GLOW Club 2025: New Energy in GLOW club
Latest News GLOW Club 2025: New Energy in GLOW club The excellent GLOW girls’ camp this summer was a great additional energy and motivation for the continuation of the GLOW club. After the successfully implemented GLOW club program last year, we started this school year again with new ideas, fresh energy and dedication to creating a space where young girls can learn, grow and be inspired. On October 11, 2025, an information session was held for the new generation of the GLOW club, where the participants were introduced to the program and activities that will follow throughout the school year. A novelty this year is that the leadership of the club was taken over by two former participants – Emma and Mila – who now, as club leaders, take care of communication, logistics and support of the club in coordination with the YMCA team. GLOW club workshops We launched a series of workshops on November 1, 2025, starting with an interactive session about communication and teamwork! YMCA youth worker, Jovche Krsteski, led the group through dynamic, fun activities, including practical demonstrations of how we use verbal and non-verbal communication. The positive energy was contagious, and the girls left motivated and ready for more. The momentum continued November 22 with the second GLOW Club workshop, where creativity took center stage. Professor Nikolina Gjurovska from Gymnasia Josip Broz Tito in Bitola, guided participants in exploring expression through poetry and short stories. It was a safe space for everyone to tap into their unique creativity using both written and visual inspiration. We closed out the year 2025 by looking ahead. At our final workshop on December 13, new Peace Corps Volunteer Ellen Kussman unveiled ‘The 2026 Vision for GLOW.’ Participants discovered exciting new paths for the coming summer, from attending the GLOW Camp for high school students to working as summer staff at our Day Camp. The vision also includes international training opportunities in Europe and the launch of the YMCA Youth Leaders Program later in the year. We will continue with new workshops on interesting topics throughout the next year. Highlights from the GLOW club are in the photo gallery below.
Participant’s Testimonials from the Digital Education Club
Latest News Participant’s Testimonials from the Digital Education Club Stefanija My name is Stefanija, and I am a high school student at SABA School in Bitola. I am 16 years old, and I am studying computer science. Today I completed the course ‘Introduction to Digital Business Skills’ from the Entrepreneurship section. I have been studying HP life courses in stages for a year. Although I am determined to learn about technology and its inventions, I often find myself logging into HP and going to the Entrepreneurship or Marketing courses. I simply love those courses because they are quick, easy to understand, and teach me things that I have never heard of before. Mihail My name is Mihail Spasevski and I come from the high school Taki Daskalo. I have been going to the courses for about a month now and to say that I’m satisfied with the courses is an understatement. Recently, I completed the class Social Entrepreneurship, which taught me how to assess a social enterprise idea, utilize stakeholder analysis, and measure business impact. I mostly do classes in the course of Entrepreneurship. I find these courses most useful for my work and me. They are not too long; they usually take me up to an hour to finish, and the shared information that is in these courses is awesome. I like the idea of online courses; I find them easier to understand and learn. If you want to, you can come back to the course and revisit it. The overall quality of these courses is amazing, and I would not change a single thing about them. Irem I am Irem Emektar, a student at the Department of Communication and Design at Ondokuz Mayis University in Turkey. I am originally from Ankara, but I am currently volunteering for two months at the Youth Center in Bitola. In addition to my university education, I have a great interest in the development of the digital world. Therefore, I aim to develop my knowledge and skills in digital marketing by attending courses at the YMCA, supported by HP Life. I believe that the future of communication and design will be shaped by the digital transformation. These courses contribute to both my professional and personal development. I recommend all young people to take advantage of this free opportunity, as the YMCA Digital Center offers an inspiring environment for anyone who wants to learn and improve. Jovan I am Jovan from Bitola, a regular volunteer at the YMCA. In the last year of my primary education, I actively devoted myself to the HP life courses, which were held almost every week at the Youth Center. From the very beginning, I had the feeling that they would complement my existing knowledge. After completing several courses, I became even more interested. I also had the opportunity to be part of the first generation of participants at the HP Gaming Garage, where I studied a course in Computer Game Design. During these courses, I liked the communication and interaction with other students who regularly attended. I recommend this way of gaining new knowledge to my classmates, and to freely study my favorite topic, digital marketing.
