Lasting Impressions – The Festival “Wonderful Days” through the Eyes of our Youth
Latest News Lasting Impressions – The Festival “Wonderful Days” through the Eyes of our Youth In July 2025, eight representatives from our YMCA – two leaders and six young people aged 13 to 18 – took part in the unforgettable youth festival Wonderful Days in Denmark. Organized every two years by YMCA Denmark, this unique camp-festival offers an outdoor adventure filled with concerts, workshops, sports, moments for personal reflection, and countless new friendships. Thanks to the support of the Erasmus+ programme, our participants had the opportunity to join youth from several other countries in this inspiring event. Wonderful Days is more than just a festival – it’s a shared experience that inspires, connects, and empowers young people through non-formal education, volunteering, and joyful engagement. Our team returned home full of ideas, skills, and motivation, ready to bring a piece of the festival spirit into our local community. Below, we share their reflections – honest, vivid, and full of gratitude. MihailMy first thoughts when I found out about the festival in Denmark were that this would be unforgettable. I think we all had certain expectations, but what I expected became a reality – a paradise for young people. I felt accepted and was very happy that everyone was friendly and communicative. The international connection aspect was very pleasant – we shared our cultures and games. I learned to be more communicative and to enjoy nature. The activities we did around the campfire had a positive impact – I learned how to make wooden utensils and various sculptures. Overall, I would describe the experience as unforgettable, extremely fun and unforgettable for anyone who attends in the future. TeonaBecause we do not have such events here, my first thought was that this was something impossible for me. However, with a bit of hope, I still applied. I felt excited with a small dose of fear about whether I would manage, but at that place, nothing is impossible – everyone gives you hope and strength that you can do anything. I gained new experiences because it was my first time camping. I also got to know myself better. After each activity, I felt stronger than I believed I was. Primarily, I learned to live more simply than I do in everyday life. I learned to be more resourceful, to know my worth, and that people care about my opinion. I would recommend this festival to many young people because you can learn things that help in everyday life and personal growth. StefanijaBefore the trip, I expected something modest, but it turned out to be even better, and the place was wonderful, clean and organized. During all the activities, I felt great and accepted by everyone. Taking part in this festival brought me many benefits – I gained new skills, improved communication and discipline. Before, I used to hesitate to join new activities. Now I’m more open to challenges and have made new friendships, which also means a lot. I would definitely recommend this type of educational activity. You learn how to work in a team, gain knowledge, and develop discipline – which is very important. The activity was excellently organized and left a great impression – I want to tell everyone with such an opportunity to go for it. EmilijaFrom the moment I found out about the festival, I was thrilled and excited for the adventure because I hadn’t had such an experience before. At the festival, I learned about teamwork, how to become more responsible and developed other skills like creativity and resilience in the face of challenges. I learned things I will use in everyday life, like flexibility, problem-solving, and finding creative solutions. I also learned how to make the most of the day and feel fulfilled. My recommendation: I don’t think I’ll stop telling everyone about this for the next six months, because it was such an unforgettable and super fun experience. I recommend everyone to go if they get the chance – no one teaches you the things you learn at camp: friendship, skills, experience, and memories. Overall experience: I would describe it in one word – unbelievable. JovanaHonestly, I didn’t think I’d be lucky enough to be part of such an adventure and had no expectations. But when I found out I would participate, I knew I’d have a great time, meet new friends, and learn something new. The activities I liked most were those we could do in our free time – like weaving, sewing, working with clay, and making bracelets. Participating in such an organized camp festival meant you truly have a chance to learn many new things, find yourself in a different environment, and meet different people. The things you learn at these camps are applicable and useful in everyday life. I recommend these camp activities, friendships, memories, and experiences to every young person because they begin to become more aware, confident, make new friendships and become stronger. ManuelaI couldn’t fully imagine what a camp festival would be like because it was my first time participating in something like that. The fact that I already knew everyone in my group meant that my only expectation was to have fun! Each game was new to us and designed to be engaging. I enjoyed every single activity offered to us – even just having a simple conversation with one of the internationals. All of it was an opportunity to grow within myself. In the 21st century, everyone thinks they need to look perfect, act perfectly, have no flaws, be the best, compete with each other and focus most on their social media. However, at camp we remember the real standards – what really matters. Kindness, friendship, humanity, loyalty and LOVE! We believe that moments like these at Wonderful Days leave a lasting impact and encourage young people to be more active, confident, and open to the world around them. Gordana – a group leaderWhen I first heard about the summer camp in Denmark, I felt excitement and
