Overcoming inequalities among young people

Stella Network started as an initiative with a focus on access to higher education and economic empowerment for women and girls. Through our various activities we contribute to addressing at the national level the social and structural obstacles that we must collectively face to support women and girls in their future self-realization.

That is why we are extremely glad to share that one of the new projects we will be working on in the next 3 years focuses on overcoming the gender gap by providing equal opportunities for girls and women in the Republic of North Macedonia.

The key element is that Mentoring processes this time enter secondary schools, among many other interesting activities. For this purpose, in the next period, the Stella Network will advance the Women’s Mentoring Network and thus the Mentoring in relation to the needs of high school girls.

The main goal of the project “Overcoming inequality among young people” is to support and encourage girls and young women aged 15 to 29 in North Macedonia to become more active in society, by creating equal access to opportunities in the country’s public life, in the private sector and in the decision-making process at the local and national level.

We will implement the activities of the project together with our partners from Mladi Hub with financial support from the British Embassy. Activities will include digital educational content targeting the gender inequality gap, educating the public about gender-biased roles, norms and attitudes.

Read more

Joint statement of Women Human rights activists from the Balkan region toward Gender-based violence on the internet

The institutional silence is actively encouraging online sexual harassment

The victims are multiplying while the institutions are quietly failing

We, the women human rights activists from the Balkan region stand together in solidarity with all women victims of digital gender-based violence[1] and demands from the relevant institutions to act according to their jurisdiction to thoroughly and promptly investigate the case of the groups on the Telegram platform (such as: Balkan Room, Public Room, GevgelijaHub, Serbian Room, Smokva, etc.), in order to sanction the perpetrators and to protect the victims from further victimization.

Exactly one year after the appearance of such a group on the Telegram Network in Macedonia, which is used for sexual harassment of girls and women by posting their photos without their consent and in a pornographic context, as well as the victims’ personal data, we witness new cases of this kind of abuse not only in this country, but on a regional level as well. Although the administrators and the creators of two of these groups have been arrested, we believe this is only the first step in accessing justice that must be provided to all victims of these types of crimes. We welcome the reaction regarding child online abuse cases, but the institutional silence that we face sends a clear message that violence against women is tolerated, that is not punishable, that perpetrators are encouraged to continue with this behavior and that the victims are left to remain intimidated, ashamed and muted. The abovementioned cases in Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Croatia have shown that only a small number of perpetrators are prosecuted and those that are prosecuted are pursued for the crime of “production and distribution of child pornography”, which prevents the protection of adult victims.

Women from the former Yugoslavian countries, to whom we have provided free legal aid and other services for years, have experiences that testify numerous shortcomings in the conduct of proceedings. Often, women who suffer sexual abuse online deal with unadequate response from the institutions, so they often lack trust in the police and consider reporting to be in vain, due to the practices of inaction, disbelief and relativization of the victims’ experiences. Imposing misdemeanor sanctions and warnings on perpetrators instead of documented and reasoned criminal charges, as well as inadequate enforcement of prohibitions on approaching and contacting victims, results in continued and intensified violence, often followed by serious consequences for the victims’ health, which in some cases can even cause death.

Regarding the public prosecution offices, we constantly notice an untimely initiation of indictments, inefficient or negligent management of pre-investigation and investigative procedures that resulted in untimely or in no provision of relevant evidence, as well as failure to take measures against the perpetrators to prevent continued violence against the victims. All of these institutional oversights have become even more visible with the emergence of sexual violence and harassment of women in the digital sphere, which, although is massively occurring and counting thousands of female victims in the Balkans, does not receive an adequate institutional response or an appropriate public support. On the contrary, discrediting experiences, blaming, embarrassing and double victimizing are the dominant narratives that women face today. It is obvious that the silence of the institutions is additionally encouraging the functioning and the maintenance of such groups in the digital space, while the girls continue to face danger for their personal safety and have violated dignity and health. Unfortunately, the easiest way to humiliate a woman is to portray her in a sexual scenario, which only speaks of the insurmountable stigma that still marks female sexuality as shameful and indecent, and labels victims in this context not as victims, but as women who “sought this to themselves”.

