In cooperation with VCS and Zlatan Sremac, Antonia came to volunteer in frames of ESC Erasmus+ program.
„If you want to fly, give up everything that weights you down“. Well, apparently I took this quote literal because four days ago I found myself in a new country and started a new chapter in here.
I never thought that I, Antonia, an 18 year old girl from Germany would overcome my fear of sitting in a plane and move to a country I barely knew anything about. But here I am and I feel like I am experiencing one of the happiest times of my life. After graduation high school I wasn’t really sure about my plans for the future and each day that passed by, I felt more clueless and worthless.
But I always had three core principles:
- I want to make a change.
- I want to help wherever help is needed.
- I want people to be happy and to live their best life.
Maybe it was fate but suddenly I stumbled upon a project in Macedonia where I can work in an elementary school for children with different disabilities. I immediately knew that I was meant to be there.
I have been in Macedonia for four days now and it already feels like a home. First it was kind of overwhelming, but it’s an amazing country with kind-hearted people. It is simply wonderful to live in a place where people still take time for each other and appreciate the smallest things.
New challenges make life more interesting and overcoming them is what makes someone grow. I am convinced that this is going to be a life-changing year with plenty of new insights, friends that become a family and a work place that turns to a „source of happiness“. Everyone seems special in their own way here. This year I am going to follow my destination and experience a special kind of joy.
Antonia Barth