When I set out on my Peace Corps adventure in September 2011, I committed to a 27-month term of service. That 27 month term expired three days ago. And I'm still here.
I can't imagine leaving my little village yet. It feels like the work here has just begun. I'm three days into my third year of service and my colleagues in Novaci are hard at work (although don't you worry, there's always time for coffee). :)
I've recently begun working with three local NGOs (Non-Government Organizations, that operate like a non-profit). Here's a look at the projects we have in the works:
1. Fitness Program for Women in Rural Communities: Fitness is a new concept here in my village. It's a novelty that is intriguing for some, while still considered taboo for others (especially the older generations). Any woman seen doing anything fitness related (aside from soccer) risks becoming the subject of gossip and labeled as odd. I'm fairly certain I meet both of those criteria on a regular basis. When I arrived in Novaci two years ago, I yearned for a women's fitness program, but there was none to be had. Well, this past June, unbeknownst to me, a group of women from the local Innovative Cultural Club (ICC) started a women's Zumba class at the municipality's events hall (across the street from my house). As soon as I heard wind of it, I jumped right in attending their bi-weekly classes.
Each time I go, I look around in awe at the multi-generations of women who gather. From first graders to high schoolers to college kids and us old farts (thirty/forty-somethings), we all workout together. Inspired by the women who founded ICC and eager to help them expand their programming, I helped them apply for a grant from a U.S. based grant foundation called "Friends of Macedonia." As of this month, we heard word that we got the grant! Now we are in the process of implementing the project: expanding the Zumba class to now include a Pilates class, buying Pilates equipment (balls, mats, weights, jump ropes, CD player, speakers) and putting on a series of fitness seminars for girls, women and seniors, including a 4-month fitness challenge. Today our project was featured on the local news. For the 1-minute TV news-brief, click HERE. It's in Macedonian, but you'll see our project coordinator - she's an author, a poet, a mother of two, and the amazing woman who founded the Innovative Cultural Club, Elizabeta Jonchik (pictured below).
Translation: "Elizabeta Jonchik, coordinator of the project"
2. Youth NGO Work Center - Since May 2013, 3 Youth NGOs from the Municipality of Novaci have independently and unbeknownst to the others, been seeking office space from the Municipality, requesting renovation of the run-down municipal hall for NGO events, and attempting to secure funding for construction of a cultural and civic youth center in an abandoned building in the center of Novaci.
These three NGOs are the only youth NGOs in Novaci, and collectively engage 150 youth (14% of the 1050 potential youth beneficiaries in the Municipality) in weekly programming. The youth in Novaci do not have any place to gather – no cafes, no restaurants, no youth centers, no youth NGO offices, nothing. Aside from a boy’s soccer league, all current youth programming is provided by these three youth NGOs that exist to meet the needs of the youth.
Each NGO is finding it difficult to expand its programming and meet with potential donors when there is no office or meeting space. These organizations also find it difficult to hold events in the current municipal hall, as the run-down conditions both deter participants from attending NGO events and deter the NGOs from hosting events involving regional, national, or international partners because the NGOs are too embarrassed by the inadequate and depressing conditions. (That's where I attend fitness classes, and believe me, it's in dire shape. Last week during an evening fitness class we saw water coming in under one of the ill-fitted single pane outside doors. When we looked out the window to see if it was raining, instead we found a man peeing on the door. It wasn't water that was seeping under the door, it was pee! So gross. With this project we plan for properly fitting, quality doors and windows!) While the Municipality cannot afford the 200,000.00Euros necessary to construct the youth center, it is willing to work with the NGOs to help them strengthen their capacity to work together and expand their professional networks to achieve their collective vision.
Thus was born the idea to create a Youth NGO Work Center, a renovated events hall with stage and dressing room and an office for all 3 youth NGOs to work together, share resources and knowledge, and collectively improve and expand programming for youth in Novaci. The municipality will fund 58% of the $10,000 in project costs. To help with the remaining 42% of the budget, we are applying for a Peace Corps Small Projects Assistance grant. Nikolina (my counterpart from the municipality who pioneered this project) and I are putting the finishing touches on the grant application this week, in collaboration with a newly formed coalition of all three youth NGOs that will be a part of it. Wish us luck! :)
Youth from the Innovative Cultural Club perform a New Years Pageant 2012 on the stage we hope to renovate with this project.
Youth from the Cultural Dance Association (one of the project partners) perform traditional "oro" dancing at an event this summer. My counterpart Nikolina joins the kiddos dancing Oro.
3. Macedonia Model United Nations (Model UN): Model UN is a conference similar to the United Nations in which students participate as delegates to various UN Committees. There are over 400 Model UN conferences held around the world each year. Participants research and formulate political positions based on the actual countries and convene in a mock-conference, which aims to strengthen the capacities of young people in Macedonia in advocacy, lobbying, diplomacy, conflict resolution, public speaking and writing. The village of Novaci has never participated in Model UN...until this year.
The Coalition of Youth Organizations (SEGA) in cooperation with us Peace Corps volunteers in Macedonia implements the program in Macedonia with support from the US Embassy. In the past, Peace Corps Volunteers have been the team leaders, but this year only Macedonians will be team leaders as part of building program sustainability. When I saw the call for team leaders last month, I advertised with the Young Citizen's Action, a new civil society organization founded by Igorche and his friend earlier this year. Through this new NGO, we have the opportunity to host a Model UN team. A member of the NGO is interested in being a Team Leader for the youth in Novaci. I helped him with his CV (resume) and a cover letter for the application. He was nervous about his English. One of the pre-requisites for being a part of Model UN is excellent English speaking and writing skills. I had no idea this man spoke English until our meeting. He does not have anyone to practice it with, but has learned English from school and now from American movies. Our first meeting went well, and he received word last week that his application was accepted! We will have a team from Novaci!
He attended a Team Leader training (all expenses covered) this weekend on Lake Ohrid, where he met 20 other team leaders from all over Macedonia. It is a neat opportunity for him, and for the students we hope to recruit for our team! I will be assisting with trainings leading up to the conference, including practice in English, debate, public speaking, research and position paper writing. I'm looking forward to learning about the United Nations in the process. (Second photo, credit UT Tyler Model UN website).
4. Postcrossing: My Macedonian buddy Goran (the very first Macedonian friend I made before arriving in this country over two years ago thanks to Denver friend Alex Monroe), is participating in Postcrossing (a project that allows anyone to receive postcards from random places in the world), and would LOVE to have a postcard from YOU. :) Thus far, he only has postcards from 5 U.S. states, and only ONE postcard from each of the entire continents/regions of Africa, South America, Caribbean, Central America and Oceania. Help me bring the world to him. He'll even send you a postcard from Macedonia. :)
If you would like to partake, send a postcard of your choice with a message of your choice (he speaks excellent English) to:
Goran Andonovul.Nevena G.Dunja br.13/21000 SkopjeMacedonia (Europe)
Thank you everyone! If you feel inspired to send more than one postcard, my mailing address is below. (wink)
Goran visiting me in Bitola this summer. We had our cake and ate it too.
Most recent postcards I've received - North Dakota from Jeremiah, and Seattle from Mariah (and one of a lake in Nepal, mailed in Vietnam, from Kate StormoG arrived TODAY) :) THANK YOU!
Lots of LOVE,
Hana T.
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