Thus, the stolen photographs, combined with the misogynist, sexist and violent comments, and the treatment of women as objects without integrity, feelings, desires and traumas, speak of serious, deep-rooted misogynic values in our region that must be comprehensively and radically addressed. But, in order to begin solving the problem, we must first name it. This is not a problem of personal data abuse and it cannot be solved with such a limited approach. This is a problem of gender-based violence, with the purpose of humiliating, blackmailing, silencing and oppressing girls and women, and if it is not treated as such, the perpetrators will succeed in this goal. 

Today we are aware that there is a regional network of harassers, i.e. opening and administering of Balkan groups whose aim is to humiliate and sexually harass women. Therefore we demand from the relevant institutions to seriously and with responsibility approach to this social fenomena which affect at least the half of population. We demand institutional cross border cooperation in thorough investigation and prosecution of all involved offenders from the region.

This case is a chance for the institutions from all over the region to show that they stand for women’s rights and protection against gender-based violence, not just declaratively, but in practice! Hence, we ask the Public Prosecutor’s Offices in the region to immediately and thoroughly clear the cases with the Telegram groups that are acts of crime. We ask the Ministries of Interior Affairs to continuously undertake preventive activities and to put a stop to the existence of these groups.

Jointly and in solidarity!

[1] In order to better explain gender-based violence against women committed through the use of ICT (hereinafter information and communication technologies), we can understand it and connect it with experiences of violence in a real environment, and it can only be in a digital environment/space. It may include unlawful threats, harassment, insults, stalking or incitement to violence, unsolicited, offensive or sexually explicit emails or messages, sexual blackmail, forcing a person to view sexually explicit material, sharing or posting private images or recordings of sexually explicit content without consent. (so-called revenge pornography) or posting the listed content on sites.

Read more

How to write a cover letter: A Guide

 A cover letter is usually a very excruciating process for many of us, however, it is also a crucial piece in all of our applications, be it for a job or a university application. This text presents a practical guide on how to write a cover letter with the aim to help the readers to easily conquer this at time tedious task. A cover letter is usually a one-page document which should highlight or emphasize the most relevant skills one possesses, exceptional experiences and achievements that are relevant to the job or university application. It is very important to personalise your cover letter and be as sincere as possible, as generic cover letters rarely grab the attention of the selection committee. A cover letter is equally important to a CV as it gives the selection committee a glimpse into the motivations and expectations behind the person they are hiring or the student they are accepting in their university. So what are the elements of a cover letter? First, you need to show your motivation and reasons for applying, secondly you need to show knowledge of the organisation or university and why you have chosen precisely that institution and lastly you need to show why you are the best person for that job or university through your achievements, experience and qualifications. Always take care that you present these three points in a structured manner, but be creative when writing about yourself. A very good trick is including some facts or interesting features of the place you are applying, because the institution will appreciate your knowledge about their history and work. In your qualifications, achievements and experience it is important to include your academic background, extra-curricular activities, volunteering experience and work positions. It is important to show your progress through years, as in this way you show to the selection committee that you have a vision, you’re motivated and able to adapt to different circumstances. Your cover letter should not be longer than one page (unless specified differently by the institution you are applying to), in this way showing the institution you are applying for that you can be concise and clear if necessary. Your name and personal information such as your number, email and address should be at the top, right-hand corner, while in word your cover letter should be around 500 words or four paragraphs (unless specified differently by the institution you apply). As you can see there is not much space for long sentences, so aim to be as short, clear and concise as you can, with logical sentences and a natural flow.

Always keep the language personal, but formal; research thoroughly the organisation or study programme you are applying to, remember to be positive and use action words, instead of passive language, avoid repeating yourself, end your cover letter on a positive note. It is also crucial to have someone check your cover letter before sending, so ask a friend, a teacher, a colleague or a mentor. This way you will get great insight from someone that is not involved in the process as much as you and can give you recommendations from a distance.

