november 2022
voices MAGAZINE FOR ALL YOUNG PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD
Editorial
Едиторијал
N
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In the preparation for the best time of the year for some people, start the movie season as well. You don´t know what to watch? The topic of the month can solve that with some of the classic Macedonian movies. In this month’s edition, you also find what gonna happen to your planet that we call home if we don´t follow some of the tips to be more Eco Friendly. This edition can´t be more Yin and Yang, you will get more knowledge about beer and how you can get sober.
Во тие припреми за најдобриот дел од годината за некои луѓе, започнува и сезоната на филмови. Не знаете кој да го погледнете? Темата на месецот може да ви помогне за тоа, некои од класичните македонски филмови. Во ова месечно издание исто така ќе најдете што ќе се случи со планетата која ја нарекуваме дом ако не ги почитуваме некои од препораките да бидеме еко-пријателски настроени кон животната средина. Ова издание не може да биде повеќе Јин и Јанг, ќе стекнете нови познавања за Пивото и како да се отрезните.
ovember is an amazing month when we start to get ready for Christmas.
The year is ending and with that, we have some volunteers that say goodbye to the lovely city of Skopje. This year was full of new experiences, personal growth, and exchanges that, this opportunity as VCS volunteer brings to me. I can´t be born in the Balkans, but I will leave feeling like one. This is not a goodbye to Macedonia but a see you. Now it´s time to start another chapter in life and see what the future reserved to me. José Rodrigues
VCS DIRECTOR: Nikola Stankoski COORDINATORS: Andrej Naumovski Goran Adamovski Goran Galabov Selina Niemi Ewelina Chańska Jolanta Ciopcińska David Stoilkovski
VOLUNTEERS: Jasse Heikkilä Angelina Berndt Marie Kiel Aleksandra Kanasiuk José Rodrigues Hugo Lhomedet Tamina Schulze Annika Pitkänen
EXTERNAL WRITERS: Stefan Nikolovski Dragana Andreevska Elena Galevska TRANSLATORS: Dora Arifi Matej Bashovski
оември-тој чудесен месец, кога веќе започнуваме да се припремаме за Божиќ.
Годината приврѓува со тоа што некои од нашите волонтери ќе се збогуваат со прекрасното Скопје. Оваа година беше исполнета со нови искуства, личен развој и размени кои, како ВЦС волонтер ми беа овозможени. Не сум роден као Балканец меѓутоа ќе го напуштам со чувство како таков. Ова секако не е Збогум на Македонија туку ќе се видиме пак. Сега е време да се започне ново поглавје во животот и да се види какви планови иднината ќе ми донесе. Жозе Родригез
DESIGNERS: Selina Niemi José Rodrigues Ewelina Chańska Angelina Berndt Marie Kiel Jasse Heikkilä Tamina Schulze Hugo Lhomedet Annika Pitkänen
CONTACT: Volunteers Centre Skopje Emil Zola 3/3-1, 1000, Skopje +389 22 772 095 vcs_contact@yahoo.com www.vcs.org.mk
PROOFREADER: Elen Wright - Stead Edward Stead
VOICES magazine is coordinated, designed and created by ESC and local volunteers with support of Erasmus+ program.
content
VOICES November 2022 - issue 11
topic of the month 4
Local Film Productions
14
Локални филмски продукции?
Tamina Schulze
Тамина Шулце
reportage 6
Models in Skopje - Oppression or Empowerment? Angelina Berndt
8
Beer the Golden Liquid
16
Sober curiosity — a critical mindset to drinking culture
José Rodrigues
Annika Pitkänen
science 10
NASA'S DART Project
11
Nobel Prizes 2022
4
Hugo Lhomedet Hugo Lhomedet
erasmus+ 12
What now? Advice when choosing career paths Elena Galevska
20 Што сега? Совети при кариерно ffffffffffff определување Elena Galevska
26
Peer Act - A time to remember Stefan Nikolovski
opinion 18
Tips on how to become the best version of yourself
16
Dragana Andreevska
22
Future of our planet Earth
23
E ardhmja e planetit Tokë
24
10 simple Eco Tips
Jasse Heikkilä Jasse Heikkilä Marie Kiel
COVER: Manu Franco | Unsplash
22
topic of the month
New movie premieres in the local cinema, a film poster on the street, or a cozy Netflix night at home- movies and shows are a big part of our lives. Furthermore, Cinematography is an art that displays culture, social norms, and opinions. It is an essential medium for cultural exchange within countries and across borders. Local filmmakers catch regional and national interest topics, depicting conflicts, or try to unite communities. Therefore, one should pay special attention to local film productions. How did Macedonian film production start, and how is the industry doing today?
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hen the first film was published in 1895 by the Lumiere brothers, film production was locally concentrated in Western Europe. This changed in 1905 when the photographers Milton and Yanaki Manaki traveled to London and bought their first film camera, an Urban Bioscope 300. They documented their first film, ‘The Weavers’, which is recognized as the first film in the Balkans. The National Archive of Macedonia preserves more than 17.000 photos and more than 1200 meters of film. Films, ranging from 60 seconds to more than 20 minutes, captured notable historical events of the Balkan region. The Manaki brothers have created a legacy, still recognized today. Their impact is noticeable in Macedonia and the whole Balkan area.
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To honor the brothers, the Manaki Brothers Film Festival in Bitola, where the Golden Camera 300 Award, named after their first camera, is given out. Overall, Macedonia has a
‘Cinema is not only about making people dream. It’s about changing things and making people think.’ -Nadine
Labaki
rich history of cinematography. Today we can see
a significant rise in globally rewarding productions in Macedonia. Since ‘Before the Rain, ‘the first internationally recognized and Oscarnominated movie from 1995, Macedonia experiences growth in its film industry. Macedonianproduced or co-produced movies have aroused global interest. In recent years, movies about worldwide-thematized struggles like climate change and disruption of nature or feminist struggles have been awarded. This development is noticeable in the last few years of film production. The documentary ‘Honeyland, a film about climate change, biodiversity loss, and the exploitation of natural resources, is directed by Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov. Since its release in 2019, the film has been awarded at local festivals and
тема на месецот
received two nominations at the 92nd Academy Awards. In Oscar‘s history, it was the first documentary nominated for Best Documentary Feature and Best International Feature Film. ‘God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya‘, directed by Teona Mitevska, thematizes the feminist struggle in a traditionally patriarchal society. After receiving several international awards, the movie has been rewarded with the LUX-Film Prize by the European Parliament. Macedonia does face a specific infrastructural problem when it comes to delivering a movie to its audience. There are only a few Macedonia cinemas, most of which are located in Skopje or Bitola. People from rural areas lack the chance to visit a film premiere. However, The Macedonian Film Agency wants to support the production and screening of local film productions and will therefore contribute to more films financially. As more locally produced movies make their way to the market and production support increases, we can expect more successful Macedonian movies. Buckle up and wish to visit the cinema more often!
