Hello and welcome to the November edition of VOICES, This month, we sadly say goodbye to two long-term volunteers at VCS. I’m Cassandre, also a long-termer, and watching volunteers leave is always bittersweet, especially Terry and Chloe, the last ones from when I first arrived. In this editorial, they share their final thoughts and reflections,…
Since I arrived in Macedonia, I have felt a small shift inside me. It might be the way people open me their doors without hesitation, or how a shared drink can turn strangers into something closer. The welcome I’ve received here has been more than politeness, it feels like a real invitation to belong, to…
I was certainly aware that the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), held in Skopje from July 20-26, would teach me something as an Olympic volunteer, but it went beyond my expectations. I spent the entire week at the venue with competitions in taekwondo, which allowed me to see a world I hadn't previously been aware…
In April, I was sitting on campus in Ankara, just thinking about summer internship plans. I had no idea that in just a few weeks, everything in my life would change. While browsing through the university’s programs, I came across a three-month volunteering opportunity in Skopje, Macedonia. At that moment, I realized that something important…
Hope is a dandelion – and a dandelion is it. The story of everything takes its course with the smallest, tiny-tiniest seed of it getting carried and carried away by the early summer breeze. Despite its completely inconspicuous looks, the slender seed possesses a secret super-power: It can take a hold even in the most…
Dear reader, birds chirping on the trees, water rippling down the mountain, the wind is brushing through the trees and you feel the warmness of the sun shining on your face. Spring is starting and with it a new Voices edition full of inspiration and ideas. Spring for me is a time to reconnect with…
One year ago, in February 2024, I was at the Montpellier Caribbean Carnival, celebrating the start of Lent. Totally immersed in a Caribbean environment. Who could have predicted a year later that I wouldn't be able to go to the carnival because I'd literally be in ANOTHER COUNTRY? A country that is completely unknown to…
Since you are reading these lines, I congratulate you because it means you are reading "something". Increasingly, people have renounced themselves from reading books. It has become a complicated movement for people to pick up a book and read it. People prefer to watch short videos instead of reading written sources such as books, magazines,…
“What time is it? Summertime!” Let’s kick off the summer with the month of June, which symbolizes beauty in all its forms, from spring’s flowers to the sunlight heralding the arrival of summer. And what could be more splendid than starting the season with long nights, breathtaking sunsets on the beach, or a warm barbecue…
Welcome to the January edition of VOICES! As the first month of the year begins, it's natural to think about the past and the future. But instead of focusing on cliches like "new beginnings" and "fresh starts," let's take a moment to consider the present. What are you passionate about right now? What are you…
“The mind is like a parachute. It works best when it’s open.” – His Holiness the Dalai Lama Have you ever experience time travel? The last months have marked quite a shift in our daily life. Now that the worldwide situation is progressively evolving, we propose you to harness a couple of essential elements: curiosity…
Even though the weather lately doesn't really seem like it, we're in the middle of winter! These days, the thermometer shows up to 13 degrees but the nights are still long, dark and cold. So what would be better during this season than enjoying the warmth of some nice company. Maybe some good friend(s)? The…
Even though the weather lately doesn't really seem like it, we're in the middle of winter! These days, the thermometer shows up to 13 degrees but the nights are still long, dark and cold. So what would be better during this season than enjoying the warmth of some nice company. Maybe some good friend(s)? The…
The end is the new beginning. With every new year coming people are still not done with new hopes, plans, fantasies, dreams, ideas... VOICES team is joining this global enthusiasm and we can promise you that we are not slowing down with fantasizing! But first, let us take you to ancient times of Sámi people.…