Hello, my name is Katariina and I’m 19 years old. When I graduated from high school last summer I decided to do something different during my gap year and the long term project in Macedonia sounded exciting! Now I’m so happy that I’m finally here after a long visa process. During the few days that…
November is an amazing month when we start to get ready for Christmas. 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…
Moin! My name is Tamina and I'm an 18-year-old from Hamburg, Germany. I'm interested in literature, politics, history and arts! I appreciate a nice cappuccino after a visit to the museum and I am the owner of two budgies (if you're looking for more fun facts). I have been doing volunteer work in my city…
Hi again! I’m Hugo, former short-term ESC volunteer in VCS. I’m 19 now and I used to live in a small village in the Western part of France. After spending two months in Macedonia this year, I came back for 11 months! The job suits me very well, the people are fantastic and I missed…
August is here as you can see from the weather and from the new Voices edition! Are you already getting enough from this sun or are you craving even more? Remember to stay hydrated and enjoy this weather, it’s not lasting forever. Speaking about hydration, did you know that people in Mexican village consume significantly…
Le vent se lève! … Il faut tenter de vivre!* (Le cimetière marin – Paul Valéry, 1920) Sun is shining, temperatures are rising and people are escaping to the sea: welcome to July! It’s now the time to relax, party or enjoy a good sunbath (but remember to stay hydrated!). While everyone is enjoying the…
“In the summertime, when the weather is hot, you can reach right up and touch the sky” - Mungo Jerry Ahh summertime at last! Nice to see y’all again for this June edition. I can already see you all looking forward to take a dip in the pool or the sea, enjoying an ice cream…
Gratitude is the art of being thankful and appreciative of our things in life. Not only that, you could say that being grateful is a lifestyle where one is capable of valuing what he has instead of what he is missing. 200.000 people die every day from natural causes, and today you were not one…
Oh, April! The month of rebirth and re-awakening – look at those trees and flowers! After a surprisingly long winter, we can enjoy the sunny and warm weather again. Can you smell the new adventures in the air? Finally, we can say bye-bye to winter coats and enjoy outdoor activities. Hiking to Vodno every weekend?…
Hello everyone, in the women's month and spring. Warm days are coming! This month is extraordinary for women, especially March 8, when we celebrate their day, and we should say a special "thank you" for all the female achievements in society. Also, let's not forget about the fight for gender equality. In the month's topic,…
How time is flying! We are already in the new year of 2022. Technically speaking, it’s not one year that changes, but one day. Yet we like to use this new number as an occasion to work on ourselves: Should I go to the gym more often? This year I will eat healthily and spend more…
Fasten your seatbelts. The end of the year is approaching fast. December is the month of joy, happiness, and an opportunity to finish what you started. It’s also a time to reflect, review our past, and make plans for the new year. Don’t dwell on the past too much, though. Grab a cup of…
Longer evenings and colder nights remind us that it’s already autumn outside. For many, it is a time when energy diminishes and the mood comes for activities that do not necessarily bring such joy during the summer. Who wants to sit under the blanket watching a sad movie when you can spend this time actively…
The temperature has considerably increased in Macedonia, and our daily lives are being replaced by visions of a dip in the sea or the swimming pool or a breath of air in the mountains. However, here in VCS, we are still working hard for you! Little by little, music events are being allowed, and we…
We can all agree that time had a different way of behaving during past year, for some it might feel like years; others tell how fast it went through their eyes. What was something that us, humans, social beings found most difficult, is distance from each other. Spring brought up what we were looking for;…
For the 15th anniversary of the creation of Volunteers Centre Skopje, let’s go back to the future! Nikola Stankoski (Director and Founder of VCS) provides us with a unique insight into the origins of this pioneering NGO. He shares with us the spark that ignited his willingness to initiate this adventure with communicative good vibes.…
Four young and ambitious volunteers from Turkey made our family bigger these days. Volunteers Center Skopje in the next two months will host Deniz, Senem, Enеs and Eren. They will work in the magazine "Voices", also helping in the Daycare Centre for street children in Shuto Orizari, will follow the whole process of work in…
Hello again, Greetings from downtown Skopje! Back in 2003, the talented composer Matthew Bellamy from Cambridge wrote “Our time is running out”. For this October edition, we invite you to think of the time in its wide meaning with us and our cross-border fellowship of writers. Angela brilliantly highlights the fascinating nature of seasons: familiar…
It is astonishing how fast the unknown becomes known and a far away place becomes home. And how fast the time passes. In one moment I get picked up at the airport by two people I don’t know and, almost in an instant, I tell them goodbye as good friends. I went to Skopje, Macedonia…
“Dance is the hidden passion of our soul.” - Martha Graham This month dancing is our passion. It’s a wonderful way to express yourself, relieve stress, and forget everything around you. The times of solitude are passing, have you had enough time to take a look at your inner self, reflect your thoughts and dreams,…