Tamina Schulze
Sources: filmneweurope.com europeanfilmagencies.eu cineculture.online oscars.org
VOICES - 5
reportage
MODELS IN Skopje - Oppression or empowerment?
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ccording to Rachel Zoe, a famous US-American stylist and fashion pioneer, the way you dress yourself can be just as expressive as words. Fashion is communication and every outfit is a statement. Since the rise of social media the fashion industry has been revolutionized. Before it was nearly impossible to get scouted as a model or recognized as a fashion icon – nowadays you can get yourself discovered. As everywhere in the world, small model agencies are growing in Macedonia. One of them is ZOA models, which is based in Toronto and present in London, Los Angeles and Skopje as well. “I was taking modelling classes at an agency here in Skopje and was noticed by Zonde, my current agent, he helped me shape myself as a model and grow professionally”, explains Mia Giraud, who is currently one of the faces for the Skopje Fashion Festival. While she was discovered by a scout there is also the possibility to apply yourself online on the website of ZOA or other model agencies in Skopje, as well as the opportunity to gain attention through an appealing social media presence. “About four years ago, I followed the Models in Agency on Instagram and just a day later they contacted me and invited me for a meetup. Since then I have been working in the model industry”, describes Veda Evtimova, who is currently under a contract at the Models In Agency. Both of them work for a variety
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of occasions such as photoshoots, runways and campaigns. They have been standing in front of the camera for years, are quite successful and not even twenty years old. What kind of impact does it have to work in this field as a young woman? Mia tells me she loves working as a model, as it was her dream since she has been a young girl. For her the advantages of her job include meeting and working with a diversity of people, her professional growth and the adventurous nature of the fashion industry. She adds, that working as model has also improved her confidence greatly and makes her feel empowered. This corresponds on what I hear from other models. Of course modelling is not just fun though – it is hard work. “It can sometimes be mentally and physically exhausting”, admits Mia, “but that’s what comes with shaping character and becoming better in what you do”. As a model, your body is the resource for your work. You need to treat it carefully, stay in good shape and be aware of your appearance even more than others. Of course this impacts your mind and body. “Comments about your weight by people you work with can be made here and there and it can affect you”, is what I am being told, “Modelling can be very challenging. Many models - if not most of them face pressures from the industry that lead to anxiety, eating disorders and so on.”
репортажа
So while working as a model can be very empowering and good for the self confidence on one hand, it can also lead to the exact opposite on the other. If you want to survive in this industry you need to have a thick skin and cannot let comments about your body, get the upper hand of you.
Especially models are also in danger of sexual harassment, which is why it is from uttermost importance for them to double check the reputations of people they might work with and take safety measures. Even though it is a very though work environment, Mia concludes: “The working conditions are usually good, I’ve personally never had a bad experience with this in particular.” For the models I talked to, their job is a way to express themselves, something that gives them confidence and makes them feel empowered. They are learning how to use their body to their advantage and gain a lot of working experience as well. Working hard pays off. For some of them modelling is a nice parttime job, while others want to continue their careers in the field. In any way they followed their dreams and took their fate into their own hands. Modelling is not for everyone, but we can all be inspired by the hard work, time and energy they are putting into it. Angelina Berndt
"Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak." - Rachel Zoe
In addition to that there is also the danger of encounter frauds and manipulation. Many young models are being pressured and tricked into working without payment. “Not having enough experience can easily lead you into such a thing, so it’s important to find a good agent”, warns Mia. It is important to carefully choose the employer or the agency you want to work with.
VOICES - 7
reportage
BEER THE GOLDEN LIQUID
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B
репортажа
eer , also known as the golden liquid, is one of the oldest beverages in the world. Some historical studies show that the first brewing process started by mistake when they were making bread between 3500-3100 BC in Mesopotamia, which is known as Iran nowadays. Beer was being drunk with a straw to filtrate pieces of bread and herbs, due to it being created as a “happy” mistake in the storage of bread during its making. During the first examples of civilization, especially in Egypt, beer was used mostly as a currency and medicine. In the Middle Ages, it saved people’s lives, mainly because the water wasn’t safe to drink, and it was the only safe source to keep people hydrated. What we know nowadays as beer was “invented” by the Bavarians that added hoops (the main ingredient in beer today) to make beer while the previous recipe only contained water, cereal (malt) and yeast. If it wasn’t for this change, we probably would eat/drink beer from a straw up to this day and wine would probably be the most popular drink. For some people, regular beer that we know is not that special and, beer isn’t just an alcoholic drink. When drinking beer theres only one type of beer that comes to their mind and it’s - CRAFT BEER. Nowadays, craft beer is growing a lot in popularity and it’s easy for customers to buy it. Some of them have started to be sold in supermarkets, instead of more specialized shops, where you can find many beer styles
There are more different types of beer than when it comes to wine. Is it hard to say how many types of beer exist, but most experts say that there are over 100 of them. The styles of beer are divided into two main groups: Lagers and Ales. The key difference between them is while the Lagers ferment on the bottom at cold temperatures, the Ale is the opposite, fermenting at the top in warmer temperatures. By understanding those two main categorizations of beer, we can classify other subcategories of beer. The most common types are:
and different breweries (companies that produce beer). But what distinguishes a craft beer? Due to the growth of its popularity is hard to define. We can tell that it is beer made by independent breweries in small batches. A more specific description given by the Brewer’s Association is: “must come from a brewery that brews no more than 6 million barrels of beer per year, have under a quarter of the brewery owned or controlled by the alcoholic beverage industry, and has at least half of its volume in all malt beers.”. Another aspect that is very characteristic for craft beers is the different and unique label presented on the bottles, as well as the detectable flavors and aromas, that change a lot according to the beer style. You can find an example for this in Macedonian beer: SKOPSKO and ZLATEN DAB are regular beers, while Pivolabs and Old Town Brewery are craft beers. In the beginning of craft beers history, for a stranger it looked like craft beer didn’t come from any European country as no European country was infamous for it. In the United States, when homebrewing became legal in the 70s, this fact helped and encouraged people to start making alcohol at home, even though the traditional artisanal brewing existed in Europe for centuries.