Digital Education Club 2025: Strengthening Digital Skills and Community Engagement
Latest News Digital Education Club 2025: Strengthening Digital Skills and Community Engagement The Youth Center in Bitola continues to actively fulfill its mission of preparing young people for the digital future, offering them free access to HP’s online educational platforms. Throughout the year, the YMCA continuously implemented HP LIFE courses, enabling young people to acquire basic digital competencies and practical knowledge in business, marketing, communications, entrepreneurship, etc. These regular activities were a continuation of the foundation laid in 2023 and 2024, when several hundred participants completed HP LIFE sessions and received certificates on various topics, from digital marketing to entrepreneurship. While this year’s total number of young people included in the program was slightly lower (300+ participants), our community reach and engagement efforts intensified, especially in the last quarter of the year, as you can read below. See below the photo gallery from the digital education sessions of the club in 2025. Expanding Our Community Footprint To make digital learning more visible and accessible beyond the Youth Center, we launched offline promotion campaigns in secondary schools across Bitola. Teams of young volunteers went into classrooms and school events to share stories and encourage classmates to join the digital education courses. We also took part in major local events — including the Volunteer Fair and the University Hackathon — where we met students face-to-face and offered on-the-spot registrations. This grassroots outreach helped us connect with young people who might not have seen the program online, and deepened YMCA’s presence as a trusted partner in youth learning and development throughout the city. See below the photo gallery from all the campaigning with HP life courses across the city.
Real Stories, Real Growth: Peer School Participants Reflect
Latest News Real Stories, Real Growth: Peer School Participants Reflect Mila Nikolovski, Economic School Jane Sandanski When I first heard about this activity, I immediately felt great curiosity and excitement. I had positive expectations – that I would learn something new, meet interesting people and gain useful knowledge and experiences. What I liked the most was the teamwork and practical tasks, which were dynamic and fun. Through them, I learned new skills for communication, cooperation and critical thinking, and at the same time gained greater confidence in expressing my ideas. This experience helped me develop as a person, improve my social and organizational skills and get a clearer idea of my future goals. I can apply the acquired knowledge in everyday communication, at school, as well as when working in a team and making decisions in different situations. And young people who want to upgrade themselves and gain new experiences would benefit the most from such activities. I would certainly recommend such programs to everyone, because they contribute to personal development and practical knowledge. Sara Gruevska, Economic School Jane Sandanski I came to the peer school with expectations that I would have a good time and that I would learn many new and useful things, and those expectations were fully realized. The workshops were particularly interesting and interactive, and through them I gained new knowledge and insights that I did not possess before. This experience taught me true values and significantly contributed to my personal growth and self-improvement. I believe that the things we learned are fully applicable in everyday life and help us better deal with different situations. We, the participants, benefit the most, because through the activities we learn practical skills that are necessary for us in everyday life. Nektaria Ilievska, Gymnasium SABA Honestly, the peer school met and even exceeded my expectations. I liked the activities and games the most, because through them learning was interesting, active and fun. During the peer school I learned many new things and gained new knowledge and skills that will be useful to me in the future. I believe that what we learned is practical and applicable in real life, and I think that this type of school is most useful for high school students. Stefanija Dimitrijovska, Gymnasium SABA Before the peer school started, I had expectations to learn more information related to the world of career development. The most interesting part of the program for me were the games in which we actively participated and were constantly on the move. Through them, I learned new games and ways of cooperating with others. I believe that the school partially, but significantly, contributed to me in this area and gave me a clearer picture of the topic. The things we learned are applicable in everyday life and can be of great benefit to students in the seventh, eighth and ninth grades, as well as to students in the first, second and third years of secondary education.