Always address the letter, depending on where you are applying. If there is a clear person on the job call, you should address the letter to that person starting with “Dear”, otherwise if there is no person stated in the call you can say “To whom it may concern.” For universities, you can write “To the selection committee” or again “To whom it may concern”, however, always remember to sign off your cover letter with “Yours sincerely.” Avoid using bullet points in a cover letter, however, it is good to have a structured paragraph that clearly shows your intent.

To sum up, beyond the technicalities, in your first paragraph state clearly where you are applying to and how did you find out about the organization or study programme. In the second paragraph emphasize your education process and achievements, relevant work experience and activities that have helped shape you as the best candidate for the spot you are applying to. In the last paragraph write concisely why you chose to apply for that job or university degree, show your interest and knowledge about the position or programme, and avoid generalisation. This paragraph is supposed to show you motivation for applying and why you are the best candidate. And lastly, do not forget to sign off your letter with “Your sincerely.” 

Despite this guide, please always check the requirements of the institution you are applying for. It is not unusual for institutions to have their own guidelines, moreover, while for job applications the cover letters are required to be short, it often happens that universities require longer cover letters reaching 1000 words. However, the same rules apply, be concise, clear and personal.

Read more

93 граѓански организации велат „ДА“ за еднаквоста, инклузијата, родовата рамноправност и заштитата од дискриминација и од насилство во новата концепција за реформи во основното образование

Ние подолупотпишаните здруженија, фондации и мрежи на граѓанскиот сектор изразуваме поддршка за приоретизирањето на родовата рамноправност и на заштитата од дискриминација и насилство во предлог-концепцијата за реформи во основното образование. Интеграцијата на родовите прашања во основното образование несомнено ќе влијае на подолг рок врз намалување на родовите стереотипи кај децата и врз градењето на инклузивно и поправедно општество кое за повеќето граѓани е од национален интерес.

Имајќи предвид дека бројни анализи на учебниците од основно, средно и високо образование укажаа на присуство на родови стереотипи и дискриминаторски наративи, а дополнително и комплетно или релативно отсуство на дадени социјални групи (жени, лица со попреченост, етнички други, ЛГБТИ итн.), ја поздравуваме насоченоста на новата концепција кон надминување на овие крупни проблеми во продукцијата на знаења и вештини во рамките на образованиот процес.

Воведувањето на изборен предмет за сексуално образование, како што предвидува новата концепција, дополнително ќе придонесе кон поголема информираност на младите за еднаквоста на луѓето, заштитата од насилство и намалувањето на дискриминацијата. Младите ќе бидат насочени повеќе кон логичко учење наместо фактографско, ќе имаат можност за дискусија, саморефлексија, носење на заклучоци преку интеракција, тимска работа и отвореност за туѓите приказни и искуства. Оттука, младите ќе научат да го земаат предвид како туѓото, така и своето мислење и потреби, ќе бидат емпатични и отворени за различности.

Резултатите од последната Студија за однесувањата поврзани со здравјето кај децата на училишна возраст од Северна Македонија покажуваат дека да се омаловажува, да се навредува и да се довикуваат погрдни имиња со намера да се нанесе повреда е одомаќено однесување меѓу учениците во нашите училишта. Малтретирањето започнува на 11-годишна возраст, па дури и порано, го има својот пик во 13-та година, и натаму има тенденција да опаѓа. Сето ова влијае врз животот и здравјето на младите, кои според оваа студија искусуваат нерасположение и чувства на тага и безнадежност кои се зголемуваат со возраста, а суицидните мисли и планирањето на самоубиство се исто така застапени и наместо да се намалат, тие прогресираат со возраста.