•Lagers (Most of the regular beers) • Pilsen • Bock • Dunkel • American Lager • Munich Dunkel •Ales • Pale Ales (Indian and American) • Porter • Stout • Barley Wine • Tripel This is just the beginning of getting an assorted type of beer. You can get other types of beer, by using different types of hoops and mix them; the same goes for the malt as well (for example, they used to roast them). That’s how we can tell that producing beer is more complicated than it looks like, especially in comparison to wine. José Rodrigues Sources: YouTube: Extra Credits - History of Beer (#1 & #2) Craft Beer.com: What is Craft Beer? HomeBrew Academy: Types of Beer World History: Beer in Ancient World History.com: Who invented beer Beer Store.ca: Beer 101:Types and Styles
VOICES - 9
science
NASA’S DART PROJECT
The asteroid Dimorphos captured by the Hubble Telescope after the impact at three different time. Credit: Hubblesite @NASA
Are we able to protect Earth in case of a celestial threat?
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his question was often discussed and represented in pop culture. In movies like Armageddon (1998), Deep Impact (1998) or more recently Don’t Look Up! (2021), the most common tactic used to counter asteroids (or comets) is trying to divert it by sending either nuclear missiles or making the asteroid blow up from the inside. Everything was fiction until NASA decided to take it to another level with the DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) project. On Sept. 26, 2022, at 7:14 pm EDT, DART’s satellite intentionally crashed into Dimorphos, an asteroid in the double-asteroid system of Didymos. It was the world’s first test of the kinetic impact mitigation technique: using a spacecraft to deflect an asteroid that poses no threat to Earth, and modifying the object’s orbit. DART is a test for defending Earth against potential asteroid or comet hazards. As we can see, the impact made a lot of dust and NASA is still collecting data to see if the asteroid trajectory changed or not. But the first results are promising and in a couple of months, we will be able to know if Humanity can defend itself from a celestial threat.
Close-up view of Dimorphos 11 seconds before impact. Credit: NASA/John Hopkins APL
Hugo Lhomedet
Sources: NASA: Planetary Defense, DART Mission John Hopkins University: DART Index Credit photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, Cristina Thomas (Northern Arizona University), Ian Wong (NASA-GSFC); Joseph DePasquale (STScI)
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науката
NOBEL PRIZES In Physics A
lain Aspect, John Clauser and Anton have each conducted groundbreaking experiments using entangled quantum states, where two particles behave like a single unit even when separated. Their results have cleared the way for new technology based on quantum information. Quantum mechanics is still a very abstract topic as nothing is happening as planned: each experiment leaves scientists confronted with an (almost) non-physical world of which we do not know. In the 60s, John Bell set up a famous inequality that included hidden variables to describe entangled quantum states. John Clauser developed John Bell’s ideas, leading to a practical experiment. When he took the measurements, they supported quantum mechanics by clearly violating a Bell inequality. This means that a theory that uses hidden variables cannot replace quantum mechanics. Therefore, what we thought was right was, indeed, not right.
one particle to one at a distance. With these discoveries, we will see in the near future our life-changing as our understanding of quantum mechanics evolves. The ineffable effects of quantum mechanics are starting to find applications. There is now a large field of research that includes quantum computers, quantum networks, and secure quantum encrypted communication. Everything will be faster, lighter, and more sustainable. Let’s hope that we will see these changes with our bare eyes one day.
Hugo Lhomedet Pictures (from top to bottom): -Alain Aspect (Credit: Collections École Polytechnique - Jérémy Barande) -John Clauser (Credit: CC By-SA 4.0) -Anton Zeilinger (Credit: StagiaireMGIMO) Sources: Nobel Prize: Press Release for 2022 edition
Alain Aspect then took the lead and improved the John Clauser experiment by upgrading the experiment’s setup and closing a significant loophole. Using sophisticated tools and a long series of experiments, Anton Zeilinger started to use entangled quantum states. Among other things, his research group has demonstrated a phenomenon called quantum teleportation, which makes it possible to move a quantum state from
VOICES - 11
erasmus+
WHAT NOW? ADVICE
WHEN CHOOSING
CAREER PATHS
Picking a life path is never easy, yet we all have to make such choices more often than once. Whether choosing a university after finishing high school, deciding about continuing to a Master’s program, or shortlisting companies when looking for a job, young adults may feel lost in the sea of options. This article aims to offer several tools to help the decision-making process in these difficult situations.
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еразмус+
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faced with a tough decision about what to do next and which direction in life to take, the best you can do is get informed and look inwards. More specifically, looking inwards means investigating what would make you happy, whether you are familiar with a concrete area, and evaluating what you are good or bad at. The SWOT analysis is a valuable tool to facilitate self-exploration, where each letter stands for a field that should be further explored. For instance, a person would need to look deeper into what their Strengths are, including all skills, talents, and abilities. Then, the analysis moves to the Weaknesses, meaning the shortcomings and all areas in which the person feels they are lacking. Next, we move to the external environment, which is again divided into positive and negative influencers. Namely, Opportunities are any trends or other exogenous forces that may help the person reach their potential, while Threats represent all the factors negatively impacting attaining the goals. The SWOT is just one of the many tools that can be used for selfevaluation. For example, reflection is another resource that can improve self-assessment. Understanding your feelings, thoughts, and reactions to different situations is crucial to get to know yourself better. This activity can be done anytime you are alone – whether it is while taking a walk, resting at home after school, or writing in your diary. Though it sometimes helps to verbalize the thoughts and write them down in notes, it can also be just a mental exercise. It would start by asking yourself what the main takeaway of a specific situation is, what you have learned about yourself based on your reactions or emotions, and what you would like to apply as a good practice the next time you find yourself in a similar position
Connected to that, perhaps you can dig deeper with the 5-Whys technique, which is simple but very powerful – for every answer you get, ask why again until you reach 5 questions. This helps to avoid scratching only the surface and forces you to look for the root of the cause instead. Overall, the more you know yourself, the clearer the goals and the “right” paths become because you are more aware of what would best suit your own wishes and skills. However, inward exploration is just one part of the complex decisionmaking process. You would also need to be very well informed about the options and opportunities that are sometimes hidden around you. An intuitive way to start this search is by googling the universities, courses, scholarships, NGOs, or job vacancies and asking your peers to share their experiences. This enables you to get a good picture of the reality around you, the requirements to get the wanted positions, and what you need to do to apply to different places. Besides, you can continue your search by contacting representatives of the exciting options or looking for further informal education through events organized by NGOs and youth workers. Aiming to help high school students who feel uncertain about which direction to take once they finish high school, an event was organized at Volunteer Centre Skopje as a result of the Training Course for youth workers named “Into the Future,” funded by the Erasmus+ program of the European Commission.