The Third YMCA Peer School: Fostering Personal Growth, Communication and Career Guidance
Latest News The third YMCA Peer School: Fostering Personal Growth, Communication and Career Guidance Over the past three years, the YMCA Peer School has gradually developed as a space where young people learn to talk about topics that most often do not receive the attention they deserve within formal education. After one school year dedicated to mental health and another focused on peer violence, this year’s school combined the experiences from both previous years and focused on the questions that young people are increasingly asking – who we are, what drives us, and how to make informed choices for the future. Therefore, the focus was placed on personal development, values, and career guidance. The activities, led by Jovche Krsteski, youth worker and psychologist, were held in the first semester of the academic year at the premises of the youth center and included participants from seven high schools in Bitola. The Peer School was conducted through a series of workshops, organized into separate modules for personal growth and career development that build upon each other. The process began with exploring personal values, needs, and interests as a foundation for developing self-awareness. Participants reflected on what is important to them, what motivates them, and which factors influence their choices, as well as how these aspects affect their daily behavior and decision-making. Later, attention was directed toward the differences between knowledge and skills and their importance for personal and professional development, through which the young people recognized their own potential and learned that personal growth is not based solely on what we know, but also on how we apply that knowledge in various life situations. Communication and interpersonal relationships were identified as key components of personal development. Within these modules, participants explored communication styles, temperaments, and their impact on relationships with others. The work continued with topics related to conflicts, analyzing different strategies for resolving them and the connection between personal characteristics and reactions in conflict situations. In the later phase of the Peer School, the focus shifted to identity, personal vision, and long-term goals. Through creative and reflective activities, participants considered what defines them, which values guide them, and how these aspects relate to their future educational and career choices. The final modules were focused on taking initiative and preparing for peer education. Participants worked on planning and structuring presentations, adapting content for different groups of audiences, and developing confidence in public speaking. This part represented a transition from personal work to actively sharing the acquired knowledge within the school environment. The process was concluded with the awarding of certificates to participants who actively participated over the past months and carried out the planned peer activities. With this third Peer School, YMCA Bitola continues to build continuity in peer education and create a space where young people can develop, express themselves, and receive guidance and support in building their future. The project was supported by CVJM #SignsOfHope and the Municipality of Bitola! You can view the photos from the Peer School and peer education activities in the album below.
Expanding Digital Horizons: YMCA Introduce Gaming Garage Program
Latest News Expanding Digital Horizons: YMCA Introduces Gaming Garage Program In addition to the core HP life digital education program that the YMCA has been implementing for the third year at the Bitola Youth Center, the YMCA has expanded its offering with new digital programs through the Gaming Garage HP platform. These additional courses introduced young people to creative digital industries, including video game development, e-sports, programming, visual design, and digital storytelling. Designed to be understandable even for beginners, these courses combine creativity and technology and offer opportunities for access to modern, global, and fast-growing professions. The four-week hybrid program which was implemented this spring, combined online learning with live meetings at the Youth Center. Participants could individually or in teams learn from the online courses and exchange ideas with their peers. The program additionally included a study visit to a local gaming company where young people could get acquainted with real job positions and industrial processes in creating a game for the gaming market. In addition to these regular educational activities, the YMCA also activated the local community through two special Gaming Garage tournaments organized at the Youth Center. The tournaments were realized in two rounds, in spring and autumn as special events that encouraged young people to get involved, have fun and compete by playing some of the games they had the opportunity to learn about during the educational activities and meetings. The Gaming Garage tournaments were conceived as much more than games – participants had the opportunity to learn about the best free online courses for game design and the use of digital creativity in game creation, showing them that their hobby can grow into a skill or a future employment opportunity. Upon completion, participants receive an official certificate from HP and edX.These initiatives are open to all young people from 15 to 30 years old, regardless of previous experience. Curiosity, a desire to learn and an interest in IT technology are enough. Both programs HP LIFE courses and Gаming Garage are implemented in partnership with HP Inc. and YMCA Europe and are part of the wider HP E-Sports and Video Game Development Academy of HP. Through continuous training, joint events, and access to cutting-edge digital resources, the YMCA continues to motivate young people to learn, create, collaborate, and build the digital skills they will need in the future.
