“A better and more secure future for me and my children”

There is no wrong time to make changes in our own lives, in the community, or in the society we live in. People who are ready for change more easily accept challenges and recognize opportunities. Just like our interviewee whose experience we are sharing.

E.A. is a young woman, a single mother of three children, who faces daily challenges and seeks solutions to the difficulties life throws at her. I met her at the professional cosmetology courses for women from Tetovo. “I have to fight for myself and for my three children, for whom I need to provide a better and more secure future,” she says. E.A.’s financial stability and security seem more attainable since she joined the courses organized by the Women’s Civic Initiative ANTIKO, supported by the Government of Switzerland through Civica Mobilitas. She learned about the courses through information from civil organizations, signed up, and joined the group that started classes on September 25, 2024. The courses are free for participants and provide them with skills that will ease their entry into the labor market and strengthen their economic independence.

“This course is a great opportunity for me, and that’s why I take it very seriously,” she says. We have our conversation while she and the other girls involved in the course practice hair removal and nail enhancements. The time for practicing the skills learned is precious, and so she does not stop working while speaking. Although the course program offers mastery of several skills, E.A. already knows what she wants. “In the future, I see myself working with nails, so I want to learn the process and how to create them the most. Of course, I’m also learning the other skills offered by our dedicated and well-meaning trainers, Liljana Dimovska and Sanja Dimitrievska from the ‘Madam’ beauty salon in Tetovo,” she says.

The two trainers say that their “students” show exceptional potential and progress in mastering the skills. “We were surprised by the success with which they mastered the nail techniques, which are the most complex and hardest to learn. Of course, each of them has specific affinities for certain beauty services such as facial treatments, skin care, massages, hair removal, and so on,” they say.

Speaking about E.A.’s progress and her vision for her own business, the trainers mentioned that they advised her on where to start. “Considering her situation on one side and her immense desire on the other, we recommended she start with materials that are not very expensive but are still great for beginning this work,” recounts Sanja Dimitrievska. E.A. did not hesitate to take the next step to realize her plan. She secured materials and equipment to be ready to start working independently immediately after finishing the course. “The other girls in the course are younger and can still think about their plans, but I don’t have time to wait. Now is the moment to take decisive steps, so I continue to practice what I learn in class at home,” she said.

Organizing time as a single mother with three children, like in E.A.’s case, is a real challenge. This significantly limits her job choices. “I can’t work full-time for eight hours; I just can’t manage that on my own with my three small children, ages 14, 10, and two and a half. Therefore, I see this course as an answer to my needs. I will work alone, in my own space with a schedule that accommodates my needs and care for my children,” she explains.

E.A. is a true inspiration. She radiates with a strong desire and motivation. “This course can change my life and the lives of my three minor children, providing a better and more secure future. I am grateful for the opportunity and happy that there are people who organize and support such activities.”

We said our goodbyes as she walked away with her dream, moving confidently toward its realization, and we, involved in her journey, shared a strong desire to see it come true and a readiness to help her achieve it. We hope that such stories will inspire many more of our fellow citizens to make changes in their lives and in the society they live in together.

“The Voice and Participation of Women and Youth in: Creating Public Policies and Enabling Environment for Civic Participation” is a project of the Women’s Civic Initiative ANTIKO from Skopje, implemented in partnership with the Association “Always Coexistence” from the village of Kanatlarci and the Association for Education and Culture ADRION “Adrion” from Zelino.