voices

2012
February Free

Magazine for all young people of Skopje

SHUTKA

Reporters & Translation: Sylwia Grska Antonella Nuvolli Sara Fantova Awa Badji Jadwiga Mitak Marta Lipiska Magda Wyszyska Elvin Shytaj Marina Mijakovska

Elena Davidovska Marija Brzovska Kate Binovska Natalia Gancarz Sanja Paunovska Translations and proofreading: Angela Burneska Bledi Cami Nora Selimi

Design & Photos: Maxime Gallasse Ilona Olehlova Sylwia Gorska Sara Fantova Natalia Gancarz Elvin Shytaj Marija Brzovska Marta Lipiska Magda Wyszyska

Production & Coordination: Nikola Stankoski Gjoko Vukanovski Contact: Volunteers Centre Skopje Emil Zola 3-2/3, 1000 Skopje Tel./Fax. +389 22 772 095 vcs_contact@yahoo.com www.vcs.org.mk

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GIRL WITHOUT A BASE UNDERNEATH By Elena Davidovska THE IDENTITY ROM OR A MOSAIC OF PEOPLE By Awa Badji THE ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEE FROM KOSOVO By Awa Badji BEHIND THE GOLDEN HOUSES
By Jadwiga Mitak

DISCOVERING SHUTKA
By Elvin Shytaj

CENTER FOR SOCIAL INITIATIVES HOPE By Marija Brzovska (IL)LITERACY IN SHUTKA

By Marija Brzovska

SMILES IN SHUTKA
By Jadwiga Mitak

ELISES STORY: ONE YEAR IN SHUTKA

By Antonella Nuvoli

LAST ALTERNATIVE YUGOSLAVIA

By Magda Wyszynska

and more ...

Dear Readers, This month surprised us with big movements, it seems that although we are still in month of colourful Shutka, fortune is preparing us for the next, .MRDNI SE! edition of Voices. We moved a lot, first some of us went to frozen Serbia, to enjoy mid-term evaluation, then the others joined and we were freezing together, dreaming about warm Skopje. Then started big migration in the house, just one room wasnt touched by wind of changes. Now its quite funny when your room is called your room, ex-someones room and another room is your ex-room. But not only funny things happened, suddenly we had to say see you (we are not saying goodbye) to our dear Antonella, our Sardinian sunshine we are waiting for you Anto! By the way there is no other coffee smelling like the one you made. Enjoy reading and the coming spring. By Jadwiga Mistak

By Elena Davidovska

GIRL WITHOUT A BASE UNDERNEATH

standing sideways as the paper, lost in space...

In joke and laughter, for many years is building a unique "building". It is composed of all possible materials that, if you look, carefully are composed on the most unimpossible way. In joke and laughter, for many years is building Materials such as Romanian forests, Albaa unique "building". nian skull capped, Dreams, BosIt is composed of allHollywood possible materials that, if nian hard heads, Italian style, along with you look, carefully are composed on the most interlocking Orthodox, Catholic and Muslim unimpossible way. faith. Materials such as Romanian forests, Albanian skull capped, Hollywood Dreams, Bosnian Sandheads, is an idea of style, equality for with all, developed hard Italian along interlockbusiness, high marketing places, wonderful ing Orthodox, Catholic and Muslim faith. life for who was born this neighSand iseveryone an idea of equality for in all, developed bourhood.high marketing places, wonderful business, life for everyone who was born in this neighAround 60,000 Romanian people from Skobourhood. pje municipality called Suto Orizari, most known 60,000 as "Shutka" inhabited this suburb in Around Romanian people from Skopje 1963. They most oppose of their presentation municipality called Suto Orizari, most known as "Shutka" poor andinhabited primitive, this but suburb it's described as as in 1963. exotic Cupoppose with sensational skills and absurd They most of their presentation as poor evil spirits of sexual "undertakings", which is and primitive, but it's described as exotic Cup omitted to show skills theyre "champions" any with sensational and absurd evilin spirits intellectual or any educational achievement. of sexual "undertakings", which is omitted to Romanian population in this micro cosmos of show theyre "champions" in any intellectual or exotic Shutka only vaguely reflects the pain of any educational achievement. eternal wandering and their of returnRomanian population in thisdream micro cosmos of ing toShutka their Promised Land.reflects the pain of exotic only vaguely eternal wandering and their dream of returnTheir vision is integrative ing to their Promised Land. and tolerant society; educated prosperity and welTheir vision isRomanians, integrative and tolerant society; fare, equal access rights for all and improveducated Romanians, prosperity and welfare, ing their quality offor life. Each has a different equal access rights all and improving their dream,of someones realized, while others are quality life. fighting to true. Each has abecome different dream, someones realized, while others are fighting to become true. Inthis this neighbourhood you can meet many In neighbourhood you can meet many taltalents, always backed music, song, laughents, always backed byby music, song, laughter ter and jokes. From this unusual world that and jokes. goes, this left, unusual then right, up then down, or who From world that goes, left, then knowsup where yet, is keeping likeknows in cartridges right, then down, or who where their optimism and good spirit ..... yet, is keeping like in cartridges their optimism and good spirit .....

. , , , . , , , , , , . , , , , . 60.000 , 1963 . , , , . , . , , , . , , . , , , . , , , , , 5 .....

THE ROMA IDENTITY OR A MOSAIC OF PEOPLE By Awa Badji

The real strength of the Roma people? Just their culture.

Gytan, Finnish kale, Romanichal, Sinti, Manush, Boyash etc. many names to distin-

guish one community. Be careful not to give a prejudice and barriers because ignorance will lead to erroneous judgments that are fertile ground for racism and rejection of others and because this reasons the conventional and generic term Roma people will be used. The Roma people in Europe are a community of around 8 million people. Theyre ignored and locked up in negative stereotypes that surrounds them, and for centuries were developed policies towards them which are referred to their physical or cultural disappearance. The richness of their culture, lifestyle and treatment they suffered at the heart of a long history have only reinforced the strength of their identity. Where are they? From linguistics, we found a part of the solution at the end of the 18th century. The Romany language is indo-european family, heiress to the Sanskrit and close idioms spoken in India. Its in this region the Roma people were formed. How did they preexisted before their big departure for the west or is formed on this occasion, no one can tell. The name Roma as would some of Rama, a legendary hero of Indias destiny was made to go into exile and in other narrative were exiled as punishment for allegedly harboring and nailed Jesus to the Cross. The word Roma also means man in Romany. Chronicles of the late 10th century mention the arrival of the Roma people in Iran. One of them would be allocated to the East, while another part joined the Caucasus. A third group took the road of the Byzantine Empire, one of the borders of Europe. The majority of the Roma people in their history adopter the religion of the countries in which they were traveling or settled. The Roma are in the heart of a paradox. They have problems at all levels the essentials of life: education, employment, housing and health. Given that this is an issue ant that questions in terms of solutions is superimposed multiplicity of factors of differentiation. Its the diversity of groups of Roma people across the continent should be known. The any groups and subgroups and between the different they display them, are all factors that make it difficult to understand this issue a whole.

