Noemi Chausidis

(2011; Macedonia/OH)

Since her exchange year in 2011; World Link YES Program alumna Noemi Chausidis (2011; Macedonia/OH) has made quite a list of achievements. Upon returning to Macedonia, Noemi starting leading smaller projects like “Handmade Happiness”; where she and YES Alumni created jewelry to raise money for people with disabilities.  Noemi was also involved in a project titled, “Smiles Under Masks”, multiple International Women’s Day events, and many more.

After graduating from high school, Noemi enrolled at the Faculty of Architecture in Skopje and she is now currently finishing her Master’s Degree. In college, she started being active in various school projects, architectural publications, and exhibitions. In 2015, she joined the Student Plenum in Macedonia; a group leading the fight against proposed changes in the law of higher education in her country. Through their protests, debates, and guerrilla events; the reforms were successfully stopped.

Focusing again on her education and architectural projects, Noemi started writing about Macedonian architecture for the website www.marh.mk.

Noemi spent her summers to gain more experience and also as an opportunity to travel. One summer she worked part-time in Greece and another in Cyprus. She has also had an internship in Germany and is currently in Westerly, Rhode Island on a work and travel program.

This year, Noemi saw the completion of her largest project so far with YES alumni called, “Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs” which consisted of four workshops in smaller communities around the country that aimed to introduce the concept of social entrepreneurship to high school students in Macedonia. Her project idea came out of her participation in the StartQube Social Entrepreneurship Workshop (SQSEW), which took place in Krushevo, Macedonia, October of 2016.

“My year as an exchange student had a big impact on me, because it made me more independent and braver in achieving my goals. It also took me out of my comfort zone and advanced my communication and leadership skills.”

Learn more about the 2016 StartQube Social Entrepreneurship Workshop (SQSEW).

Learn more about Noemi’s “Tomorrow Entrepreneur’s” project by visiting their Facebook Page.

Give an international youth the opportunity to grow as a leader by hosting a World Link Exchange Student!