plat de résistance) you can find: une andouillette (a kind of sausage with a wine sauce or a mustard sauce), un boudin aux pommes (an other kind of sausage with cooked apples), des quenelles de brochet (a preparation with semolina and some fish) or still une entrecôte avec une sauce au saint-marcellin (a good piece of meat with a cheese sauce). With these dishes, you have generally green vegetables or preparations with potatoes.

Now it's the time for cheese plate ! In France the cheese is inescapable ! Every regions of France make theirs cheeses. In le bouchon, you have generally there : saint-marcellin, saint-félicien, tomme, fourme, or still de la cervelle de canut (for this last it's some curds with salt, pepper, chive, garlic, shallots, some vinegar and oil).

And to finish, choose a dessert : tarte à la praline (sugar tart), tarte au citron (lemon tart), fondant au chocolat (chocolate cake), salade de fruit (salad of fruit) or still crème brûlée (a kind of cake with cream).

For the drink, I ordered a good wine bottle. With meat we drink red wine and with the fish, white wine. The Côte-du-Rhône is delicious!

I wish you a bon appétit (good appetite)!!!

Loodus on vanem kui meie Ma usun, et seda lauset peavad kõik õigeks, et loodus on vanem kui meie.

Loodus on olnud siin juba miljoneid aastaid, kuid meie põlvkond vaid mõnikümmend aastat. Selle alusel peaksime meie looduse kui meist vanema sõna kuulama ja käituma nii nagu see temale parem on. Meie generatsioon aga seda siiski ei tee.

Pigem tehakse tänapäeval kõike sellist, mis saastab loodust ja ei jäta meie järeltulijatele enam puhast keskkonda, mida nautida.

Praeguses olukorras on suur probleem kliimasoojenemine. Ma usun, et inimesed ei tee seda tahtlikult, nad lihtsalt ei mõtle, et kahjustavad oma tegemistega loodust ja atmosfääri.

Viimaste kahjustused käivad käsikäes. Inimesed, liikudes enamasti autodega, heidavad loodusesse väga palju heitgaase. Need aga omakorda lõhuvad meie atmosfääri, tekitades osoonikihtidesse auke. Sealt aga pääseb läbi päiksekiirgus ja liigne soojus. Viimased tekitavad meile palju probleeme. Kiirguse ja sooja õhu tõttu on meil jahedamad suved ja soojemad talved, nende tagajärjel sulavad jäämäed Antarktikas ning see pole absoluutselt hea. Liiga palju vett on ohtlik. Antarktikas võib see vesi küll ära aurata, mujal aga sajab ta suures koguses alla ja võib tekitada suuri üleujutusi. Kliimasoojenemise tõkestamiseks on sõlmitud maailma riikide vahel Kyoto kokkulepe, mis näeb ette kasvuhoonegaaside vähendamise 1990 aasta tasemele. Sellele protokollile on 1998. aastal alla kirjutanud ka Eesti Vabariik.

Ainus riik, kes pole seda lepet ratifitseerinud on maailma suurim õhusaastaja USA. Mul oli väga kurb eelmine suvi Pekingi olümpiamängude ajal seal viibinud reporteri tehtud reportaasist kuulda, et Hiina pealinna õhk on nii saastunud tehaste ja autode heitgaasidest, et enne spordivõistluste algust kuu aja jooksul suleti tuhandeid tehaseid linna ümbruses ja vähendati linnas autode hulka. Tänu sellele nägid Pekingi lapsed esimest korda oma elus päikest. Teeb murelikuks see, et kui nii maailmas heitgaaside paiskamine loodusesse edasi .jätkub siis neid linnasid, kus päike enam ei paista, tuleb aina juurde Kindlasti ei ole kliimasoojenemine ainus probleem hetkel maailmas. Muret tekitab inimestele ka maavarade otsa saamine. Nafta, mida kasutatakse autode kütusteks, on tekkinud aastatuhandeid, kui mitte miljoneid. Meie generatsioon on selle aga mõnekümne aastaga lihtsalt ära kasutanud. See viib aga meid sõdadeni, mis hakkavad toimuma riikide vahel nafta ja muuda maavarade pärast.

Meie loodust hävitavad veel paljud firmad, mis kasutavad suures koguses paberit. Aga ega paber niisama meile taevast kätte ei kuku. Seda peab ikka kusaltki saama. Kahjuks on selleks saamise kohaks meie oma loodus, nimelt vihmametsad.

