Pauza Magazine Spring & Summer 2011 | Page 4

Multicultural Fun by John Bannon On March 11, 25 Peace Corps Volunteers and 200 young people found themselves in the same place in Prilep, Macedonia. What could possibly bring together 225 people of varying ages, backgrounds, and nationalities? Food! Y outh Council Prilep (YCP) organized a Multicultural Dinner fundraising event to in conjunction with the SP Project “Strengthening the A Fundraising Capacity of Y outh Council Prilep for YCP’ youth employment ” s fundraising campaign “Help young people to take the first step Many ” . thanks to the 25 fellow PCVs who were kind enough to come, bring food, and help make the event possible. The youth members of YCP my , colleagues, and I managed to sell 200 tickets to the event and sold cola and juice to raise money. After expenses, YCP raised 3100 denars, meeting our goal of 3000 denars. Special thanks must also be given to my fellow PCVs and EVS Volunteer in Prilep: Kaylee Poleschook, Phebe Philips, Lync Price, and Astrid Courty, who graciously provided the visiting PCVs with places to sleep. Not only was the event a success for the organization, it introduced many teenagers and nonteenagers alike to new food that I absolutely promise they never would have tried on their own. Hopefully we helped broaden the horizons of some young people, one of whom two weeks earlier had a conversation with me about why I would go to the Thai restaurant in Prilep when there were good skara (Macedonian BBQ) kafanas in town. Needless to say, you all accomplished the impossible: getting that particular youngster to try some new things. 4