Once you gather enough information about each option and review the relevant strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, you will hopefully be able to decide what course of action would work best for you. The next step would be to fully apply yourself to working towards the wanted position and keep up to date with any additional requirements or deadlines. Once you know what you desire, you must find the inner motivation to work hard toward your goal because knowing what you want without putting in the effort is not enough. Lastly, reaching a final decision is less stressful when you try to take it one step at a time. Remember that you will probably have the option to change your mind and switch paths if you see that something isn’t working out for you anymore. As time passes and we are busy working towards our goals, we learn a lot more. Some questions naturally get answered while new ones arise. Sometimes we discover new interests. Sometimes new opportunities pop up unexpectedly due to our previous efforts, and paths interchange again. We can never plan our entire lives because life happens organically and spontaneously. Still, it is always better to set expectations and goals for ourselves to keep track of the overall direction in which we are headed. I sincerely hope that some of the tools and suggested search options will help you make a decision that will work for you, and I wish you success regardless of your chosen career path.
Elena Galevska
VOICES - 13
topic of the month
Локални филмски продукции Премиерите на нови филмови, филмските постери на улица или удобните ноќи дома гледајќи Нетлфликс и сериите се голем дел од нашите животи. Покрај тоа, кинематографијата е уметност која прикажува култура, социјални норми и мислења. Таа е важен медиум за културна размена помеѓу држави и преку граници. Локалните режисери опфаќаат теми од регионален и национален интерес, прикажуваат конфликти или се обидуваат да ги обединат заедниците. Поради тоа би требало да се обрне посебно внимание на локалните филмски продукции. Како започнала македонската филмска продукција и каква е денес филмската индустрија?
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тема на месецот
К
ога за прв пат филм бил прикажан филм во 1895 година од браќата Лумиер, филмската продукција била локално сконцентрирана во западна Европа. Тоа се променило кога во 1905 година фотографите Милтон и Јанаки Манаки дошле во Лондон и ја купиле својата прва филмска камера Urban Bioscope 300. Го документирале својот прв филм „Ткајачки“ кој е препознаен како прв филм на балканот. Националниот архив на Македонија чува повеќе од 17000 слики и повеќе од 1200 метри филм. Филмови со траење од 60 секунди до повеќе од 20 минути кои прикажуваат важни историски настани во балканскиот регион. Браќата Манаки имаат оставено наследство, нивното влијание се уште е забележливо во Македонија. Во чест на браќата Манаки, на филмскиот фестивал во Битола се дава наградата Златна камера 300 која е наречена по нивната прва камера. Општо земено, Македонија има богата историја на кинематографија. Денес можеме да забележиме значителен пораст на глобално наградување на продукции од Македонија. Од „Пред дождот“, првиот филм интернационално препознаен и номиниран за Оскар од 1995, Македонија забележува пораст на филмската индустрија. Филмовите продуцирани или копродуцирани од Македонија будат светски интерес. Во последниве години, се наградени филмови кои специјално се посветени на светски проблеми како климатските промени,
уништувањето на природата или борбата на феминизмот. Овој развој можеме да го забележиме во последниве години од филмската продукција. Документарецот „Медена земја“, филм за климатските промени, губењето на биодиверзитетот и
‘Кинематографијата
повеќе интернационални награди, филмот доби и Луксфилм награда од европскиот парламент. Македонија се соочува со одредени инфраструктурни проблеми што се однесуваат на носењето на филмовите до нивната публика. Има само неколку кино сали во Македонија од кои повеќето се во Скопје и Битола. Луѓето од руралните средини ја немаат можноста да посетат филмска премиера. Затоа македонската филмска агенција сака да ги поддржи продукцијата и прикажувањето на локалните филмски продукциии и затоа ќе финансира повеќе филмови.
не е само да ги натера луѓето да сонуваат. Таа ги менува работите и ги тера да размислуваат.’ - Надине Лабаки
експлоатацијата на природните ресурси е режиран од Тамара Котевска и Љубомир Стефанов. Од неговото издавање во 2019 година, филмот е награден на локални фестивали и доби две номинации за 92те Академски награди. Во историјата на оскарите, тој беше првиот документарец номиниран за најдобар документарен и најдобар интернационален документарен филм.
Како што повеќе локално продуцирани филмови се пласираат на пазарот и се зголемува поддршката за нив, може да очекуваме поуспешни македонски филмови. Спремете се и очекувајте почесто да ги посетувате кината.
Тамина Шулце Превод: Матеј Башовски
Извори: filmneweurope.com europeanfilmagencies.eu cineculture.online
„Господ постои, името и е Петрунија“, режиран од Теона Митевска ја прикажува борбата на феминизмот во традиционално патријархално општество. Откако доби
VOICES - 15
SOB
reportage
A CRITICAL MINDSET TO DRINKING CULTURE The sober phenomenon is rising in popularity among young people. Giving up alcohol might just reveal how surprisingly significant a role it plays in our lives.
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T
he culture around and with alcohol is deeply rooted in many of our cultures and social events. We have a glass of sparkling wine while celebrating important events. We might meet our friends for an after-work beer or relax with one glass of wine after a long day. Is alcohol what you need every time you want to wind down? Why is it such a crucial part of our social gatherings, and are they the same without it? And when is relying on a bottle a harmful coping mechanism instead of regular fun?
Sober curiosity questions an individual’s relationship with alcohol. British writer Ruby Warrington invented the term to encourage critical thinking about the drinking culture and social expectations towards drinking. Sober curiosity is not necessarily the same as going straight edge. A sober curious person explores their relationship with alcohol with a critical mindset but not necessarily cutting alcohol off completely. Also, you don’t have to be an alcohol abuser to take a deeper look at your drinking habits. Even when drinking within healthy limits, we might be even more dependent on alcohol than we realize. Having one glass of wine while meeting a friend doesn’t hurt you but is that
glass of wine actually necessary every time you meet?
Studies show millennials and gen z are not as interested in consuming alcohol as past generations. For example, in Scandinavia, the amount of underage youth drinking to get wasted has decreased tremendously. The change can be seen in the nightlife too. Some trendy nightclubs arrange fully sober parties in which people are free to dance and have fun just like on any other Friday night. The only exception is that no alcoholic beverages are sold. Instead, people can buy nonalcoholic beers, sodas, or mocktails, just to mention a few. Sober venues can also offer safer places to party as one’s judgment is not lowered because of alcohol. In these venues, nobody has to feel the pressure to drink in order to have fun. Why are people suddenly questioning their relationship with alcohol and interested in sobriety? One reason might be that with the rise of wellness culture, alcohol’s appeal has lowered. Taking care of physical and mental health is increasingly important to people. We all know the risks and harms of excessive alcohol use. And who has time for hangovers?