Viimast nimetatakse ka maailma kopsudeks, kuna sealt tuleb väga suur osa hapnikust, mida vajame elamiseks. Vihmametsades elab ka üle poole olemasolevatest looma- ja taimeliikidest.

Ja kui me raiume maha vihmametsasid, siis me mitte ei hävita vaid puid, vaid ka teisi taimeja loomaliike. Sealhulgas väheneb ka sealt tulev hapniku sisaldus. Elusloodus käib ju kõik toiduahela kaudu. Kui me hävitame osa selles toiduahelast, on kogu ahel sellega rikutud ja võib viia mõne liigi väljasuremiseni.

Meie planeet on veel ühe suure probleemiga silmitsi: inimkond on tekitanud viimase sajandi jooksul liiga palju prügi. Riigid peaksid lahendama kiiresti prügi ladustamise probleemid ja üle vaatama, kui palju on võimalik prügi ümber töödelda ja materjale taaskasutusse lasta.

Pean siinkohal silmas klaasi, paberit, vanarauda ja plastikust ning kummist esemeid. Kui .seda ei tehta, siis võib meie maakerast saada üks suur prügimägi Mina arvan, et inimkond peaks siiski elama loodusseaduste järgi, mitte allutama loodust oma reeglite järgi käituma. Vastasel juhul pole meil oma tulevastele põlvedele mitte midagi pärandada.

Orthodox Christmas Eve *Badnik* TATJANA STAMENKOVSKA

O

rthodox Christmas Eve what is traditional called Badnik, is celebrated on the 7th of January in Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, Jerusalem, Ukraine, Greek Catholics and all other Orthodox churches.

Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar, sometimes called the Russian Orthodox calendar which dates back to 46 B.C., celebrating Christmas on the 7th of January 13 days after 25th of December. This is due to the reason that the majority of Orthodox churches never adopted the Gregorian Calendar proposed by Latin Pope Gregory of Rome in 1582 but continue to use the Julian calendar, created under the reign of Julius Caesar in 45 BC.1 Traditionally, the Christmas Eve table weighs down under the abundance of food the earth has presented to us. With fruits and vegetables, nuts and beans, honey and wine. The center of the festive dinner is the ritual bread. Inside the bread is hidden the coin of fortune what is representing the symbol of prosperity.

We believe that who will get the piece of the bread with the coin inside will follow him luck and happiness during the next year. Also on the table we put oak tree branches that is believed will bring health in the family home.

This year the Red Cross volunteers invited the “Pavel Satev” volunteers to present them the celebration of the Christmas Eve how it is made here.

It was great experience for both sides, for the Red Cross volunteers to show the Macedonian culture and at the same time to hear from the “Pavel Satev” volunteers how Christmas it is celebrated in their home countries.

1 www. wikipedia.com

Grocery Shopping Surprise Maria Luís Metrogos

The last time I went to the Supermarket to buy some groceries the most unexpected thing happened. While I was wondering around through the Supermarket this women approached me and asked me if I was the Portuguese girl. After telling her that yes, I was in fact Portuguese - and a girl obviously, and after seeing my look of surprise she went on and told me that she had overheard someone saying that there was a Portuguese girl doing volunteer work here in Kocani and she has been wanting to talk and meet the “Portuguese Girl” ever since. So in that day, at the supermarket, she heard me talking in, what sounded to her like Portuguese, to Paulo – the other Portuguese volunteer – she got the chance.

This lady – whose name I can’t remember for which I’m truly sorry – went on and asked from which place I was from in Portugal and I answered that I was from Setúbal and so she told me that she has friends in Portugal, she knows some people in Lisbon and Algarve and went on and said that she loves my country and is hoping to get a chance to visit Portugal and meet her friends there because she has heard and has seen pictures and thinks is a beautiful place. She also told that she had seen my picture from one of the Projects I did here in Kocani, with Mobilnost, and she was very interested in knowing what other projects I was working on and for how long would I be staying here. Afterwards she asked the question that I get asked the most: Why Kocani? She thanked me for my time and wished all the best for my staying here and hoped that we got the chance to meet again and we said goodbye.

After 5 minutes she came back apologizing and told me: “You are from Setúbal right? I’ve just remember now that one my friends from Portugal is from Setúbal as well”. She told me that her friend is a teacher in my hometown and when she told the name of her friend I was so surprised because her friend is actually a teacher in the High school that I studied. We were both so surprised that she just called her friend so that I could speak to her – unfortunately she didn’t answered because she was in class. We exchanged phone numbers and emails so that we can stay in touch and so that I can talk to the teacher – which is actually the sweetest and nicest person, even though she wasn’t exactly my teacher I had many opportunities of working and talk to her at school.