The richness of their culture, lifestyle and treatment they suffered at the heart of a long history have only reinforced the strength of their identity.

This diversity is an asset but most is either unknown or confusing to non-Roma people. Socia-cultural differences are essential between the various communities. While the school is not as important as a value for us: Roma people not entrust the charge of school to transform their children fulfilled individuals. For this there is the community and the similar. For them school is only the instruction, viewed as a tool. There is a strong demand for primary school, but decreases in high school: because the calendar of existence is not quite the same. The general stereotypes on Roma people are strengthened. The Roma dont marginalize themselves from the time when some of them, the gadjo sphere are part of a foreigner significant, out of social organization. Some Roma families are distrust of non-Roma, the gadjo they fear and reject for historical reasons (persecution, witchcraft). However, no Roma people aspire to poverty. The simplicity and spirit of freedom are considered into poverty. Many of them manage to find a harmony between inclusion, culture and Roman. In their success, they do not feel the loss of their identity by breaking with poverty. More than its origin or any sense of belonging, its his lifestyle that ensures its Roma people Roman. The real strength of the Roma people? Just their culture. It by passes the usual codes that shape a nation such as language, religion or territory, to unite a diverse population. Their music is considered on of the teeming among European ethnic groups in that it has enriched the various influences of the countries they crossed, and they pick up some cultural line, melodies, instrumental political Today, numbers of projects, relocations hasty failed because they did not know the characteristics of the Roma group involved in the operation. Whether its an urban or a university study, its important not to think or speak for the individuals concerned. Its important to remember that the barrier can be our own representations of happiness, comfort or ideal of life. So should we talk about Roma culture or Roma cultures? The question may arise, given the plurality and diversity of the Roma people. In the end, whats the normality?

THE ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEE FROM KOSOVO WITH THE UNHCR AND THE RED CROSS
By Awa Badji

The tragedy in Kosovo in 1999 has forced more than 650 000 people to flee their country and seek refuge in neighboring regions and countries including Macedonia.The conflict between the 2 main communities in Kosovo is linked to their mutual conviction of being the only legitimate occupants of this region.

According to the UNHCR ( United Nation High Commission for Refugees), people who have fled Kosovo to neighboring countries as refugees under the definition of the Geneva convention of 1951 and should be protected and treated accordingly and take advantage of free access to these countries. The immediate needs were foods, medicines, drinking water, shelter and the International Committee of the Red Cross with other NGOs have attempted to answer. However, its less well known pain, emotional suffering necessarily less visible than material deprivation, this anxiety is that of no news of a father or brother who has been arrested. The ICRC (International Committee for the Red Cross) was surprised by the extent and speed of the arrival of refugees. The CAR (Central Agency for Research), in particular, did not have a structure capable of responding immediately to the needs that would be huge. Its through the testimony of refugees; the ICRC has attempted to assess the scale. UNHCR ensure that asylum seekers and refugees have access to a fair and effective asylum, supported by procedures that can facilitate the integration of people trying to integrate recently to Macedonian society. UNHCR also provides protection and assistance to Kosovo minorities still refugees in Macedonia (and designated as a temporary assistance), helping especially women, children, adolescents, elderly and vulnerable individuals. So the Framework Agreement signed in Ohrid in August 2001 put an end to hostilities and granted more rights to minorities and paved the way for the return of 170 000 displaced people in the Balkan region. The international protection of asylum seekers from Kosovo minorities continues to be needed indicates the UN

agency for refugees, which requires States to respect the right of asylum and note that the denial of this status would to approve ethnic discrimination on the ground. This is where the Red Cross is involved. The City Red Cross of Skopje, as implementing partner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Office in RM, opened the Centre for support of asylum seekers in the municipality Shuto Orizari, Skopje in January 2009. The Centre of the City Red Cross of Skopje was founded to improve the situation and living conditions of these persons, to support their independence, and to help in finding long-term solutions in frames of the National Strategy for local integration of the refugees and asylum seekers, passed and adopted by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia in December 2008. One of the main priorities of the Centre is to increase the quality of education, makes daily assessments and analysis of the situation through field visits. Furthermore, the centre provides psycho-social assistance, support and counseling for persons of interest, organizing and holding of different types of workshops for raising awareness According to the so far experience and practice, the existence of the centre for support of refugees has a positive effect on the everyday life of the population of interest. Regardless of the type of problem they deal with, the people initially address the centre, and then depending on their problem they are sent to the appropriate institutions. They consider the centre as a place where they can resolve their problems; they view it with admiration and support it by actively participating in the implementation of the planned activities. A long work in progress for a population very often forgotten

Ndihm refugjatve nga Kosova me UNHCR dhe Kryqi i Kuq

Tragjedia n Kosov n vitin 1999 ka detyruar m shum se 650 000 njerz t largohen nga vendi i tyre dhe t krkojn strehim n rajonet fqinje dhe vende, prfshir edhe Maqedonin.