Another simple explanation for the decrease in drinking can be that many young people don’t find drinking cool anymore. Just like attitudes toward consuming meat change, attitudes toward alcohol consumption change. The habits of the older generation are usually what young people question. Taking a critical and honest look around is the crucial part of sober curiosity. Are we drinking just out of habit or because of peer pressure? How much do we consume and is it necessary for every event? How does alcohol affect one while drinking?
For severe alcohol abuse, sober curiosity is not an answer. As with that, we are talking about something else that requires professional and even medical help. But as the first step for someone who is noticing some problematic behavior in their drinking habits, sober curiosity might be a leap towards a healthier and critical relationship with alcohol. Annika Pitkänen
CURIOSITY
BER
репортажа
VOICES - 17
opinion
Self-improvement Tips on how to become the best version of yourself
L
et me ask you a question. Are you happy with where you are in life at the moment? Are you content with who you are as a person? How much time and effort do you invest in yourself every day? Does your potential equal the number of actions you take to pursue it? These questions are very important, and this is the very first step you need to take toward being your best self because questioning is the only way you get to know yourself. Therefore, I want you to stop reading for a minute and just think about that. Most people will answer with doubt in their minds. Because it is in our human nature to always want something more, to always search for something better. Satisfaction comes, but once you have felt it, you are yearning for some new level to reach and find satisfaction again. The process works the same way addictions do. Especially when it comes to oneself. This means that there is always space for improvement and there is always a different way to do it. As humans, we all have unlimited potential deep within us. We may not be able to reach perfection, but we all have the power to reach a certain point in life where we feel truly content with who we are as a person. Yes, it is most definitely possible. And I am here to help you, to guide you through some of the basic steps you can take to completely transform yourself.
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1. Be honest with yourself “Self-transformation commences with a period of self-questioning. Questions lead to more questions, bewilderment leads to new discoveries, and growing personal awareness leads to transformation in how a person lives. Purposeful modification of the self only commences with revising our mind’s internal functions. Revamped internal functions eventually alter how we view our external environment.” - Kilroy J. Oldster Our egos may sometimes interfere with this one and it can be a bit challenging at moments. You may think to yourself that you have always been honest and that you already know your strengths and weaknesses, but believe me, it takes more than that. It takes questioning yourself on every move you make, on every decision you take up, and on your everyday behavior. So it takes time, and it takes courage to be brutally honest and self-critical. It may be rough, but in the long term, it is an act of self-love. That is why I mentioned above that the first step to bettering yourself is first knowing yourself. And to get to know yourself with all your flaws, weaknesses and bad habits means to be aware. The only way you can do that is by asking yourself questions such as “Why did I behave the way I behaved?”, “What could I do different every day that would make me a better person?”,
“What kind of methods should I use in order to become better at socializing and be a better communicator?”. And always make sure to be completely honest with yourself while answering. Because you need to know in which areas you need to work and try to develop yourself as a whole. No one wants to be talked down on either by other people or by oneself. But remember there is no judgment here, it is a safe place for you to put your ego aside and realize that this is your conscience you are talking to. You can present yourself as a totally confident and flawless person in front of the world, but what’s important is that you stay real to yourself and know your bad sides and the weaknesses that you need to work on. 2. Create visions and goals “Magic always happens when you direct your inner powers to the object you want to change.” - Bangambiki Habyarimana So, now that you know where you are in life, the next step is knowing where you want to be. The way you envision yourself a few years ahead, and the life you want to be living is very important to know which actions you need to take to get you closer to that goal. Remember, the end result is the most important one. So no matter how many falls and disappointments in life we have, what keeps us going is the end goal. If you don’t have visions and goals set up for
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“No matter who you are, no matter what you did, no matter where you've come from, you can always change, become a better version of yourself” - Madonna
yourself, you my friend will be a lost cause in life. Because how will you start a journey if you don’t know where you want to go? So what you should do now is get a piece of paper and write down all your dreams and goals. Write down all those aspirations you have in life and then research and think about the strategies you need to plan in order to get you there. Also, I want you to envision your best self in your mind. Envision how you would look at your happiest, at your best. How you would look if you just stopped eating all that unnecessary junk food and started working out? How you would behave and go on about your life if you were the successful version of yourself, whatever you may define success as in your terms. Visions and goals are different for everybody, so you cannot wait on anyone else to define your goals or define you. Only you have that power. Use it. 3. Take step by step each day “One step at a time is all it takes to get you there.” - Emily Dickinson Once you have your goals in mind, all it takes is small actions every day that brings you toward the person you want to become. All the wealthy, successful, and happy people have one thing in common. They act on their visions. They do something every day that makes them
feel motivated to continue doing that. That is why they don’t give up and have such a strong stamina. It is because they have set goals for themselves and they believe in them. They constantly remind themselves of the end goal in life, and that is how they stay motivated. They were not born or built any different than you. They do not have abilities and powers that you do not have. They just wake up every day and get aligned with what the best version of themselves is. You can do the same. You can set goals. You too can create a vision for yourself and try to get in alignment with that vision no matter how far away you are from reaching that. Your belief determines the course of actions you take, and also the life you will have. If you are clear with what you want in life you have to start acting like you have what it takes to do that and be that. Start educating yourself on that specific subject, read books, and invest in courses and classes that will really get you on the path of what you want in life. I am not able to predict all of the personal goals you have set for yourselves, like I said, we all have a different definition of what success and happiness mean to us. I will give you an example. Let’s say you have a goal of being a successful entrepreneur one day. But at the moment, you are just a broke kid that still lives with your parents. Rule number 1: Never define yourself as a broke kid, as a loser, or as a failure in
life, no matter how others would define you. Because the thing is, we become in life what we believe we are. So repeat after me: “I have all that it takes for me to create the reality that I want. I have the power to change myself. Deep down inside me, I am a successful person capable of so much greatness in this world. No matter where I stand now, no matter the objective situations I have right now, I am successful. There is an entrepreneur deep within me. I have the knowledge and ability to thrive and prove everybody wrong. I will make it in life no matter the sources I have at the moment. I will take steps every day that brings me closer. I will go on courses and learn all the skills that are needed for me to excel in the entrepreneurial world. I already am the person I have envisioned, all I have to do is just take action and practice.” As you can see, it is really all about how you choose to perceive yourself. The law of attraction is a real thing, whether you believe in it or not. Just believe me when I say, you truly are the creator of your future self and your reality. So what you choose to do every day reflects on you in the future. You have the power to develop yourself and transform, but the truth is, no one else can help you if you are not determined and willing to work on it. Dragana Andreevska
VOICES - 19
erasmus+
ШТО СЕГА? Совети при
кариерно определуване о
Бирањето животна патека не е никогаш лесно, иако секој од нас мора да донесе таква одлука и тоа повеќе од еднаш. Без разлика дали станува збор за одлучување на кој факултет да се запишеме, дали да продолжиме на постдипломски студии, или пак во кои компании да аплицираме за пракса или работно место, ние како млади луѓе може да се почувствуваме изгубени во морето од опции. Целта на овој текст е да понуди неколку алатки од помош при носењето одлука во вакви и слични ситуации.