Life is crazy, you can be more than 10000 Km away from Home but you have the chance to meet some amazing people and, in a way, you are always “connected” to home, your roots.

The world really is a small place who knew that in Kocani I could find someone with a mutual acquaintance? We are connected in one way or another, it doesn’t matter the country or the culture and I believe everything happens for a reason, nothing is just a coincidence.

Once upon a time the victims Paul G. Lux

This month - that marks the International Day of Peace - I would like to leave a message of peace, love and wisdom for all the comunity. I know this legend, perhaps since I was 7 years and enjoyed sharing it with you. Excellent year 2014, realize all your wishes. If not, be wise with yourselves.

By royal proclamation, the Emperor of China announced a contest to decide the next heir to the throne. The Emperor was old and had no son, and because he had been a plant-lover for years, he declared that any boy who wanted to be king should come to the palace to receive one royal seed. Whichever boy could show the best results within six months would win the contest and become the next to wear the crown.

You can imagine the excitement! Every boy in China fancied himself likely to win. Parents of boys who were talented at growing plants imagined living in splendor at the palace. On the day the seeds were to be handed out, thick crowds of hopeful boys thronged the palace.

Each boy returned home with one precious possibility in his palm.

And so it was with the boy Jun. He was already considered the best gardener in the village.

His neighbors fought over the melons, bok choy, and snow peas that flourished from his garden. Anyone looking for Jun would probably find him bobbing between his rows, pulling out new weeds, moving one sapling over to catch more morning sun, transplanting another to the shade. Jun carefully carried the Emperor's seed home, sealing it securely in his hands so it wouldn't fall, but not so tightly that it might crush.

At home, he spread the bottom of a flowerpot with large stones, covered the stones with pebbles, then filled the pot with rich black moist soil. He pressed the seed about an inch below the surface and covered it with light soil. Over the next few days Jun, along with every boy he knew and hundreds he did not know, watered his pot every day and watched for the telltale unfurling of the first leaf as it burst through the surface.

Cheun was the first boy in Jun's vilage to announce that his seed was sprouting through the soil, and his announcement was met with whoops of excitement and congratulations. He bragged that he would surely be the next emperor and practiced his royal skills by bossing around the younger, adoring children. Manchu was the next boy whose tiny plant had emerged from his pot, then it was Wong. Jun was puzzled - none of these boys could grow plants as well as he! But Jun's seed did not grow.

Soon sprouts emerged from pots all over the village. Boys moved their plants outside so the baby leaves could bask in the warmth of the sun. They built stone fences around their pots and zealously guarded them from mischievous children who might accidentally - or not so accidentally - topple them over. Soon, dozens of sprouts in pots throughout Jun's village were stretching out their first leaves. But Jun's seed did not grow.

He was confused - what was wrong? Jun carefully repotted his seed into a new pot with the very best and richest black loam from his garden. He crumbled every ball of soil into tiny particles. He gently pressed in the seed, and kept the top moist and watched the pot every day. Still Jun's seed did not grow.

Strong, powerful stalks soon emerged from the pots cared for by other boys in Jun's village.

Jun was thrown into despair. The other boys laughed at him and started to mockingly say -"as empty as Jun's pot"- if there were no treats in their pockets, or if they had just finished their bowls of rice. Jun repotted his plant yet again, this time sprinkling dried fish throughout the soil as fertilizer. Even so, his seed did not grow.

Six month's passed. The day approached when the boys were supposed to bring their plants to the palace for judging. Cheun, Manchu, Wong and hundreds of other boys cleaned their pots till they shone, gently wiped the great leaves till the green veins glistened, and prepared themselves by dressing in their finest clothes. Some mothers or fathers walked alongside their son to hold the plant upright as he carried the pot to the palace, to keep the plant from tipping over.

"What will I do?" wailed Jun to his parents as he gazed out the window at the other boys joyfully preparing their triumphant return to the palace. "!My seed wouldn't grow! My pot is empty" "You did the best you could," said his father, shaking his head." added his mother "Jun, just bring the emperor your pot, it was the best you could do."

Shame-faced, Jun carried his empty pot on the road to the palace, while gleeful boys carrying pots tottering with huge plants strode to his right and left.

