Author: Marija Vasilevska
Extracurricular and volunteering activities provide numerous benefits for students that extend beyond the classroom. These activities help students develop important life skills. Those students who are involved in such activities are more likely to have a sense of belonging and connection to their school or community, which can contribute to their overall well-being and mental health. Many members of the Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012), most of which are currently studying, are passionate about making a positive impact on the society and the world. According to the World Economic Forum`s research, they are looking for opportunities for work in companies that align with their values and address social issues. By engaging in extracurricular and volunteer activities students develop a sense of social responsibility and an understanding about the importance of giving back to their communities. These experiences may also help them to identify their passions and interests, which can guide their career choices and lead them towards companies that share their values and address social issues.
Motivated by the importance of the community services and extracurricular activities, especially for young people, MAAA initiated the project “Alumni encouraging community services and extracurricular activities“ which started on October 1st, 2022. The project’s aim is to invest in the youth by raising their awareness that the relationship with the society should be reciprocal and that it is our moral obligation to give back to it.
On March 29th, at the Faculty of Philology “Blaže Koneski” in Skopje, MAAA held the first workshop with more than 60 students. The workshop boosted students` engagement into community services and extracurricular activities, by highlighting the importance of their involvement in such activities for their personal well-being and for their future professional endeavors. During the workshop the president of MAAA, Ms. Verica Jordanova, and the members of the Executive board, Dr. Zorica Trajkova Strezovska, Ms. Irena Popovska and Mr. Ognen Janevski, motivated the present students to take active part in volunteer activities while at the same time encouraging the establishment of new student extracurricular clubs at the university.
These clubs will facilitate networking and collaboration among students and will contribute to more active students` life at the university campuses. During the workshop, Mr. Gazmend Ilazi presented the U.S. Embassy`s exchange opportunities for students, while two MAAA members, Elmas Hasanović and Nenad Stojkovski shared their personal experience from their stay at American universities and the types of activities they were conducting there. Students mostly showed interest in the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program which is one of the most popular U.S. Embassy`s educational programs available for students.
The presenters emphasized the importance of the involvement in volunteering and extracurricular activities for university admission, as well as when applying for an exchange program in the US and other countries abroad. In addition, they acquainted the students with a few platforms where they can find information about volunteering and extracurricular opportunities. Slavčo Temelkovski, the president of the University Student Assembly of Ss. Cyril and Methodius University (USS-UKIM) also highlighted the importance of students` involvement and initiation of volunteering and extracurricular activities. He presented the universities` sport clubs as just one option where students can be involved in such activities. Being motivated by the presentation, the students shared their recognition of the importance of their engagement into the community and confirmed their interest in establishing volunteer and extracurricular interest clubs. The difference between volunteering and formal practical work within the study fields required by the formal education system was discussed and the challenges of current practical work were highlighted. The students brainstormed different types of clubs that can be opened within their University, such as book club, management club, debate club, film and theater club, cultural club, sport clubs etc. MAAA members were happy to discuss and share their experience with the group of enthusiastic and active students, future leaders in the society.
On 4th April, the MAAA team visited “Goce Delčev'' University in Štip, where the second workshop was held with the students from that university. The students attending were also addressed by Professor Tatjana Ruškovska, who shared her Fulbright experience with them and pointed out the importance of community service for the American society and all the alumni who visit the U.S. through the U.S. government sponsored exchange programs. Finally, the president of the student assembly at the University, Sara Denkova delivered a motivating speech to her colleagues trying to provoke them to become active participants in the society.
Through the project “Alumni encouraging community services and extracurricular activities” supported by the U.S. Embassy, MAAA aims to encourage the youth, specifically university students to be more active members of the society. Within the project, MAAA will initiate the founding of volunteer and extracurricular interest clubs in four state universities in North Macedonia, UKIM, UGD, UKLO and University of Tetovo. MAAA members will act as mentors, trainers, and participants in various activities of the project. In order to achieve better involvement of all the parties, MAAA is establishing partner relations with different stakeholders, including municipalities, NGOs, the business sector, and university professors, and tries to raise the awareness of the benefits of engaging in these activities and the importance of community actions and giving back to the society.