К
ога сме соочени со тешка одлука за тоа што да правиме следно и која животна насока да ја одбереме, најбитно е добро да се информираме и да направиме внатрешна анализа. Поточно, треба да истражиме што нѐ прави среќни, дали имаме афинитет кон некое конкретно поле и да оцените дали нѐ бива или не за одредени работи. Корисно средство кое може да ни помогне при себе-истражувањето е варијанта на SWOT анализата, каде што секоја буква претставува поле за понатамошно истражување. Па така, треба подлабоко да размислиме кои се нашите силни страни (Strengths), односно
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нашите способности, таленти и умешности. Потоа, потребно е да размислиме за своите слаби страни (Weaknesses), што значи дека треба да ги процениме сопствените маани како и оние полиња каде ни недостига знаење или умеење. Следно, анализата се фокусира на надворешните влијанија, коишто се повторно поделени на позитивни и негативни. Всушност, ги разгледуваме можностите (Opportunities) кои може да бидат кои било трендови и екстерни фактори кои би ни помогнале да ги достигнеме нашиот
еразмус+
потенцијал, додека заканите (Threats) се оние влијанија кои нѐ уназадуваат или ни наштетуваат при обидот да ги постигнеме целите. SWOT анализата е само една од многуте алатки коишто може да се искористат при само-евалуација. Пример за корисно средство при внатрешна анализа е рефлексијата. Навистина е битно да издвоиме време и да си дозволиме да ги разбереме сопствените мисли, чувства и реакции на различни ситуации за да се запознаеме себеси подобро. Оваа активност може да ја практикувате во кое било време додека сте насамо – за време на прошетка, кога се одморате после училиште или пак додека пишувате во вашиот дневник. Иако понекогаш е навистина корисно да се вербализираат мислите и да се запишат како белешки, рефлексијата може да е и само ментална вежба. Во обата случаи, би се запрашале себеси кои се главните заклучоци од одредена случка, што можеме да научиме за себеси од начинот на којшто сме изреагирале, од сопственото однесување или чувства и што би запомниле за наредниот пат кога би се нашле во слична ситуација. При рефлексијата, можеме да го продлабочиме истражувањето со помош на техниката наречена 5 прашања, којашто е навистина едноставна но многу моќна – сѐ што треба да направите е да се запрашате „зошто?“ на секој одговор што ќе си го дадете, сѐ додека не стигнете до вкупно пет прашања што почнуваат со „зошто?“. Со тоа, полесно можеме го да откриеме изворот на нашите мисли и чувства наместо да останеме само на површинска и помалку значајна анализа. Воглавно, колку подобро се познаваме себеси, толку појасни стануваат нашите цели и „правилните“ патеки затоа што стануваме посвесни во врска со тоа што најдобро одговара на нашите желби и способности. Но, треба да бидеме свесни дека внатрешната анализа е само еден дел од сложениот процес на донесување одлука. Секако, мора и добро да се информираме за опциите и можностите коишто некогаш се затскриени. Логичен начин да се започне ваквото пребарување е преку гуглање на универзитетите, курсевите, стипендиите, невладините организации или повиците за пракса или работа и преку споделување искуства со врсници и оние коишто поминале низ слични ситуации. Со тоа, добиваме подобра слика за реалноста околу нас, како и за она што е неопходно за да стигнеме до посакуваната цел и што треба да направиме за да аплицираме на различни места.
Освен тоа, истражувањето на опциите може да вклучи стапување во контакт со претпоставените на оние места коишто ни изгледаат посебно интересни или пак барање на повеќе информации преку неформално образование како што се настани организирани од страна на невладини организации и младински работници. На пример, со цел да им се помогне на средношколците коишто не се сигурни кон што да се насочат по завршувањето на средно училиште, неодамна беше организиран настан во просториите на Волонтерскиот Центар Скопје, како резултат на тренингот за младински работници насловен „Кон иднината“ а финансиран од Еразмус+ програмата на Европската комисија. Откако ќе собереме доволно информации за секоја од опциите и ги спознаеме сопствените силни и слаби страни како и можностите и заканите, би требало да сме спремни да согледаме која насока е најдобра за нас. Тогаш, следниот чекор е да работиме кон постигнување на посакуваните цели и континуирано да се информираме за секакви дополнителни потребни документи или рокови. Штом знаеме што сакаме да постигнеме, мора да најдеме мотивација и внатрешна сила да дадеме напори за да стигнеме до целите, бидејќи не е доволно само да знаеме што сакаме доколку не работиме кон остварување на истото. За крај, запомнете дека носењето конечна одлука е далеку помалку стресно кога одиме чекор по чекор наместо да се обидуваме да направиме сѐ одеднаш и да го испланираме цел живот однапред. Освен тоа, секогаш можеме да се премислиме и да ја промениме одлуката доколку согледаме дека е нешто што повеќе не ни одговара. Како што поминува времето и се трудиме да ги постигнеме зацртаните цели, ние учиме сѐ повеќе, некои дилеми се разјаснуваат сами по себе, додека други ненадејно искрснуваат. Понекогаш се случува да откриеме нови интереси или пак да ни се отворат нови можности коишто не би можеле да ги предвидиме и повторно се наоѓаме пред раскрсница каде што патеките се испреплетуваат. Животот се одвива органски и спонтано, па затоа не можеме целосно да го испланираме, но секогаш е подобро да си поставиме очекувања и цели за да можеме да сме сигурни дека се движиме во посакуваната насока. Искрено се надевам дека дел од претставените алатки и предложените начини на пребарување на информации ќе ви бидат од помош при носењето одлука којашто најдобро ќе ви одговара во дадената ситуација. Ви посакувам успех без разлика на кариерата што ќе ја одберете. Елена Галевска
VOICES - 21
opinion
Future of our planet Earth - Does it have that? W
hat’s happening to our planet? Every day, each person consumes natural resources and impacts what will happen to our earth. It affects people already. This year alone, there have been considerable floods in Pakistan, killing over a thousand people, and colossal heat waves in China and Europe, killing people. Some islands, even countries like Kiribati and Tuvalu, will not exist for long because of rising sea levels. I’m pretty sure that the weather has changed a lot in the last ten years, at least in my eyes. Less snow, more heat waves, and more natural catastrophes. If we keep this same way of consuming, is there left livable earth for people in 1000 years?