At the palace, all the boys lined up in rows with their blossoming plants and awaited judgment. The Emperor, wrapped in his richly embroidered silk robe, strode down the line of hopeful entrants, viewing each plant with a frown. When he came to Jun, he scowled even :more and said "What is this? You brought me an empty pot?"

.It was all Jun could do to keep from crying If you please, Your Majesty," - Jun, - "I tried my best. I planted your seed with the best soil I" could find, I kept it moist and watched it every day. When the seed didn't grow I repotted it in new soil, and I even repotted it again. But it just didn't grow. I'm sorry." Jun hung his head.

Hmm," said the Emperor. Turning so everyone could hear he thundered - "I don't know"where all these other boys got their seeds. There is no way anything could grow from the seeds we passed out for the contest, because those seeds had all been cooked!"

And he smiled at Jun.

SOURCE: The above story is retold by Elaine L. Lindy, Š2006. All rights reserved.

Volunteers Interviews TATJANA STAMENKOVSKA

Red Cross volunteers

* Name and Surname : Tanja Minova * Organization: Red Cross and Club of Young People, Kocani * Age 22 years old * How long time you are volunteer ?

2007-2014 * Why you decided to join the Red Cross ?

Before I become Red Cross member I was participating in First Aid sec- tion of the Red Cross. After watching good presentation of the Red Cross members I decided to join the Red Cross group and with time I become one of their most devoted members. * What are your activities in the Red Cross ?

First Aid, PHV projects educator, with one word the “main guilty per- son� for all the Red Cross activities. * Why it is important to help the people ?

On that way you feel yourself more useful for the society. * Are you familiar with the EVS program ?

Partly yes, from the conversation with the other volunteers. * Do you want to make an EVS in the future ?

Yes, why not :)

* Name and Surname : Martina Ivanova * Organization: Red Cross and Club of Young People, Kocani * Age 15 years old * How long time you are volunteer ?

2012-2014 * Why you decided to join the Red Cross ?

My class teacher choose me to work on PHV projects, after that I was recruited from Red Cross members who were making presentation for the Red Cross in my elementary school. * What are your activities in the Red Cross ?

Participating in PHV projects and First Aid section. As well I participate in the calendar activities of the Red Cross. * Why it is important to help the people ?

I love the feeling of fulfillment and happiness when you know that you are helping to your community. * Are you familiar with the EVS program ?

Yes. * Do you want to make an EVS in the future ?

I would love to. * Name and Surname : Denis Anastasov * Organization: Red Cross and Club of Young People, Kocani * Age 20 years old * How long time you are volunteer ?

2011-2014 * Why you decided to join the Red Cross ?

I was attracted by the Red Cross activities and the possibility of learning something new. • What are your activities in the Red Cross ?

First Aid, charity actions and I have the position of clerk in the Red Cross. ** Why it is important to help the people ?

By helping to the other people I get the feeling of fulfillment from the inside wish that I have to help to the other people. ** Are you familiar with the EVS program ?

I have basic information. ** Do you want to make an EVS in the future ?

Yes.

Questions from the Red Cross volunteers to the EVS volunteer ** Name and Surname : Geoffrey Chanal-Raffier ** Country of origin : France ** Organization: Association of law students and young lawyers “Pavel Satev” Kocani, Macedonia ** Age 23 years old ** What is EVS ?

EVS stands for European Voluntary Service what gives the opportunity for the young people between 18-30 years old to volunteer in a foreign European country. They are working on a project what before is approved from that country National Agency and on that way they are developing new life skills and approach how they see the world where they live in. The volunteer experience can last from 2 weeks to 1 year and I would recommend this to every young person who is willing to do something challenging in his life. ** Why you join EVS ?

After my graduation I want to take one year off from France so I can travel the world, meet many new people and discover new cultures. I believe this will help me in deciding what I really want to be my working profession. ** What are the benefits being EVS volunteer ?

Benefits are many. I must say that I see just benefits from this program.

From getting the opportunity to go in a foreign country and there gain new skills and learn their language and culture. ** What do you like the most about EVS ?

For me personally it is the chance for meeting new people and the communication I’m establishing with them. **

Why did you decided to come in Macedonia ?

I knew very little about your country mostly from the news but there was the desire in me to learn more so when I saw the EVS chance in Macedonia I accept it right away and I want to say that I’m happy for this decision because I really like your country and the people who live here.

The magazine was created in cooperation with EVS volunteers in Assiciation Pavel Satev Kocani.

Association Pavel Satev Kocani Karl Marks 64 Kocani 2300 Macedonia