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Tragjedia n Kosov n vitin 1999 ka detyruar m shum se 650 000 njerz t largohen nga vendi i tyre dhe t krkojn strehim n rajonet fqinje dhe vende, prfshir edhe Maqedonin. Konflikti mes 2 komuniteteve kryesore n Kosov sht e lidhur me bindjen e tyre t prbashkt pr t qen banort e vetem legjitim okupues t ktij rajoni.
Sipas UNHCR-s (Komisioni i Lart i Kombeve t Bashkuara pr Refugjatt), njerzit q kan ikur nga Kosova n vendet fqinje si refugjat nn prkufizimin e Konvents s Gjenevs t vitit 1951 dhe duhet t mbrohen dhe t trajtohen n prputhje me rrethanat dhe t prfitojn nga qasje t lir n kto vende. Nevojat e menjhershme jan ushqime, ilae, uj t pijshm, strehim dhe Komitetit Ndrkombtar t Kryqit t Kuq me OJQ-t tjera jan prpjekur t prgjigjen. Megjithat, kjo sht dhimbje m pak e njohur, vuajtjet emocionale domosdoshmrisht m pak t dukshme sesa materiale, ky ankth sht se ai nuk ka lajme per nj baba apo vlla q ka qen i arrestuar. KNKK (Komiteti Ndrkombtar i Kryqit t Kuq), ishte habitur nga masa dhe shpejtsa e arritjes s refugjatve. MAKINA (Agjencia Qendrore pr Krkim), n veanti, nuk kan nj struktur t aft pr t'iu prgjigjur menjher pr nevojat q do t jet i madh. Kjo sht prmes dshmis t refugjatve, KNKK-ja sht prpjekur pr t vlersuar shkalln. UNHCR ka siguruar q azil krkuesve dhe refugjatve t ken qasje n nj azil t drejt dhe efektiv, t mbshtetur nga procedurat q mund t lehtsojn integrimin e njerzve duke u prpjekur pr t integruar kohve te fundit n shoqrin e Maqedonis. UNHCR gjithashtu siguron mbrojtje dhe ndihm pr minoritetet e Kosovs ende refugjat n Maqedoni (dhe t caktuar si nj ndihm e prkohshme), duke ndihmuar sidomos grave, fmijve, adoleshentve, t moshuarve dhe individve. Pra, Marrveshja Korniz e nnshkruar n Ohr n gusht 2001 i dha fund armiqsive dhe t dhn m shum t drejta pr pakicat dhe hapi rrugn pr kthimin e 170 000 personave t shprngulur n rajonin e Ballkanit. Mbrojtjes ndrkombtare t t azil krkuesve nga Kosova pakicave vazhdon t jet e nevojshme tregon agjencia e OKB-s pr refugjat, i cili krkon q shtetet t respektojn t drejtn e azilit dhe se mohimi i ktij statusi do t miratoj diskriminimin etnik n terren. Kjo sht ajo ku edhe Kryqi i Kuq sht i prfshir. Kryqi i Kuq i qytetit t Shkupit, si partner implementues i Komisionerit t Lart t OKB pr Refugjatt - Zyra n RM, u hap Qendra pr prkrahjen e azil krkuesve n komunn e Shuto Orizarit, Shkup n janar te 2009. Qendra e Kryqit t Kuq t qytetit t Shkupit u themelua pr t prmirsuar kushtet e situats dhe t jetess s ktyre personave, pr t mbshtetur pavarsin e tyre, dhe pr t ndihmuar n gjetjen e zgjidhjeve afatgjata n kuadr t Strategjis Kombtare pr integrimin lokal t refugjatve dhe azilit krkuesve, kaluar dhe i miratuar nga Qeveria e Republiks s Maqedonis n dhjetor 2008. Nj nga prioritetet kryesore t Qendrs sht q t rris cilsin e arsimit, bn vlersime t prditshme dhe analizat e situats nprmjet vizitave n terren. Pr m tepr, qendra ofron psiko-sociale, asistenc teknike dhe kshillim pr personat e interesit, organizimin dhe zhvillimin e llojeve t ndryshme t seminareve pr ngritjen e vetdijes ... Sipas prvojs deri tani dhe praktik, ekzistencn e qendrs pr prkrahje t refugjatve ka nj efekt pozitiv n jetn e prditshme t popullsis. Pavarsisht nga lloji i problemit q merren me t, njerzit fillimisht drejtohen qendrs, dhe pastaj n varsi t problemit t tyre ata jan drguar n institucionet prkatse. Ata e konsiderojn qendr si nj vend ku ata mund t zgjidhin problemet e tyre, ata shohin me admirim dhe e mbshtesin at duke marr pjes aktive n zbatimin e aktiviteteve t planifikuara. Nj pune t gjat n progres pr nj popullsi shum shpesh harrohet ...

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By Jadwiga Mitak

BEHIND THE GOLDEN HOUSES

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Till November 2011 Shutka seemed to me to be a misterious and colourful village in the middle of nowhere, at the end of the world. Shutka was the place where lasts countionius ABSURD and neverending party. Aleksandar Manic's movie, The Shutka Book of Records drew in my mind simple image consisting of ridiculous ideas about living and spending free time, which is not actually free, because there is always something interesting happening, like contest for the owner of the best collection of Turkish music or the loveliest 'designer suits'.
How surprised I was when I took the bus number 19 from the center of Skopje to Shutka and arrived there in 20 minutes. All those stories I heard from different people about the location and transportation to Shutka disappeared in few seconds, it's just another neighborhood of the capital city of Macedonia. It's a place without official statistics but probably with the highest rate of unidentified and indescribable diversity. Behind the golden houses and villas looking like masterpieces, with exquisite paintings on facades still exist containers, donated in 60' and supposed to stay there no more than 4 years which are still somebody's houses, probably called by them home. As far as architecture of Shutka looks like kind of filmset, the inhabitants look like the actors, most of them play the children roles. Children which spend their childhood in the street or in daily centers, trying to have fun without playground, without toys and without attention. Children which you can make extremely happy devoting them few hours of your prosperous life, few hugs and few words. Children which pays you back every single good gesture with the best smiles you have ever seen in your life. Children of Shutka... always positive and always looking for new comers. Hopefully those children will make their wishes true. What they wanted for Christmas? Good health, to learn German, picture with Santa Clause, trip to Plostad Makedonija, rivers of love and oceans of happiness. With this little experience I got in last two months I can't see anymore the funny and ridiculous face of Shutka, I see individual faces and their strong desire to be happy.