I would say yes, but it’s easier said than done. Everyone can participate at some level, some less and some more, because of the conditions and possibilities provided. Most of the time, it has become easier and kind of routine to take all ways trash with me, sort out the trash, etc. One of my favorite ways to consume less is to buy fewer things you don’t need. You save nature, money, and space from home. You know that feeling for sure when you have bought something you thought you needed and use every day, but after one month, it stays in the closet until you clean the whole apartment. That’s frustrating, money waste and natural resource waste. Please, think a few times before you buy something. You can start with even small things, such as taking trash with you instead of leaving them in the park and turning off electronics and lamps when you don’t use them. Sure, very few can be totally carbon neutral, but we all can still affect how we act. You have probably heard “Big pile of money comes from small rivers,” it works in this kind of same way “It’s only one piece of trash, of course, I can throw it into nature, it doesn’t matter” but when there are millions of people daily doing the same thing, yes, it matters. This is a short but important message. Think what kind of image you want to leave for the next generation about you. Leave them a chance to live their lives; don’t take it away from them. Jasse Heikkilä Sources: ec.europa.eu clima youth impact
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мислење
E ardhmja e planetit Tokë - Nëse e ka atë? Ç
farë po ndodh me planetin tonë? Çdo ditë çdo person konsumon burime natyrore dhe ndikon në atë që do të ndodhë me tokën tonë. Ajo tashmë prek njerëzit. Vetëm këtë vit ka pasur përmbytje të mëdha në Pakistan duke vrarë mbi mijëra njerëz, valë të mëdha të nxehtit në Kinë dhe Evropë duke vrarë njerëz. Disa ishuj, madje edhe vendet si Kiribati dhe Tuvalu nuk do të ekzistojnë për shumë kohë për shkak të rritjes së nivelit të detit. Jam shumë i sigurt se edhe në 10 vitet e fundit moti ka ndryshuar shumë, të paktën në sytë e mi. Më pak borë, më shumë valë të nxehtit dhe në përgjithësi gjithnjë e më shumë katastrofa natyrore. Nëse vazhdojmë të konsumojmë burimet në këtë mënyrë, a do të mbetet tokë e banueshme për njerëzit në 1000 vitet e ardhshme? Personalisht, unë do të thosha po, por është më e lehtë të thuhet sesa të bëhet. Të gjithë mund të marrin pjesë të paktën në një nivel, dikush më pak e dikush më shumë për shkak të kushteve dhe mundësive të ofruara. Për mua, në shumicën e rasteve është bërë më e lehtë dhe rutinë të marr të gjitha llojet e plehrave me vete, duke i kategorizuar plehrat etj. Një nga mënyrat e mia të preferuara për të konsumuar më pak është të blihen më pak gjëra që nuk na nevojiten realisht. Ju kurseni natyrën, paratë dhe hapësirën e shtëpisë. Ju e dini me siguri atë ndjenjë kur keni blerë diçka që keni menduar se ju nevojitet dhe e përdorni çdo ditë, por pas 1 muaji qëndron në dollap derisa të pastroni të gjithë apartamentin. Kjo është zhgënjyese, humbje parash dhe humbje burimesh natyrore. Ju lutemi, mendoni disa herë përpara se të blini diçka. Mund të filloni edhe nga gjërat e vogla, si për shembull ti merrni plehrat me vete në vend që t’i lini në park, fikni pajisjet elektronike dhe llambat kur nuk i përdorni.
Sigurisht, shumë pak mund të jenë plotësisht neutral ndaj karbonit, por ne të gjithë mund të ndikojmë ende në mënyrën se si veprojmë. Ju ndoshta keni dëgjuar “Grumbulli i madh parash vjen nga lumenjtë e vegjël”, funksionon në këtë mënyrë “Është vetëm një plehër, sigurisht që mund ta hedh në natyrë, nuk ka rëndësi” por kur ka miliona njerëzit bëjnë çdo ditë të njëjtën gjë, po, ka rëndësi. Ky është mesazh i shkurtër, por i rëndësishëm. Mendoni se çfarë lloj imazhi dëshironi t’i lini brezit të ardhshëm për ju. Lërini një mundësi për të jetuar jetën e tyre, mos ua merrni atë. Jasse Heikkilä Përktheu: Dora Arifi Sources: ec.europa.eu clima youth impact
VOICES - 23
opinion
O
10 SIMPLE ECO TIPS
n the occasion of successfully finishing the first part of our project in collaboration with the City of Skopje „Средношколците за почисто Скопје “, (Highschoolers for a cleaner Skopje) I will sum up some of the valuable Eco Tips we collected in the first part of the project. The projects consist of three general parts, of which the first was having workshops in 23 different schools all over Skopje, the second is cleaning up areas in every municipality of Skopje together with the schools, Za Pochista Macedonia and the City of Skopje and the last part will be a designing competition for the students, in which the winner will have their designing printed on a bus driving through Skopje.
1) Change out your next toothbrush to a bamboo toothbrush from Stokomak
In every school that we have been to, when we proposed this, the first reaction was: it’s expensive to buy bamboo toothbrushes and it’s inaccessible for most people - I get that. When you buy it at DM things can get expensive but instead of that, go and check at your local Stokomak if there are some available. After all bamboo is a lot better than plastic toothbrushes, especially when a lot of homes don’t use recycling bins to separate plastic from general waste.
2) Carry your reusable water bottle with you. They work.
Simple but effective. This goes hand in hand with drinking tab water if it’s drinkable. In general, we consume over one million plastic bottles every minute of the day. So maybe try to save the 2 bottles of water a day, the 14 bottles a week, the 400 bottles a month and 5000 bottles a year.
3) Turn off lights and boiler when you don’t need them
It saves up energy, it saves up money. Try to be more mindful, everyone tends to forget, but the lights in the corridor or in the kitchen don’t need to be
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switched on when you’re in your room watching Netflix. Sometimes it’s hard to see the relation between the energy that comes out of the socket and ecological problems related to it. It’s just a long chain where energy needs to be generated, which may cause air pollution or can be rooted in harmful extraction projects. It always depends on what type of energy you use, but even with the greenest energy possible it also comes down to how you treat resources and how we can preserve them. Just imagine what would happen if everyone decided to run the light all night and day – how much more energy would be needed, how much more energy would be generated.