Summer Reimagined: YMCA Camps Returned with Purpose and Passion
Latest News Summer Reimagined: YMCA Camps Returned with Purpose and Passion The YMCA proudly revived its tradition of youth camps, adapting to the times with vibrant day camps focused on personal growth, teamwork, and outdoor learning. This year’s camps, part of the Young Men’s Leadership Project (YMLP) and Girls Leading Our World (GLOW), offered young people in grades 8-9 of primary school and 1-3 of secondary school a unique opportunity for summer adventure, learning, and friendship. Reigniting the Spirit of Camp: A Summer of Growth, Leadership & Joy The call for participants invited youth to step away from screens and daily routines, to immerse themselves in nature and in an atmosphere dedicated in investment in leadership, communication, environment and personal growth. “Our camps are a safe, fun, and inspiring environment,” the call emphasized, “where young people become more confident, aware, and prepared for life.” To prepare the space for a smooth and engaging camp, volunteers from the YMCA took part in clean-up actions at the yard of the Faculty of Pedagogy as primary venue for camp activities ensuring a welcoming environment for all participants. An informative session was also held to introduce the camps and spark enthusiasm among interested youth and parents. Growing Leaders, One Day at a Time: YMCA’s YMLP & GLOW Camps The YMLP day camp took place on June 20, focusing on exercises designed to foster personal growth. Activities included a drum circle teaching communication and active listening—a metaphor for harmony and cooperation in everyday life and slackline exercises symbolizing balance, trust, and mutual support. Participants also practiced Qi Gong, an ancient Chinese mindfulness and movement practice, enhancing physical and mental well-being. Energizers, social games and moments of relaxation, setting a meaningful tone for the youth’s journey, complemented these engaging activities. From June 26 to 28, the GLOW camp welcomed an enthusiastic group of girls for a three-day immersive experience. The first two days were held in the serene courtyard of the Faculty of Pedagogy, while the final day was spent amidst the stunning natural beauty of Pelister National Park. Each day began with yoga sessions helping participants ground themselves and connect deeply with their bodies and surroundings. The camp’s core philosophy encouraged learning through experience and teamwork: girls practiced listening, communicating and building trust through a variety of hands-on exercises. Daily team challenges prompted campers to collaborate on strategy and problem-solving, reinforcing essential life skills such as resilience, leadership, and community responsibility. Activities like slacklining tested balance, coordination, and courage teaching lessons about facing fears and relying on others that only a camp environment can truly provide. Afternoons shifted focus from physical to reflective activities, including guided inner-expression sessions through drawing and mindfulness practices. These moments allowed participants to slow down and restore personal well-being in a fast-paced world. Water games, a camp favorite, added fun and spontaneity, creating joyful and unforgettable summer memories. A unique highlight was the community simulation exercise, where girls role-played local stakeholders to debate, identify community problems, and propose solutions—empowering them to understand and participate in decision-making processes that affect their lives and neighborhoods. The Heart of the Camp: Volunteers and Teamwork Behind this program stood a dedicated team. The YMCA team worked closely with local volunteers who contributed to the logistics and marketing as well as the Peace Corps volunteers serving across the country who added the flavor and key ingredient of the American style of camps. They helped in the implementation of the program through multiple exercises, games and camp songs as well as serving as counselors, fostering the teamwork. The camp staff was instrumental in delivering high quality, meaningful programming, but also in fostering a supportive and inspiring atmosphere where every young person could thrive. In Gratitude The YMCA extends its deepest gratitude to the local and Peace Corps volunteers for their dedication and passion, which helped us, reignite the flame of camping for our youth and community. We are so happy to have partners such as the YMCA of the USA, Signs of Hope from Germany and our colleagues from the YMCAs in the Balkans with whom we work on the Head Space project making many of the sessions, equipment, and logistics possible and not only for these day camps, but beyond. We love our donors. Thanks to everyone who believed in us, who share our mission and values in investing in the young people and donating on our crowdfunding campaign making the participation of our youth affordable for everyone. Together, we look forward to continuing this journey of growth, learning, and empowerment for many summers to come.