Deri n nntor 2011 Shutka m dukej si nj fshat misterioz dhe i larmishm n mes t askundit, n fund t bots. Shutka ishte vendi ku zgjat ABSURDI i vazhdueshm dhe ahengjet e pambarueshme. Filmi i Aleksandar Manic, The Shutka Book of Records (Libri i Rekordeve t Shutks) m dha nj imazh t thjesht q prbhej nga ide t uditshme pr jetn dhe kalimin e kohs s lir, q nuk sht edhe aq e lir, sepse gjithmon aty ndodh dika interesante si pr shembull gara pr pronarin e kolekcionit m t mir t muziks turke apo pr "kostumet e dizajnuara" m t mira.
Sa e habitur kam qen kur mora autobusin nr 19 nga qendra e Shkupit pr Shutk dhe arrita aty pr 20 minuta. T gjitha storiet q i pata dgjuar pr vendndodhjen dhe transportin deri n Shutk u zhdukn n disa sekonda, ajo sht vetm nj tjetr lagje e kryeqytetit t Maqedonis. Esht nj vend pa statistika zyrtare por mesiguri me normn m t lart t llojllojshmris s paidentifikuar dhe t paprshkrueshme. Pas shtpive t arta dhe vilave q duken si vepra artistike, me piktura t mahnitshme n fasada, ende ka kontajner q jan donuar n vitet '60 dhe q jan parapar t qndrojn aty jo m shum se 4 vite por q ende jan vendbanime t dikujt q mesiguri i quan shtpi. Pr sa i prket arkitekturs s Shutks, ajo duket si nj vend pr xhirimin e filmave dhe banort sikur aktor ku shumica luajn role t fmijve. Fmij q kalojn fmijrin e tyre n rrug apo n qendrat ditore, duke u munduar t knaqen pa ndonj shesh lojrash, pa lojra dhe pa kujdes. Fmij t cilt ju mund ti gzoni pa mas duke iu dedikuar pak or nga jeta juaj prparimtare, disa prqafime dhe disa fjal. Fmij q ua kthejn do gjest t mir me buzqeshjet m t mira q i keni par ndonjher n jet. Fmijt e Shutks.... doher pozitiv dhe doher duke mirpritur t vizitor n vend. Shpresojm se kta fmij do ti plotsojn dshirat e tyre. Cka donin ata pr Krishtlindje? Shndet t mir, t msojn gjuhn gjermane, nj fotografi me Baba Dimrin, nj udhtim deri n Sheshin Maqedonia, lumenj dashurie dhe oqeane lumturie. Me kt eksperienc t vogl q pata n dy muajt e fundit nuk mund ti shoh m fytyrat e uditshme dhe qesharake t Shutks, shoh vetm fytyra individuale dhe dshirat e tyre t forta pr t qen t lumtur. 13

DISCOVERING SHUTKA

By Elvin Shytaj

My first trip to Skopje and my first time in Shutka. It was winter, cold and little snowing. All those was different and new for me guy from the seaside.
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Before I merely heard about this place at all and now I found myself at its streets, among those amazing people, walking with them, talking with them and realizing that they share the same dreams as all the rest of the people in this world, education, integration, peace and a better future for their children. From 2009 to 2011 I was sharing the same experiences with Roma people in Albania thats why I wanted to feel and see how Roma people adopted in another country, geographically close to mine, and touch their way of life in another context. I was surprised when I saw that the situation of Roma people living in Shutka, fortunately is much better than in Albania. They succeeded to make their voice heard, they have their own schools, their children are following the universities and getting degrees, more Roma people are becoming teachers, social workers and other qualified professionals among the Macedonian society. They have their municipality and their deputies in Macedonian Parliament. Thanks to the English teacher Asip, me, my French friend Sidney and Katia (polish friend who made all that possible) started to discover little by little Shutka, the customs, culture, every day life and the way people see themselves in the future among the Macedonian society. We had very interesting conversation with the director of the Roma school in Shutka Gulselfa and the Roma language teacher Daniel. Those people represent the part of Roma people which have understood that only through education they can be members of new changing Macedonian society and be respected without prejudices in the country where they all belong. Thanks to our local guide Orhan, student at philosophy faculty, who gave us a chance to penetrate the heart of Shutka, to go into the houses, meet real people and touch closely the reality of those people. I consider photography as a journey. I learned through time not to make predictions but to let the place guide me and to hope that the place in exact moment will accept me as a part of. Only when it happens Im trying to keep memories with my camera Even if it was not my first time in Roma houses, I am still amazed to feel their hospitality and I guess I will never get tired with making the portraits of elder people which look like an open history book. It is kind of magic when you free yourself inside their houses and you feel surrounded by the simplicity and holiness of their living houses. Another interesting fact of Roma people is their strong relation with the TV . It seems that for them it is not only subject of entertainment or information but it represent the connection with the other world that was not available for them before. Continuing this journey through streets I felt in love with the details and colors all over the exterior of the houses, which looks like in a dream world, melted with each other in a perfect harmony. On the other hand I was really surprised by strong architecture contrasts between very expensive villas of rich and small houses of poor Roma people. I left that place with the desire to come back and try to be part of this magic that those people share, fighting hard to survive every day, valorizing every simple thing that life gives them. An ancient Chinese philosopher said: A journey of thousand miles begins with a single step and I believe that Roma people in Shutka have already made their first step

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CENTER FOR SOCIAL INITIATIVES HOPE

By Marija Brzovska

The non-governmental organization C.S.I. Hope is founded in 1997. Its goal is to decrease the degradation in the Romanian population and its vision is to increase the education level of the Romanian children. Most of the projects that are being realized are for improving the situation of the Romanian population.

youth centre in Macedonia. The centre is a place where the Romanian children are gathering, writing homework and spending their free time at creativity workshop or playing group games. As a result we have a large number of children that finished high school and became students in Shutka. Another project that were working on is Education through street social work that is realizing for over 6 years with help of the Schueler Helfen Leben from Germany. The goal is to improve the school success and make sure that the children are going to school every day. We provide the school material and food for the children from the project and we also make sure that the parents are aware of the importance of education and were giving the help those families need.

Vesna Bojadziska Hope opened the first

through street social work is realizing in Skopje in the schools that the children from the Romanian nationality go. Theyre making a progress in their education which I think is the result of the help from our organization.

Stanika Gligorova The projects Education

all the time, we are going to the schools, we are making contacts with the parents and the children. We schedule the familys needs and were giving them the help that they need.

Slave Zdraveski We are visiting the families

Afrodita Raevska Im working on the program that we call sponsorship which is providing financial help to those people that have been to Germany for asylum.

speaks Romanian language, Im making the communication between parents and children and the other employees from Hope easier. Im also classifying the help that the families need.

Seljadin Jashari As the only employee that

If you were magicians what would you change in Shutka?

I would like every person to be educated. .
Vesna

I would draw aside every rubbish dump. .

Slave

Good education for the children. .

Seljadin 16


... 1997 . . , . . , . . 6- Schueler Helfen Leben . . . . . , , . . , , . . , .

