FORMER EVS VOLUNTEERS IN CREACTIVE
Annamaija Näreaho (Mansku) – Finland
Justyna Golecka – Poland
Ilse Olfers – Netherlands
Loes van Velzen – Netherlands
Sven Kooiman – Netherlands
Being an EVS volunteer in Macedonia was an eye-opening experience.To live in another country with a different culture and different values made me realize that there is not only one way of living your life. The EVS learning process comes from both ways: you learn a lot from your surrounding, and your surroundings learn a lot from you. Therefore going on EVS was one of the best choices in my life so far.
Ana Pimentel – Portugal
Estelle Duquesnois – France
Before doing my EVS, I worked for three years in Lyon, and needed to take a break to move from my diary and discover new horizons. I didn’t really choose Macedonia… but Macedonia chose me!
I arrived in Kavadarci, in Youth center Kreaktiv in September 2010, for 9 months of wonderful adventures!
I learned a lot from the others: from my flatmates (other EVS volunteers) of different ages, from different backgrounds and cultures, from all the young people that came to the youth center, and from all the great people in general that I had the chance to meet!
I learned also a lot from myself, pushing my ability to adapt to new circumstances, learn a new language, accept different « cultural codes »…
I learned from the different projects that I could realize during the year: a monthly newspaper involving a group of youngsters, the creation of theater plays, the organization of events and workshops with Roma kids etc.
David Ducin – France
My European Voluntary Service at creACTive in Kavadarci was a learning opportunity including both cultural and work experiences. Living one year in Macedonia gave me the opportunity to see a different way of life, which I could experience thanks to meeting welcoming people and an association that provides great living and working conditions for its volunteers.
Along with several other volunteers of various countries, we organised regular workshops, and special events. This gave us an opportunity to meet a lot of young and active people in the city, and to work with them in different cultural fields (foreign languages, arts, music, sports, citizenship, fighting against discrimination, etc.
I could really enjoy this cultural experience thanks to my learning of the local language (Macedonian) with regular lessons with two amazing teachers.
Monika Kwiecinska – Poland
Pedrol Vieira – Portugal
Anette Ross – Estonia
We all look for challenges in our lives. After finishing high school in Estonia I needed mine. Something exciting for a year related with children and youth, different cultures, languages and open people. Definitely I found it – my EVS service in creACTive Kavadarci.
Volunteering experience in Macedonia showed me a lot in a new way. Starting from seeing myself in unexpected roles to exploring different ways of living everyday life. Working with local young people was giving so much positive energy. Seeing high school student playing guitar better day by day, Roma girl writing number 2 first time in a right way or group of young people from local village learning to do recycling art just makes you smile.
As much as I enjoyed working with young people I liked learning Macedonian, getting to know local people and a real cultural mixture around me. Firstly, it was easy to get in touch with local Macedonians, Albanians, Roma and Turkish, but in addition, there was such a big group of international volunteers to get to know.
Working in CreACTive gave me on a one hand a lot of experience in youth work, organizing projects and events, leading workshops. But I feel that much more important part of my volunteering was experiencing Macedonian lifestyle, getting to know volunteers who enjoy doing their work and seeing people being happy and satisfied with all they have around.