Students’ Stories from Peer Education in Primary Schools
Latest News Students’ Stories from Peer Education in Primary Schools Jovana Georgievska, School Dr. Trifun Panovski From all the topics, “How to deal with peer violence” was my favorite topic to present because we taught the children how to stand up for themselves and to create their self-confidence. In the future, I would like to be a peer educator again because I think this is an important topic that needs to be discussed not only in class, because we see it every day but many do nothing to stop it. Furkan Metliku, School Goce Delchev With the help of the educators and the workshops, I became more confident and prepared to speak in front of others. The topic that interested me the most was psychological violence, because it often happens and is difficult to recognize. During the presentations in front of the students, I was glad that the students listened carefully and showed interest. I believe they learned something important. I would like to be a peer educator again, because this experience helped me to express myself better, to gain self-confidence, and to be a support for others. Mert Rustemov, School Dame Gruev To be a peer educator for the prevention of violence was a great responsibility for me, but also an opportunity to learn something new and to help others. Through the workshops and trainings, I gained self-confidence and felt prepared to speak in front of other students. I consider the topic of peer violence to be very important, because each of us has the right to be safe and respected at school. What was most interesting to me was that through games and discussions, we learned how to recognize different types of violence and how to react properly. I felt most excited when I had to speak in front of other students, but over time I realized that there is no place for shame and fear – it is important to speak openly. I believe that such activities are extremely important and I would like to be a peer educator again. The feeling that I can make a change, even a small one, gives me the strength to continue. Jovan Grozdanovski, School Kole Kaninski When I heard about this workshop, I was nervous about meeting new children, but with each new workshop, I relaxed more and more. Before presenting at my school as a peer educator, I was afraid, but during the presentation, I relaxed. Something that helped me relax was the children who participated in the workshop, because they were open and shared their own experiences with peer violence and how they dealt with it. Jana Lozanche, School St.Cyril and Methodius The workshops helped us to connect with each other, to build team trust, and to feel safe when speaking in front of other students. The most interesting part for me was when the students shared experiences about violence they had survived or witnessed. That was the moment when I truly felt how serious and important this topic is. In those moments, I learned that every child hides a story behind their behavior and that we need to be there for each other. The most difficult part for me was the preparation for the presentation. Although we were prepared and had support, I still felt nervous and wondered if I would say everything as I should. But when I saw that the children were really listening, I felt that we were truly doing something good. I would like to be part of such activities again, even to be a peer educator again.
Peer Education Expands to Primary Schools in Bitola
Latest News Peer Education Expands to Primary Schools in Bitola Following the successful work with high school students in the first semester, the “Peer Education School against Peer Violence” program of YMCA continued into the second semester with a new focus: upper-grade primary school students. Out of the ten primary schools in Bitola, nine joined the initiative by selecting two to three motivated students from 8th and 9th grade to participate in the program. Their enthusiasm reflected the relevance of the topic – peer violence and the need to talk more openly about it. Over a period of two months, participants were divided into two groups and went through four thematic modules, adapted to their age and understanding. The topics mirrored those used with high school students: communication styles, the concept of power and influence, types of violence (physical, psychological, social, and cyber), and non-violent communication as an approach everyone can learn and apply in daily life. Each session offered space for reflection, learning, and building empathy among peers. The creative expression workshop looked a bit different from the one for older students. Instead of guided meditation, younger participants were encouraged to select an image that reminded them of peer violence or its consequences and then represent it through drawing and personal interpretation. The goal was to express their emotions and experiences in a safe and creative way. All sessions were facilitated by a psychologist and youth worker from the YMCA with support from a local artist during the art workshop. After completing the four modules and the art session, the trained students (now peer educators) carried out presentations and workshops in their own classrooms by the end of May 2025. These peer-led activities were well received by school staff, psychologists, and, most importantly, the students themselves. At the end of the school year, a formal certificate ceremony was held to recognize their efforts and completion of the program. The students also proudly exhibited their artwork from the creative session as testimony of their work and dedication. Twenty students completed the program, reaching over 350 peers in primary schools across the city. The experience helped them grow as leaders and advocates for a more supportive and safer school environment. The project “Peer School Against Peer Violence” run by the YMCA is a continuation of the peer education initiative at the Youth Center in Bitola on topics related to mental health, relevant to young people and the Municipality itself. The project is supported by Signs of Hope (CVJM) and the Municipality of Bitola and is implemented in cooperation with nine primary schools in the city.