4) Reuse things the Macedonian way
When I first came and saw how every single person here reuses glass jars and turns them into Ajvar glasses I was in awe. I’m sure that you can find people who do that in Germany as well but it’s by far not as popular. It’s so sustainable and a great way to reuse glass jars. The same goes with the bags you receive in grocery stores or the bakery. Instead of pointlessly throwing them away they are being reused as trash bags – amazing!
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5) DO NOT LITTER Portable Ashtrays are a thing and so trash bins!
How hard can it be to not throw WWan empty bag of chips or your cigarette butts on the floor. Carry it to the next bin, put it in there. In Germany everyone’s mum would ask: would you drop it as well if you were in your own house? I hope not. Skopje just gets more and more dirty because people don’t care and think some magical fairy is going to clean up after them. Every single piece of plastic that’s left in the nature will take hundreds and thousands of years to break down. When it finally breaks down it will simply break down into microplastic entering the food chain and having severe health effects on everything and everyone. And by the way, cigarette butts are not made from paper at all! They consist of cellulose acetate which is literally man-made plastic plus it contains hundreds of toxic chemicals.
6) Less cars more busses.
To put it in the simplest way:
it reduces pollution and saves resources. You can walk as well, it keeps you fit and healthy. Also, why are there so many cars in Skopje?
7) Use household remedies for cleaning instead of the usual chemical bombshells
Do you really need to use the 10th chemical cleaner which pollutes litres and litres of water with every single use or is it possible to use something less aggressive to the environment. This could be household remedies which you know from your grandmother like vinegar or natron or even better what if we collectively stop buying unnecessary cleaning products that are packaged and 10 times layered in plastic. Which we also really don’t need because we have got 11 and a half bathroom cleaning products already.
8) Plant yourself a Basil That’s my favourite tip. It’s not really going to change the world but it’s going to change your world for sure. Your kitchen is going to be greener; you can water it and take care of it. Some people may talk to it, but most importantly you’ve got yourself a gift that keeps on giving. Wow! Basil and rosemary every single day of the week! Your own little herb garden – isn’t that cute.
9) Layer up instead of heating up
Winter will be expensive, and winter will be cold. I don’t know how to put it.
Everyone should be free to wear what they want, where they want and how they want. But it’s just saving a lot of energy if we would leave the crop top and shorts in summer and went with something warmer maybe a jumper (a cropped jumper?) and long trousers. Do as you please but in general this means that you can heat accordingly, and you don’t have to heat up the whole house by 5 degrees more – if you say that doesn’t relate to you. Please continue. I love you!
10) Recycle!
Simply: Plastic and metals go into the yellow bin, cardboard and paper into the blue bin, there is a separate bin for glass and batteries, single-used straws and plastics forks cannot be recycled as they are too small and too inconsistent for the machinery, they go with the rest of the waste into the general waste bin. There are also numbers on many juice boxes, jam glasses and more – if you’re overwhelmed, they can help you to sort the trash right. Check out Pakomak or GoGreen, they are amazing! Unrelated, but have you heard about composting already? While those tips may not save the world, it is important for everyone to carry their package responsibly and partake in the first place. You could call it team effort because every part and every contribution matters. Just imagine how politicians are forced to take care of deeply rooted issues if there’s a raising interest in, for example, recycling – politicians would need to provide more opportunities and maybe there’s a chance to change general garbage politics thoroughly. Or what would happen if we collectively decided to not throw our garbage to the ground? How clean can Skopje possibly become?
___________ Marie Kiel
VOICES - 25
Peer a time to
eramus+
It’s been a month since our visit to Brussels, but it still feels like it was yesterday. All the happy moments, the new and old friendships rekindled, the lessons we’ve learned, and inevitably, the farewells, all of these are still fresh and fond in our hearts.
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efore I tell you the story about our week in Belgium, I want to take you down the memory lane... It’s summer, the year 2021. The first decent summer after the whole pandemic thing. About time... School is finally over, and summer break is just around the corner. You feel like you have all the time in the world, but not really any idea on how to spend it. I would spend a great deal of the day, mindlessly scrolling through social media, as one does, when
26 - VOICES
out a sudden, I noticed this post from VCS about a project or something (at the time I had no idea what any of those things were). I somehow got myself to follow the link, read the description and decided to sign up anyway. It wasn’t long until a mail turned up in my mailbox. It was an acceptance letter, telling me that I was chosen to be part of this project, which felt both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. I didn’t really have prior experience and couldn’t help but feel anxious about it. Despite that, I gathered my courage and chose to follow through. I found the office, now it was too late to turn back, and somehow, anxious, or not, went in. There, I met one of the coordinators who welcomed me, and even the slightest initial interaction that we had, helped me settle my nerves. He was one of the first amazing people out of them all, that I met during
Act remember this new chapter of my life. I was introduced to the PeerAct project, its aims and goals of it and I couldn’t wait for it to begin. The first cycle of the project was on Zoom, and what really surprised me is that I enjoyed every single second of it. Given the fact that I hated online classes with every fiber of my being, this was quite a surprise. We discussed really important issues in society, our role and importance as individuals to initiate the change that we want to see in the world. During our first week on Zoom, we got equipped with certain skills to organize local workshops and to share what we’ve learned so far with other peers. And I must say, it went better than expected. I still didn’t feel quite comfortable and competent to manage a group of participants, but their curiosity and will helped me a lot. Therefore, I realized that I was truly ready to commit and dive deeper into the topic so that I can fight for
what I believe in and find others who are also willing to make a world of difference, a space for everyone. Then came Struga, the second part of the training where we were taught various methodologies and approaches to become better trainers and fulfill our goals. Let’s fast forward to Brussels. The end of this summer. Reuniting with old friends, and fellow peer trainers, getting ready for the one last training of our project. It felt like there was no distance between us as if we were lifelong friends. As if we never left Struga. One last time, we gathered around to better ourselves, with new knowledge and new skills, crucial for our role in our communities and society. We spent one week getting in touch with ourselves, exploring our personal prejudices, and stereotypes, and simply meeting our inner selves, which not many do in this busy world. It showed us the power
ерасмус+
You feel like you have all the time in the world, but not really any idea of how to spend it.
of dedication and patience, and how in the end every piece of the puzzle falls into place… I know all this might have sounded like an ending to a beautiful story, but I want to see it more like a beginning of a new one. “They say we’ll meet something like eighty thousand people in our lives. Most of them just in passing, sitting beside them on a bus, buying a latte from them, overtaking them too fast on the motorway. Others will become friends, lovers, and family. Some will stay in our lives forever, and some will be swept away by the flow of life. But we touch all these people in some way, tiny or huge, making more of a difference than any of us can imagine... The way we live on in other people, that matters the most.” Stefan Nikolovski
VOICES - 27
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.
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