?
Job for everybody. .
Stanika

I would like the people to care more about their health and to plan their families. .
Afrodita

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(IL)LITERACY IN SHUTKA
By Marija Brzovska

At a first glance one cannot say that children in the elementary school in Shutka differ from any others. You see a typical classroom full of school materials and pupils enthusiastically waiting for the beginning of the class. But once you get familiar with these childrens everyday life, you come to the conclusion that they are facing problems that other children can hardly imagine. Discussing with two teachers at the Brothers Ramiz and Hamid elementary school in Shutka, I discover the difficulties that Roma children have while trying to obtain a proper education.

At the beginning, they say, it is very hard for the children to learn how to write and speak literature Macedonian language. They speak Roma at home and since Shutka is mostly Roma neighborhood they do not have the opportunity to learn Macedonian until they start to go to school. However, with time they show good progress. Teachers tend to have regular meetings with parents even more frequently with parents of the children that have low grades, but they never show up. Every meeting we have only a few parents who come to ask about their childrens progress. With our joint effort there are good results, but when there Children in Shutka generally come from poor fa- is no supervision at home the homework never milies, but poverty is not an issue when it comes gets done and the grades never go up. they add to having the necessary conditions for studying. with a frustration. They get the books for free and have many organizations donating the materials they need for Both teachers recognize the help that NGOs declasses. Here the problem is more substantial. It aling with the improvement of Roma education is general illiteracy. says one of my co-speakers. give to pupils in their youth centers. However, they underline that sometimes these cause even As I came to know many of the childrens pa- more troubles. Children regularly come with ho rents are illiterate and they fail to acknowledge mework written by NGOs staff. It is easy to notithe importance of their childrens education. For ce but always hard to prove. The children do not both, the teachers and children, parents illitera- confess that it is not their work, so continually cy is the biggest problem. Every year, a month we are forced to put higher grades than earned. before the start of the school year teachers from says one of them. Shutkas elementary school go on the streets, visit every home and ask for children old enough From all of the above, we can certainly concluto go to school. What happens is that they often de that raising awareness for the importance of find children, who are more than 6 or 7 years old education is what needs to be done. Children and but have never been registered into any school. It their parents alike need to understand how qualiseems that they parents did not feel the need to ty education is the key to better future. In the mesend their children to school, although they are anwhile i shall hope that the average grade of 2,6 in Shutkas elementary school will start to go up. legally binded. 18

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By Jadwiga Mitak

SMILES IN SHUTKA

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Few words about story of Lena Groh-Trautmann extremely positive Volunteer sent by Schueler Helfen Leben from Germany to Shutka. Few words about enjoyment of work and every-day making small steps for better future.

What was your motivation to come to Macedonia and to work in Shutka? I always wanted to do a volunteer year of the school, because when you grew up in Germany, like I did, you grew up very privilege in comparison to the situation here and I think it's important to give it back and to open up chances. Basically I look through the projects and especially that project sound really good to me, because it's about education which is in my opinion very important factor, even if it's not the solution for everything, but it's the best solution we have. I know that I'm not saving the world here, nobody does, I think those are the small things that counts. How looks those 'small things' you are doing here? How looks your day? My day looks every time different which I really enjoy. Basically I'm supporting the C.S.I. Hope team in all aspects, so I'm working in Youth Centre, writing homework and doing creative workshops with the kids, supporting the street work, dividing the humanitarian aid and so on. But also I have my own projects, for example in spring we are going to build huge playground. How people can help you in those activities? You can get involved in the project as far as you like, you can be any kind of volunteer, you can come weekly and help with homework, but also you are welcome with your ideas for workshops for kids, can be even just one time. You can help to rebuild the area, to divide the humanitarian aid, (which is kind of tricky thing;) as well as show Shutka in media or help to develop our website. 21

World-scale pearl which carries you over to another world

By Natalia Gancarz & Jadwiga Mitak

22

While walking the streets of Tarnw, the small town in southern Poland you can find worldscale pearl, the first permanent exhibition in the world about Roma history and culture, which presents migrations, anty-roma acts, slavery as well as stories of each Roma clan in Poland from the very beginning till nowadays conditions. It's quite easy to identify negative stereotypes of Roma community, but in this Museum you can feel positive energy flowing from traditional Roma instruments, fortune-telling and tools used in old characteristic Roma professions. It's worth to notice that only 0,033% of Polish population (according to 2002 census) constitute Roma minority (12 790 people), but in fact it's around 25 000 residents of Poland. Most of them consider themselves as Catholics but there are also small group of Jehovah's Witnesses, Pentecostals and Greek Catholics, what reflects in Roma literature and art which is also presented at exhibition. Despite the small number of Roma community in Poland events organised by Ethnographic Museum of Tarnw attract many participants from different countries as well as media. The most famous one is The International Roma Caravan Memorial, which takes place every year sine 1996 in July, which commemorates the Roma holocaust (Samudaripen) and reminds the myth of migration. The Roma Caravan Memorial is a kind of theatrical re-creation of band of travelling Romas, which fallows in places of Roma genocide during The II World War. As oppose to Romas living in other European countries and killed in concentrate camps, most of polish Romas died in places where they were camped or very close to them, that's why Caravan visits many villages around Tarnw, including Szczurowa, where was built first in the world memorial of Roma holocaust victims. Even if this celebration commemorates genocide there is another side of the event. It brings strong educational impact on the local community and gives a chance to meet for scattered Roma families and friends, it gathers feuding clans to pray for their ancestors and to ceremonially celebrate. If you want to participate in this special event, to follow colourful Roma Caravan with original tabor, just prepare your tent and check the information on www.muzeum.tarnow.pl. Or write to Natalia Gancarz (natalia@muzeum. tarnow.pl). Using website you can also get access to the only yearbook of Roma studies in Poland - Studia Romologica, published since 2008 and tackling Roma situation in different countries as well a presenting historical background of the communities in particular parts of Europe.

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20 thousand Euros from Ramche to the innocent bride

By Elena Davidovska
Romanian weddings are known for their cheerfulness but also for the grooms which are usually very young, some of them are not even adults. The marriages are still arranging and theyre costing several thousand Euros.

