Students learn the benefits and rewards of teamwork

The third annual USAID-sponsored Educational Rendezvous brought together over 30,000 vocational students from Macedonia to Skopje to represent their schools in a series of competitions that support building business skills.

Reflecting on winning a gold medal in public speaking, Elmedina Asani, a student at First Medical High School in Skopje, states, “I was ready to face a challenge and the competition because I knew that I was prepared and I believed in my ability. The Rendezvous competitions made me realize that anything is possible with a little bit of faith and hard work.”

Elmedina Asani is a student at the first medical high-school in Macedonia as well as an active member of the local vocational student organization, Jehona. Elmedina and her fellow Jehona members have spent the last several months preparing to represent their school and student organization at the USAID-sponsored Educational Rendezvous.
The Educational Rendezvous is a three-day event featuring competitions in fashion and talent as well as job interview, marketing plan, communications, and public speaking contests. The purpose of this event is to provide a forum for high school students to market themselves to future employers and to demonstrate their leadership and business skills through competitions. The Educational Rendezvous also gives schools the opportunity to present their programs to graduating primary school students and their parents in an attempt to attract the best students.
In addition to the event itself, preparation for the Educational Rendezvous is an opportunity for students to gain skills in teamwork, planning, and strategy – skills crucial to compete in the global economy. Elmedina’s school started to prepare their strategy for this April event in September.

The outcome for Elmedina’s school were two gold medals including one for Elmedina in the public speaking competitions, a silver medal in the job interview competition, and a gold medal for best school booth.
Elmedina believes that teamwork and preparation paved the way to her personal and her school’s success