Testimonials on ProfilPASS Career Guidance
Latest News Testimonials on ProfilPASS Career Guidance Ana, University Student I have always wanted to discover myself, so filling out questionnaires, as well as solving psychological tests and quizzes for self-awareness, aroused curiosity and interest in me. With Profile Pass career counseling, I was pleasantly surprised by the unique experience I gained and the different approach from other tests I had been exposed to before. It allowed me further get to know myself, to face my virtues and shortcomings to learn how to deal with them. I also discovered what the other categories/types of people are and how they function and now I apply healthy communication with them, depending on their character.This way of self-examination is definitely unique in itself and I feel that it gave me the most accurate and relevant results. I would especially recommend it to those who feel some kind of identity crisis, do not know which career path to choose or feel that they are not happy in their job. It should also be applied to high school students, because they are mature enough to understand and that is when they most need to get to know themselves to know which path to take. Angela, high school student While participating in the process I felt free to share what I wanted to express about myself, and I was assured that through this method I would receive a direction that suited me, and at the same time I could learn something new about myself. Since I had one-on-one sessions, I felt free and with no stress. The most enjoyable part of the activity was the privacy I had while participating. I learned about myself that I am an altruistic person who has great analytical and engineering skills, and through the meetings, I received direction on how to build myself as a person further. Since I did not have a specific idea of what to do next when I started my career life, the activity especially helped me to be able to explore and decide, what jobs would suit me according to my experiences and abilities.I believe that I could not have done this on my own with equal efficiency if I had not participated in Profil Pass. I also received guidance on what jobs to research based on my experiences, skills and interests and on how to enrich my CV, things which will be applied throughout my life. In the past, I had a lot of stress because I believed that there were no secure career paths for me and I was not sure if I would ever be employed in the future. Through this activity, I learned that there is and everyone has a secure career path and I can find my path. This was so helpful for me and I believe that it would be also of great help to those around me.I think that this methodology would benefit the youngest people in secondary education who are still not sure what to do next after secondary education, for example, which university to go to when they become adults. I think there are so many young people unsure of themselves and with no idea for their future professional lives. This activity would be of great benefit to them. Natasha, Youth worker When I first learned about the Profil Pass career counseling, I was curious, but not overly optimistic. It reminded me of past experiences in high school when we worked with psychologists to discuss our future educational paths. My expectations were modest, yet I decided to give it a chance. I realized that even though I had been working for nearly a decade, engaging in self-reflection and understanding my personal and professional affinities could still be valuable.The process encouraged honesty and openness, which allowed me to reflect deeply on my qualities and experiences. There were moments when I needed extra time to recall certain details, but that only made the process more meaningful. Despite my years of experience as a youth worker, volunteer, and coordinator, I discovered new insights about myself. This activity helped me reaffirm my strengths, recognize areas for growth, and feel more confident in my career path.Overall, I found this experience incredibly beneficial. It not only enhanced my self-awareness but also gave me practical tools, like a detailed document summarizing my results, which I can use for personal and professional development. I would highly recommend the Profil Pass career counseling to high school students preparing for college or young adults unsure about their career direction. Andrea, high school student At first, I didn’t had any big expectations, but I felt like I really needed this activity. This activity not only made me get to know myself, but it also allowed me to realize all my abilities, skills and traits, my character. Which really helped me further, both in personal and professional growth. For example, after this activity I gradually noticed how much easier it was for me to form new collaborations, and acquaintances and approach new experiences. I recommend this activity to everyone, but especially to young people who don’t know each other well enough, and I believe that it will help them as it helped me. Luka, high school student In a way, I learned more about myself and it was interesting, but I liked the part when I consulted with the psychologist about my life the most, because I was open and honest, also about my interests for the future, as an important part for every young person. I cannot confirm about professional growth, because I am still young, but I know that it will certainly be useful for me. They apply to everyday life, such as raising self-confidence in young people, and therefore conversations with a psychologist on these topics are very useful to start from a young age. I recommend the Profil Pass career counseling to young people who want to get to know themselves better, to discover what they are good at and what they want
GLOW club 2025: Girls on the Rise