Shutka is the happiest settlement in Skopje, an example of wedding customs. From every side it echoes tin music, the yards are swept, full of jeeps, Mercedes, BMW and foreign registrations. Relatives from France, Italy, Germany, are back home. Shops are open, market crowded; everybodys spending Euros ... Sutka wont be Sutka if there is no loud music supported with some dances. Every day there is a different wedding Ramche came from Italy to take our innocent girl. He met her last year, his wish stayed and our neighbour is going abroad. The wedding lasts for six days and it comes with an old custom, playing three pairs of drums, supported by tin music. Romanian traditions have special rituals. The last few days have many invited guests, baked lambs, and calves, the guests eat, drink and are happy without an end. Romanian wedding is celebrated for six days. The marriage preceded (gunpoint) something like engagement. They brought gifts for the girl and are agreeing the date for the wedding. The wedding starts on Wednesday. The woman goes from a house to house and invites people for CNA (when the bride is putting CAN to the head, hands and feet) and for the wedding. This woman invites guests with candy. Young girls weave a wreath of flowers and decorate the gate. The bride is in the house of her father and she arranges the gifts that has had previously received. On Thursday they are doing a small CNA where only the women are invited. The CAN is putted on the hair of the young bride and her mother in law brings gifts for her. 24

Friday comes the music. Close man of the family with brandy invites guests to a wedding dinner on Sunday evening. Women with the young bride go to Haman where they bath her and then they are serving baklava. Saturday is the day when they go to market for grocery. Afternoon there is the music there and they are collecting gifts. The bride is dressed in a pajama with silk shirt and vest. Her forehead is decorated with white and sticks it to various floral decorations. The waist belt is worn on the legs and slippers embroidered in a gold and sterling silver. The night of the wedding, the groom is dancing in the house, the dance of his mother. This dance is played only by the women dressed in pajama and vests. This is first dance for the mother in law and the music must be bestowed with a lot of money. Sunday is the day when they go to get the bride. The bride wears a white wedding dress. She is out in presence of her brother where the groom symbolically gives money to him. In the house of the bridegroom enters first the mother in law that carries a sieve which has chickpeas, sweets, cereals and apple and gives them to the young lady. Then the sieve is being thrown on the roof of the house and if it stays there the marriage will last long. On Monday morning the groom flame lights up, the bride song is playing in order the wake the young bride. They made big wedding, spent twenty thousand Euros. But it paid off, they took a girl that is virgin who brightened their cheek. Now the paper is done, she is an Italian.

20
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ELISES STORY: ONE YEAR IN By Antonella Nuvoli SHUTKA

Here you can read about the great experience of a young French girl, Elise, volunteer in Skopje and our flatmate, that sadly is leaving us this month.

Why did you decide to do your EVS in Macedonia? Actually, Macedonia wasnt my first choice. I tried to apply for projects in Spain, Portugal and Italy, but it was very hard. So I decided to go to another part of Europe, the Balkans, almost unknown for me. I only knew Kusturicas movies and Bregovics music when I arrived here. In which fields of activity were you interested in? When I was in the 2nd year of high school I watched a movie about the Roma community. Since then, I read books, found a lot of information and my interest grew more and more. EVS was the right opportunity to start to work with them and the Balkans are the right place as many gypsies live here. How did you come up with the idea to work in Shutka? Everything started exactly one year ago. After the on-arrival training in Sarajevo, Nikola (VCS director) drove me there and I felt like entering in another world. I mean, I knew that Shutka is part of Skopje, but its completely different and full of contrasts: here you can find colourful houses and slums, donkies and Mercedes. I found all these things absolutely fascinating! What kind of work did you carry on there? I worked in a Daily Center for young people from 3 to 15 years of age, organizing lessons about African dances and songs, graffitti and puppets show. Depending on the day, there were from 5 up to 25 children. 26 Did you go there alone or with other volunteers? Were you supported by the teachers or

other organizations? At the beginning I went there with Ilona, Finnish volunteer, and later with Lena, from France, but in the last six months I worked alone, with the support of the teachers of the centre. Their help was particularly useful at the beginning, as they translated to the children what we were telling to them. VCS organization gave me the contact of the Daily Centre and supported me with money to buy the things I needed for the lessons. How was the communication with the children? In the first months, apart from the teachers help, we could communicate just by gestures or using few words. Month after month, the situation radically changed: its thanks to them that I improved so much my Macedonian skills and now I can have a normal conversation without problems. I also learnt some Romski words! What about the final balance this experience? Is it positive or negative? Will you recommend this experience to future volunteers? Of course I recommend this experience to future volunteers, as for me it was a great year. The children were happy during the classes; I dont know if they will use in normal life what they learnt, but theyre children and theyre able to sorprend us.. What are your plans for the future after EVS? In few weeks Im going to start the Civil Service in Paris, with a project on the scholarization of Roma children from Balkan countries and Romania. For sure what I learnt in Shutka will be useful for this new experience. It was a privilege to meet you, Elise! Big hugs from Kisela Voda crew! 27

One shopping day in the municipality of Shutka By Marina Mijakovska

The municipality of Shutka has around 30 000 citizens. You can easily reach Sutka by bus N19 from the main Post office or bus N20 from the train station. Most residents are engaged in trade and sales of textiles, shoes and cosmetics. In Skopje, Sutka neighborhood is best known for the roms market and shops that sell clothes at affordable prices. This roms market is known in Skopje, outside Skopje and abroad. Many Macedonian migrants who come to visit the country, always in Shutka come to buy clothes and shoes.

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Why the Europe bazaar is famous?

Sutkas bazaar is called Europe and is located on the main street of Suto Orizari. The market has existed since 2001. The biggest economic factor is the large textile market. Buyers from all over Macedonia go there to take cheap clothes or shoes that are usually imported from Turkey or Bulgaria. Initially the market was small, unknown and had few buyers that were mostly from the settlement. At the beginning, there were only a few stalls, no stores, and retailers do not pay taxes. But later the market spread and is urbanized. Amdi Bajram, the most famous mayor of the municipality has managed to modernize the market and the citizens who are engaged in commerce to facilitate the work. Today there are many shops in Sutka, and the number of buyers is higher than before. Merchants now pay taxes and are professionally engaged in commerce. The number of buyers has increased because, they can buy the same clothes on offer in the shops in the center of town after double lower price. Consequently, the popularity of Europa bazaar today is much higher compared to the beginning.

Market days are:

Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Working time during the market days is from 8 to 16 h. During these days, the settlement market is crowded with shoppers and cars. While, from Monday to Wednesday traders go after the purchase of new merchandise for their shops and stalls. The market is known for it sells modern and current clothes in cheap price. In the bazaar can be found: blouses, jeans, tracksuits, underwear, shoes and boots, dresses etc. Clothing is not produced, but mostly is imported from Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria and Hungary. Despite low prices, retailers are satisfied with their sales. Merchants manage to provide a livelihood and to feed their families.