Минатите недели сме сведоци на јавни објави на повеќе жени актерки за сексуалното малтерирање во Србија, што уште еднаш покажува дека жените се жртви на постојано насилство по родова основа. За жал, со вакви примери се сретнуваме сè почесто, а тоа го докажува и истражувањето на ОБСЕ од 2019 година кое укажува дека дури две третини жени од регионот претрпеле некаков вид на насилство. Случајот Јавна соба во Македонија исто така ни покажа дека денес девојчињата сè повеќе се предмет на сексизам и сексуално вознемирување и дека постои итна потреба од нивна системска заштита. Радува што жените сè повеќе денес се охрабруваат јавно да зборуваат за насилството и за вознемирувањето, но училиштето е вистинското место каде што дополнително треба да се стимулира учењето за еднаквоста и правичноста меѓу жените и мажите и за заштитата од сексуалното насилство.

Најзагрозените од родовите нееднаквости се лесно препознатливи во ранливите, немоќните, оние на кои им се одземени слободите и правата. Најчесто тоа се жените, девојчињата, сиромашните, различните и родово нетипичните, но и многу други, прикриени под превезот на сите други видови нееднаквости. Токму затоа, сметаме дека е важно покрај барањето на одговорност во насилниците, да погледнеме пошироко, во социо-политичките и културолошките услови на заедницата, општеството и образованието во кои нееднаквоста се создава и опстанува.

Учењето и прифаќањето на родовите идентитети ќе овозможи подобра интеграција на сите ученици со сите свои различности, а со тоа и намалување на родово-базираното насилство и булингот во училиштата. На децата и ранливите групи на млади им треба безбедна средина во училиштето, во која секој ќе се чувствува заштитен и подеднакво згрижен без разлика на неговата различност.

Учењето за етничките различности и нивното прифаќање во услови на зголемен диверзитет во општеството, како и поттикнувањето на интеркултурализмот ќе придонесат кон унапредување на еднаквоста и интеграција на децата од различни култури, етникуми и идентитети. Надминувањето и почитувањето на етничките различности е значајно кога зборуваме за инклузија во образовниот процес, а особено е значајно за намалување на насилството помеѓу учениците кое во изминатите неколку години бележи пораст на случаи кои во основата ја имаат токму етничката припадност на учениците.

И покрај тоа што новата концепција на основното образование ги потенцира принципите на родовата рамноправност и заштитата од дискриминација, го предлагаме и следново:

  1. Воспоставување на национален родово образовен механизам под покровителство на Министерството за образование и наука кој ќе следи и ќе ги одобрува наставните планови и учебниците кои ќе се користат во образованието за да се гарантираат принципите на еднаквост и заштита од дискриминација и од говор на омраза од аспект на род, пол и родов идентитет;
  2. Создавање на задолжителен систем на едукација и кариерен развој на наставниците во унапредување на нивните компетенции за родовите прашања, еднаквоста и недискриминацијата преку програмите за обука на наставници во рамките на Бирото за унапредување на образованието;
  3. Следење на препораките на УНЕСКО при подготвувањето на наставните програми и содржини за сеопфатно сексуално образование кој се предлага како слободен изборен предмет во основното образование, а како проширување на веќе стекнатите знаења во рамките на постоечките редовни наставни содржини. Следењето на европските и светските добри пракси и научни стандарди се еден вид гаранција за да се обезбеди дека прашањата на родова еднаквост, заштитата од дискриминација и родово базираното насилство се засновани на принципите на човекови права, а не на погрешниназадни родови или популистички идеологии;
  1. Унифицирање на практиките на прибирање податоци за насилство во училишта на национално ниво под покровителство на Министерство за образование и наука, а во соработка со Град Скопје и со секторите за образование при општините (ЗЕЛС);
  2. Поттикнување на интеркултурализам и надминување и прифаќање на етничките различности со цел намалување на врсничкото насилство и интеграција на сите ученици во рамките на наставните програми за основното образование.