Latest News GLOW club 2025: Girls on the Rise In 2024, we proudly brought GLOW Club back to Bitola after a pandemic pause, reuniting and inspiring a new generation of young girls through workshops on leadership, volunteering, communication, and practical skills. Building on that strong foundation, 2025 takes the journey further with fresh topics, deeper learning, and even more growth opportunities. In 2025, we continued organizing workshops for young girls, focusing on new and previously uncovered topics of interest to them. The seventh session was on the topic of Emotional Intelligence, led by psychologists Biljana Tolevska Naumovska and Orhideja Robevska. This session expanded the girls’ knowledge of the definition of emotional intelligence (EI), its core concepts and its origins. An interactive psychodrama exercise followed, involving all participants, encouraging them to share personal experiences and deepen their understanding of the topic. The session ended with very positive impressions and a collective commitment to invest more in self-development. For the eighth session, we chose yoga. To our great satisfaction, many of the girls were experiencing and benefiting from this type of personal growth activity for the first time. Our yoga instructor was Bojana Artinovska, who generously shared her knowledge during a two-hour introduction to yoga with specific exercises. These exercises were later selected for implementation in our upcoming GLOW camp. The yoga session energized the girls and motivated them to continue practicing at home if they enjoyed the experience. The ninth session, focused on Social Entrepreneurship, was led by an experienced social innovator Anita Gagovska. This was something completely new as a topic and unfamiliar to our girls. Through several icebreaker and scenario-based games, we dove deeper into the topic, with each girl identifying challenges in her environment and exploring potential innovative solutions. The overarching goal of the GLOW club is to increase the involvement of young girls in everyday social life, encouraging them to face challenges and actively engage in solving them in real-life situations. We wrapped up this cycle of the GLOW club with the 10th and final session on the topic of finance literacy led by Jeff Spencer, a Peace Corps volunteer who shared a piece of his rich career experience with us. Throughout his life, he has worked as a manager, professor, financial advisor, and insurance agent. The session covered a wide range of age-appropriate financial topics: the basics of finance, effective money management, types of savings, debt, investments for the future, and more. The girls had the chance to gain new knowledge, ask many questions to a financial expert, and receive firsthand answers. With these ten diverse sessions dedicated to the personal growth and career development of young girls in our city, expanding their horizons, and encouraging them to participate in volunteer activities for greater societal involvement, we laid the foundation for the continued existence and progress of this club. In June this year, we plan to organize a three-day GLOW camp, where these girls, along with new interested participants, will bring back the spirit of past camps. So far, we believe that our GLOW club has had a positive impact on the girls who attended our sessions. Through ten sessions, we covered a wide range of topics to educate and prepare participants for their next steps in life. We eagerly look forward to continuing this wonderful project in the fall of 2025 with hopes of its expansion!
Internship Opportunities at the YMCA: Supporting Young Professionals in Their Growth
Latest News Internship Opportunities at the YMCA: Supporting Young Professionals in Their Growth Leona I have benefited from the internship in several ways. It has given me the opportunity to apply my academic knowledge in a real-world setting, allowing me to gain hands-on experience in graphic design. Working on diverse projects has helped me develop my creative skills, improve my design process, and become more confident in my abilities. Additionally, the internship has taught me how to work effectively within a team, collaborate with others, and meet deadlines, which are all valuable skills for my future career. It has also provided me with a better understanding of the professional environment and the importance of communication and feedback in achieving quality results. Overall, this experience has significantly contributed to my personal and professional growth. Fidela My name is Fidela and I am a master’s student. During my studies, I had the opportunity to become part of the YMCA as an intern. I would like to share that during my internship in the organization I gained skills and knowledge that contributed greatly to me as a student, as well as to my professional development. Additionally, I would like to highlight my positive experience working with my mentor, as his support and cooperation significantly contributed to the successful completion of my tasks.
Empowering Youth Futures: YMCA’s New Career Guidance Initiative
Latest News Empowering Youth Futures: YMCA’s New Career Guidance Initiative This year, the YMCA has taken further steps in providing structured and impactful career guidance for young people. Building on the certification of our youth workers in the ProfillPASS methodology, as well as the methodology for life skills and employability from the project „Empowering Youth through New Opportunities“, YMCA successfully piloted both individual and group career support. Last year we started providing career guidance one-on-one, and this year we have started working with groups of peers with both initiatives aiming to help young people better understand themselves and make informed decisions about their future professional paths. Whether individual or group support, the YMCA approach has two main components: providing development of career (mostly “soft”) skills and providing development of life skills (via various types of character-building activities). Considering the group’s career support, in March this year, within the overall service YMCA provides for the local youth center, we piloted a three-part workshop series for primary and high school students. These sessions were tailored for age-specific youth. Participants explored the importance of personality types and self-awareness as a foundation for choosing a meaningful career. Each workshop focused on: Gaining deeper self-understanding, Setting clear and achievable personal and career goals, Creating a CV and personal portfolio, Building a professional network. Throughout the sessions, young participants also engaged with inspiring real-life people and their career journeys in psychology, music, academia, and civil society. The final workshop allowed them creatively to shape their envisioned career paths, reinforcing the importance of making thoughtful life decisions. Trainers for this three-part workshop series were Prof. Dr. Sašo Kočankovski (Psychologist and Gestalt Therapist) and Anita Gagovska (Social Innovator). These structured activities address the growing need for accessible career counseling. We aim to close the gap between youth potential and market demands by also initiating collaboration with schools, companies, and local educators to create a stronger ecosystem for youth development. With this, the YMCA reaffirms its mission to support young people in their personal and professional development through relevant, evidence-based, and youth-centered initiatives.