Story of a merchant

Mr. Ramsey is the owner of a shop on the street Suto Orizari. The trade deals more than 15 years. He deals with selling: jeans skirts, waistcoats and jeans at the lowest price of 300 denars per piece. Ramsay told us that earlier had been more customers and higher earnings. Today, because of tax competition and earning less. But this man is satisfied with this activity and fails to provide funds for life. Mr. Ramsay told us that celebrities from Macedonia do shopping at Europe bazaar. Celebrities who do shopping in Sutka are: Esma, Sylvie Band, Naum Petreski and Zuica Lazov, Andriana Alachki, Rosana and etc

Five reasons why to do shopping in Europe bazaar are:

1. You'll find modern and high quality clothing, shoes and cosmetics. 2. You will encounter courteous and friendly attitude of the vendors. 3. You get twice the price and lower cost than the first-mentioned price. 4. You will save money. 5. You do good deed as it would help to survive in the market and trade settlement Sutka.

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WHEN EDUCATION BREAKS STEREOTYPES

By Marija Brzovska
Alvin Salimovski, 30, roma by nationality, works as a teacher of german language in the elementary school brothers ramiz and hamid. He has graduated in german language and literature and is currently a postgraduate at the police academy in skopje. In this interview he talks about his strong determination for quality education and his will to transmit his knowledge to the wider roma community.
We all know how important family support can be. In that direction I would like to ask you whether the members of your family were educated and how much they supported you in becoming who you are today? In order to accomplish your goals in life, you necessarily need the support of family and friends. My family gives great importance to education and since primary school, my parents have taught us that: You need to be educated to become successful, you need to be educated to integrate into society, you need to be educated to exercise your rights and achieve your goals. My parents do not have university education, my father finished high school and my mother primary school, but they have always insisted on my sister and me to get a university degree and be one step ahead of them. Their unconditional moral and financial support has helped me achieve what I have achieved so far. I grew up and lived in an environment with Macedonians and was raised to respect every tradition, culture and diversity. Taking in consideration that there is a small number of Roma who finish university, have you ever felt discriminated from your professors? While I was studying I have never been directly discriminated from the professors, but indirectly I could feel it. For instance, unlike the other students at university I had to know more to get the desired grade. But somehow, it made me more confident in my knowledge and sometimes I am grateful to the professors for that. However, indirect discrimination or in certain circumstances, the stereotypes of my colleagues towards the Roma, have never made me question my qualities and to achieve my goal and desire to be a professor. Despite your current profession do you engage yourself in some other way to influence the Roma population positively? Besides my work as a teacher in German language, I also teach Roma language to foreigners. I have published a textbook for Roma language (beginner level) which is being used by the Peace Corps Macedonia. By teaching and writing textbooks I consider to be spreading Roma culture, tradition and language. I would like my students to remember me for the knowledge I have given them during classes, the habits that I have created to them during the four year educational process, my remarks that the most important thing for them at this time is their education and that it is the only way to break all stereotypes that exist for our ethnicity. 32


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30 , , . , . . , . , . , . , , , . , ? , . (), . , . e ... , 4- - , , . 33

KUR SHKOLLIMI THEN STEREOTIPET

Alvin Salimovski, 30, rom me prkatsi kombtare, punon si msues i gjuhs gjermane n shkolln fillore vllezrit ramiz dhe hamid. Ai ka diplomuar n gjuh dhe letrsi gjermane dhe tani sht n studime postdiplomike n akademin policore n shkup. N kt intervist ai flet pr vendosshmrin e tij t fort pr shkollim kualitativ dhe vullnetin e tij pr tia transmetuar diturin e tij komunitetit m t gjr rom.
Ne t gjith e dim se sa e rndsishme mund t jet mbshtetja e familjes. N kt aspekt do t doja tju pyesja a kan qen t shkolluar antart e familjes suaj dhe sa ju kan mbshtetur pr tu br ai q jeni sot? Pr ti arritur qllimet n jet, ju duhet patjetr mbshtetja e familjes dhe miqve tuaj. Familja ime I kushton rndsi t madhe shkollimit dhe q nga shkolla fillore prindrit e mi m kan msuar se Duhet t shkollohemi pr tu br t suksesshm, duhet t shkollohemi pr tu integruar n shoqri, duhet t shkollohemi pr t ushtruar t drejtat tona dhe pr t arritur qllimet tona. Prindrit e mi nuk kan arsim univerzitar, babai ka kryer shkolln e mesme dhe nna ime shkolln fillore por ata doher kan insistuar q un dhe motra ime t kemi diploma univerziteti dhe t jemi nj hap para tyre. Mbshtetja e tyre e pakushtzuar morale dhe financiare m ka ndihmuar t arrij at q kam arritur deri tash. Un jam rritur dhe kam jetuar n nj rreth me maqedonas dhe jam msuar t respektoj do tradit, kultur dhe ndryshim. Duke marr parasysh se sht vetm nj numr I vogl I romve q mbarojn studimet univerzitare, a jeni ndjer ndonjher I diskriminuar nga profesort? Gjat studimeve asnjher nuk jam ndjer drejtprsdrejti I diskriminuar nga profesort por e kam ndjer at n mnyr indirekte. Pr shembull, pr dallim nga studentt tjer n univerzitet mua m duhej t dija m shum pr t marr notn e dshiruar. Por n nj far mnyre, kjo m bri t kem besim m t madh n diturin time dhe pr kt iu faleminderohem profesorve. Megjithat, diskriminimi indirekt apo n disa rrethana stereotipet e kolegve t mi pr Romt, nuk m kan br t dyshoj n cilsit e mia dhe pr t arritur qllimin tim dhe dshirn pr tu br profesor. Prskaj profesionit t tuaj t tanishm a angazhoheni n ndonj tjetr mnyr pr t ndikur pozitivisht n popullatn rome? Prskaj puns sime si msues i gjuhs gjermane, gjithashtu u msoj gjuh rome t huajve. Kam botuar nj libr t gjuhs rome ( t nivelit fillestar) q po prdoret nga Trupat paqeruajtse t Maqedonis. Duke dhn msim dhe duke shkruar libra un mendoj se po shprndaj kulturn, traditn dhe gjuhn rome. Do t doja nxnsit e mi t m kujtonin pr diturin q ua kam dhn gjat orve, shprehit q ua kam krijuar gjat procesit arsimor katr vjear, vrejtjet e mia se gjja m e rndsishme pr ta n kt koh sht shkollimi I tyre dhe ajo sht mnyra e vetme pr t thyer stereotipet q ekzistojn pr kombsin ton. 34

SNEAK PEEK OF SPPMD

By Marta Lipinska Its been already three months since my voluntary service started and i cant believe the time flies so fast. Three good and productive months has just passed and there are still six more to go. Six months im really looking forward to!