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!
Campacity – A Journey of Learning, Connection & Inspiration
Latest News Campacity – A Journey of Learning, Connection & Inspiration From March 27-31, 2025, two staff members from our YMCA had the incredible opportunity to take part in Campacity 2025, a capacity-building conference for YMCA camps across Europe and the USA. This year, the event was held at Camp Perspektiv Fabrik, a scenic campsite located near Brandenburg an der Havel, just west of Berlin, Germany. Campacity is an annual conference hosted in a different country each year, organized by YMCA Europe, YMCA of the USA, and this year YMCA Germany as host. It brought together around 80 camp professionals and youth workers from both continents to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and strengthen the global YMCA camping movement. The conference focused on empowering YMCA camps with innovative, impact-driven approaches—covering key areas such as youth resilience, mental health, conflict transformation, trauma healing, work with refugees and more. It also serves as a space for collaboration and connection between camp leaders committed to working with war-affected youth and families, including displaced communities. Our Experience We spent four unforgettable days immersed in workshops, camp sessions, and informal networking. Each day offers two parallel agendas with sessions on different camp-related topics, ranging from outdoor learning methods to trauma-sensitive programming—all allowing us to split up, cover more ground, and exchange insights afterward. Evenings were reserved for campfire activities, games, and cultural exchange, creating a relaxed and friendly atmosphere that brought participants closer together beyond the formal learning. We returned home enriched with new knowledge, meaningful connections, and a renewed motivation to make our camps more inclusive, healing, and impactful for every young person who joins them. What Participants Loved “We shared experiences and best practices and learned from other people.” — Claudia“I feel inspired to bring communities together and offer awesome camp experiences.” — Dana“We learned about camp culture building… like an energy gel.” — Ana“The energy, the joy, the whole camp vibe is exactly what I always dreamed of.”
Peer School Against Peer Violence: Testimonies from Participants
Latest News Peer School Against Peer Violence: Testimonies from Participants Mihaela During the training on peer violence, I had the opportunity to give a presentation in front of 40 students and two psychologists at my school. It was a huge experience for me, but at the same time a big challenge. What scared me the most was whether I would be able to keep everyone’s attention, especially when I knew that not only first and second-year students would be listening to me, but professionals as well. The nervousness and fear of making mistakes were constantly present, because it was important to me that my message was clear and well understood. When the presentation was over, I felt relieved, happy and relaxed. Although I was afraid, I managed to overcome my fear and convey the topic with dedication. It was wonderful to see how my words affected the students, and to hear positive feedback from all of them. It gave me additional motivation and confidence. I would definitely present again. Every new experience of this type helps me improve and feel more confident in myself, both now and in the future. I see it as a chance to grow and pass on my knowledge to others. When it comes to working with elementary school students, I would gladly accept. I believe that working with younger students is extremely important, because they are in a period when they learn the most and form themselves as individuals. I would like to help them learn how to deal with violence and create positive relationships with the people around them. Through this experience, I realized even more that I find myself in psychology that I want to develop in the future. I want to continue working with young people, to inspire them and to help them deal with the challenges that life brings. Predrag I am Predrag, I am 15 years old and study at a technical secondary school. I was giving a presentation in front of about twenty youths, and we were learning about fighting peer violence. From the presentation I learned a lot about myself, but also about others. I have learned that people who commit violence also have problems, not just those who receive it. Ognen I am Ognen, a student at the technical school in Bitola and I was a peer educator at the School Against Peer Bullying. Before delivering my presentation, I was afraid that I could get confused very easily and not be understood or interested by the audience, but that immediately changed as soon as I started presenting. Since the presentation ended, I felt nice, relieved and fulfilled that I was able to contribute to raising awareness about the peer violence that occurs in today’s society. I would definitely like to present again, both in front of my peers and in front of elementary school students on this topic, because the topic is of great importance to everyone. Nektaria I am Nektaria, a second-year student at the SABA high school. Before coming to this workshop I was afraid of presenting in front of many people, in front of youth, as well as meeting new ones, but as time went on, with each new workshop we got to know the youth better. When we had to present as peer educators in our schools, things changed and I was very relaxed. During the workshops, I am glad that many students got relaxed and started sharing their experiences, whether they were bullies or victims of violence. I hope that in the future more will join such workshops so that we can positively affect and reduce violence. Teodora I am Teodora, I am studying in medical high school, and I am 16 years old. I think this presentation was very useful and I learned so many new things. I know that this presentation will benefit me in the future, and I know that those who listened to me will learn something more about what peer violence is actually. I had no stage fright at all about the presentation and no one should have stage fright. It’s not scary and if you’re educated about what you’re talking about and then it’s easy to express it to all those who want to listen to you. More about this program you can read here: Peer School Against Peer Violence – YMCA.mk
Peer School Against Peer Violence
In September, the selection of peer educators for the “Peer School against Peer Violence” at YMCA began!