Потписници:

  1. Платформа за родова еднаквост
  2. Мрежа за заштита од дискриминација
  3. Глас против насилство – Национална мрежа против насилство врз жените и семејно насилство
  4. Платформа за одржливост на услугите за превенција и поддршка во врска со ХИВ
  5. Македонска платформа против сиромаштија
  6. Национална мрежа за борба против хомофобија и трансфобија
  7. Коалиција на младински организации СЕГА
  8. ХЕРА – Асоцијација за здравствена едукација и истражување
  9. Коалиција Маргини
  10. Хелсиншки комитет за човекови права
  11. МОФ – Младински образовен форум
  12. ФООМ – Фондација Отворено општество Македонија
  13. ХОПС – Опции за здрав живот Скопје
  14. Акција Здруженска
  15. Мрежа Стела
  16. Реактор – Истражување во акција
  17. НСРР – Национален совет за родова рамноправност во соработка
  18. Хуманитарно здружение „Мајка“ од Куманово
  19. Здружение на граѓани за промоција на женската активност Тиииит! Инк.
  20. Женски форум Тетово
  21. Организација на жените на општина Свети Николе
  22. СУБВЕРЗИВЕН ФРОНТ
  23. РСМ ТрансФормА
  24. ЛГБТИ Центар за поддршка
  25. Здружение за културен и медиумски активизам КВИР СКВЕР Скопје
  26. ЛЕЗФЕМ
  27. Еквалис
  28. Здружение за поддршка и развој Хуманост
  29. СОС Детско село Северна Македонија
  30. Здружение на мултиетничко општество за човекови права, Штип
  31. Бела Виста –Институт за одржлив рурален и регионален развој
  32. Сумнал – здружението за развој на Ромската заедница
  33. АДРР Сонце -Тетово
  34. Здружение Глобал
  35. Фондацијата за дебата и едукација ИДЕА Југоисточна Европа
  36. КХАМ – Делчево
  37. Романо Чачипе – Асоцијација за развој и промоција на ромската заедница
  38. НРЦ – Национален ромски центар
  39. Здружение Центар за образовна поддршка Дендо вас од Скопје.
  40. ИРИЗ – Иницијатива за развој и инклузија на заедниците
  41. Ромалитико – Институт за истражување и анализи на политики
  42. Здружението на просветни работници и заштита на права на жените и децата Роми ЛИЛ
  43. Ромска aсоцијација за жени и млади „ЛУЛУДИ”
  44. Амбрела – Центар за интеграција
  45. Станица П.Е.Т.
  46. Визија Кавадарци
  47. Организација на жени – Велес
  48. Организација на жени – Скопје
  49. Кортекс Тетово
  50. НВО инфо центар
  51. Македонско здружение на млади правници
  52. Tакт
  53. Здружението за поддршка на луѓето што живеат со ХИВ – ЗАЕДНО ПОСИЛНИ Скопје
  54. Здружение ЕГАЛ – Еднаквост за геј и лезбејки, Скопје
  55. Здружение за поддршка на маргинализирани работници – СТАР-СТАР, Скопје
  56. Црвен крст на Република Северна Македонија
  57. Опција Охрид, Охрид
  58. Зона, Кавадарци
  59. ХЕЛП – Гостивар
  60. Младински клуб – Штип
  61. Здружение за советување, лекување, реинтеграција и ресоцијализација на лица зависни од психоактивни супстанции – Избор, Струмица
  62. Асоцијација за здрави животни стилови ПУЛС – Куманово
  63. Центар за развој на граѓанско општество Виа Вита – Битола
  64. Здружение Доверба – Скопје
  65. ИЧП – Институт за човекови права
  66. Организација на жени од Струмица
  67. ЈАДРО – Асоцијација на независната културна сцена
  68. КСП Центар – Јадро
  69. Здружение – Проектен простор прес ту екзит
  70. Локомотива – Центар за нови иницијативи во уметноста и културата
  71. Здружение за литература, култура и уметност – Галикул
  72. Здружение на уметници Културен центар Медиа Артес – Охрид
  73. Здружение на јавни службеници на Северна Македонија
  74. ЗМАИ– Здружение за истражување и анализи
  75. Рурална Коалиција
  76. Здружение Факултет за работи кои не се учат
  77. Национална асоцијација за континуиран одржлив развој и демократија – КОРД Скопје
  78. Центар за социјални Иницијативи Надеж – Скопје
  79. Женска граѓанска иницијатива АНТИКО
  80. Организација на жени на град Скопје
  81. Коалицијата Сите за правично судење
  82. Центар за правни истражувања и анализи
  83. Центар за интеркултурен дијалог – ЦИД Куманово
  84. Центар за истражувања и анализи НОВУС Струмица
  85. Центар за младински актинизам – Крик
  86. Фондација за локален развој и демократија Фокус – Велес
  87. Здружение на млади Креактив
  88. Скај Плус Струмица
  89. ЕХО едукативно хуманитарна организација
  90. Здружение за родова еднаквост – Една Може
  91. Женска Акција – Радовиш
  92. Кризен Центар – Надеж
  93. Женска граѓанска иницијатива ,,КЛЕА“, Битола
Read more