While applying for an EVS project my objective was to find an organization which offered work with kids and youngsters. Ive wanted to give others my ideas and energy and be inspired by the ones I want to help. This is how I ended up working in Kavadarci in SPPMD. What is SPPMD? SPPMD or Council for Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency is an NGO running a youth club, taking part in Youth in Action Programme, organizing diverse events and implementing many projects. The organization is formed by a group of local and EVS volunteers from different ethnic, social and economic backgrounds. Thanks to a common support and understanding working together is both fun and a great lesson for life. Among SPPMDs main activities are: various workshops (team building, graffiti, Language Caf, journalism), promoting EVS (hosting international and sending Macedonian volunteers abroad), training courses with participants from other countries and foreign exchanges. In the past fifteen years SPPMD took part in many interesting projects events and seminars including Seminar for Preventive Action Plan for the Republic of Macedonia, The Youth English and Environmental Camp and Music Without Borders among many others. My experiences in SPPMD After becoming a member of SPPMD team there were new tasks waiting for me and a lot of venues to take part in. I initiated two new workshops at the youth club (Discussion Club and Language Caf), I designed posters and flyers for different events, I took part in celebrations during International Volunteer Day on 5th December together with other EVS and local volunteers, I promoted EVS and Youth in Action Programme with my colleagues at the local Faculty and a couple of schools and I participated in a seminar organized by Municipality of Kavadarci. In February SPPMD sends a group of twenty youngsters for an exchange to Switzerland where they will spend three weeks. Anyone aged 14 and 15 could send an application and be invited for an interview. Recently weve been working with them and we organize different pre-departure workshops so that the kids feel comfortable not only abroad but also in their own company. The organization has many on-going projects in the coming months including a training course for thirty Macedonian and international participants in March as well as a second part of I Wanna Be A Star, I Wanna Be A Volunteer project in the end of September. Its about time to roll our sleeves! 35

LAST ALTERNATIVE YUGOSLAVIA

It was the only period of our history when art in Yugoslavia actually meant something. Nowadays it does not have any meaning -so expressed 35 year old journalist from Belgrade. I met her at the The Last Youth of Yugoslavia 77-84 exhibition at the Museum of Yugoslavia in Belgrade. It inspired me to discover more about golden age of independent art in Balkans. 1977-84 was a brief period in which an alternative Yugoslav art and music scene suddenly emerged. This was especially true of the punkrock music scene. Belo Dugme, Idoli, Discipline Kime were just some of the dozens of bands performing at national festivals and venues. Today in Serbia there is the popular EXIT festival but sounds are mostly international. Is it because the is no space or interest in local alternative scene? Or it does not exist any more in the Former Republics of Yugoslavia? In the early 80s, when the West was watching Star Wars, Yugoslavia swung from mourning Tito to mourning youthful protestors arrested by a regime. Underground fanzines and cultural events blossomed during this period. Baside 36 art, people were also influenced by a wave of philosophy, social science and contemporary history coming from the West. The exhibition was on display for just over a month. Unfortunately. It was really appealing and drew a multi-generational audience. Even I started feeling nostalgic for youth counterculture times. Maybe because Poland where I come from had similar youth movements. Probably because of the system we lived in. Right now I am listening to Bajagas Verujem, ne verujem (Believe, cant believe). Believe it or not, this song has just currently been remade by alternative musicians from Poland- Malenczuk. In his creativity he kept the melody; just translated the lyrics. And song is at the top of the playlists! Yugorock is timeless. The period is significant not just because of the artwork but because it exemplifies the spirit of Yugo youth in the 70s and 80s. As one proper woman now in her 50s commented to me about her youth then: We were free, we were rebellious, we were happy. We Yugoslavs were citizens of the world!

 . , , . . . . , . . Vjerujem, ne vjerujem . , , Malenczuk . , . - , . . 35 . 77 84 . . 1977 1984 . - . , , . EXIT . ? ? 80 , , . 70 80 . , 50 , : , , . !

By Magda Wyszynska

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SIX PHOTOGRAPHERS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW By Sara Fantova

Edward Weston (USA 1886-1958)

Annie Leivobitz (Connecticut, USA 1949)

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Chema Madoz (Madrid, Spain 1958)

As one of my hobbies is photography, through the years I have been learning the history of it and with these also getting to know some photographers. After searching a lot and trying to find my favorite ones I made this list, that in my opinion are six photographers that you should know. For sure you know some of the pictures even if you didnt know who was the artist.

Man Ray (Philadelphia, USA 1890-Paris 1976)

Ouka Leele (Madrid, Spain 1957)

Robert Doisneau (Paris, France 1912-1994)

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If one day you start to think about LOVE And youll get the answer that it does not EXIST Just remember about me and my love that I gave to you and Im still giving Like a PRESENT, a present for VALENTINE One day I gave you my heart, I gave you all the stars, shining on the sky If you would ask me, I could touch the sky JUST FOR YOU But now, please dont ask me To give you my soul! Because its the only thing I cannot give to you, my love! Bravo, for all the people in this world that know how to love, Thanks for the stars because I met you And bravo for me and my soul which Ive opened to give you just pure love. I know, it is LOVE, pure LOVE, my love. My brain is thinking the whole day about youHEY, GIRL! Im giving my heart to you Im taking all the stars, shining on the sky - for you, Im touching the sky for you and now it is empty and dark Because of the stars, I stole and took for you. So now, if you again start to think about LOVE I know youll feel that its here and really exist! And I remind youplease dont touchDont take my soul Because if I dont have it I can be dark like The sky is dark without your stars. You left just four stars that are here and really exist YOU ME YOUR BEAUTIFUL EYES AND OUR ETERNAL LOVE

Poem & Graphics

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THE ETERNAL LOVE FOR VALENTINE

, - , ! , , .... .... ! ! / , .. . , , . .. ! - , , . , .. . ! .. .. ... , , . , , ... .

cs By Kate Binovska

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Photos by Sara Fantova