GLOW Club Summary 2024
In 2024, the YMCA, in collaboration with the Peace Corps and American Corner Bitola, revitalized the GLOW Club (Girls Leading Our World) in Bitola.
Play4Peace Camp in Kosovo
Latest News Play4Peace Camp in Kosovo From July 1 to 6 a team of 8 people from our YMCA attended a Play4Peace youth project in Peja, Kosovo along with 20 other young people and youth workers from Serbia, Kosovo and Italy united for peace-building through sports. This project included a 5-day program where through various sports activities and workshops, participants gained a deep understanding of the critical role of youth in peace-building and reconciliation efforts. Play4Peace was an interactive event with discussions, home groups, personal reflections, activities and games that can be applied in any organization. In addition to the educational activities, the participants had an opportunity to visit 3 cities, where they were divided into teams involved in numerous team-building activities such as Escape Room, Photo Challenge, and intercultural evening. In addition, are a few testimonies of some of our participants: FilipI have only a positive opinion about the project. The expectations I had were high, so I’m glad that after all that, they were met. While I was there, I learned a lot about what peace is as a concept, and how to convey it in my environment. I am truly grateful for the chance to participate. AndreaAs for the first time on a project, I had a lot of fun. I learned many things and games and met many new people. And I am especially happy that I got closer and better acquainted with everyone from my group, and that I had some unpleasant moments, but at the same time funny situations that made my experience even more beautiful. TeodoraIn the past week, the YMCA provided us with a project and fellowship that we as participants did not expect. This project for me was a great challenge and study of myself and the people who were around me. The activities that were assigned to us during the sessions, left a lasting impression that I believe we will apply in our everyday lives in the future. Meeting new cultures, and friends, their open-mindedness and honesty left a strong impression on me. “Play4Peace” is a project that made us open up emotionally to new things, to know how to respect each other and what friendship means. There are no wrong answers, there is only the study of new challenges and adventures that await each individual. I highly recommend all those who are keen on learning new things to become a part of the YMCA youth team. DimitriјI have only positive impressions about the project in Kosovo. My expectations were exceeded. The project allowed us to meet and work together with young people from Kosovo, Serbia, and Italy. Together we discussed topics about peace and through sports activities. LoraThe project in Kosovo in which I participated left a great impression on me as I was delighted by their hospitality, their professional approach to the given obligation, the way of realizing the project, as well as conveying the main message to each of the participants. The activities that were implemented should be applied in everyday life because they have a positive impact on each one of us in gaining new knowledge about other cultures, their history and forming new friendships that I believe will be lasting, learning what peace is and how to play for peace. If you get a chance to participate in such a project, sign up without thinking and prepare for an unforgettable experience that will be permanently engraved in your hearts and memories. LukаI have very good impressions of my first youth exchange, and I can say that it exceeded my expectations. When I first heard about this exchange I wanted to go to experience something new in a new country go to a new place and meet new friends. While participating I was very happy because the project was related to sports. I am very grateful to the YMCA for the idea of getting to know the youth from Kosovo, Serbia, and Italy through sports, teamwork, through joint participation. I met many good friends from other countries with whom I still communicate, from whom I learned a lot about their countries, their culture, their religion, etc. I recommend the activities to anyone because they are related to a healthy life and can contribute to improving ourselves mentally. Younger individuals will benefit the most because they are developing and need a good example of how to grow, and develop, just have confidence, not be afraid to express themselves, and know that you can find friends from another country. Photos from this Activity in this gallery.