Stella 2020 highlights

View post on imgur.com
Read more

Happy New Year!

Stella could not have grown in 2020 without the support you give us. If this year has proven anything it is that solidarity is what helps us through the tough times, and we have always felt the spirit of solidarity in you. 
In this trying year, solidarity and your support is what we are most grateful for, and what has created the inspiring stories built by the collective efforts of our mentors and mentees. 
Happy holidays to you all, and we hope to keep growing together in the new year. 

Read more

Few tricks for preparing for an (online) interview

Online interviews are not something new for the people who have applied for international masters or international employment, however in the spirit of the new Covid-19 influenced normality, the online interviews have become a replacement for ‘’real ones’’ due to safety reasons.  We offer you a few tips on how to use online interviews in your advantage. 

First and foremost, treat this as a regular interview, while the new reality might influence how we react to things and our perceptions, this interview is probably a great opportunity which needs to be taken with seriousness. After the initial shock and excitement, here are some main steps you need to take:

  • Send a response and say thank you for the opportunity. Maybe this goes without saying, but always send an email that you have received the invitation, or you have received their email with specification about the online interview. 
  • By now you are probably more familiar with the position for which you are applying or the master program, however, make sure that you are aware of each of the requirements, tasks, responsibilities, and expectations. 
  • Dress as you are going to an interview, keep it formal.
  • Make sure that the background of your surrounding is not too distracting and place the camera on a frontal angle. 
  • Make sure that your internet connection is working, but also prepare your phone if necessary, to jump in with your personal hotspot.
  • Prepare your questions, this is always appreciated and your interest can be seen as an advantage. 
  • Practice your interview and do a test of the technology before starting. 
  • Be yourself.

Moreover, if you have any more questions on how you can ace your online interview, feel free to ask guidance and support by seeking mentorship through Stella womentors. 

Read more

How to stay organized with help of technology

Being organized is a necessary skill for any kind of work-related improvement or academic environment, yet everyone fails at it sometimes. Some people are lucky enough to have developed their organizational skills as a habit, while for the others, there is still hope. There are so many online tools nowadays, our job is only to find and utilize them. 

During our brainstorming stages, while studying for exams or preparing applications for work or a masters degree, we tend to have too many things on our mind. However, managing our tasks, action items for the day, or for a week can be done in a different yet useful manner.  While some of the suggestions below are used by Stella members to organize their goals and research, some of the online tools and applications are suggested by popular demand. 

Here are a few tools which we have selected: 

Some people prefer using notebooks or planners, but for those who want to go digital, there is the good old Excel Microsoft. Regardless of being considered as the thing people lie often that they’re good at on their resume, Excel can be and should be used efficiently as a tool which can help you track your progress. Some of the interesting ways it can be used include: 

  • Organize data in an easy-to-navigate way
  • Do basic and complex mathematical functions so you do not have to
  • Turn piles of data into helpful graphics and charts
  • Analyze data and make forecasting predictions
  • Create, build, and edit pixelated images (yes, creatives use it, too!)
  • Goal setting and planning process involves white paper, time, and the immense pressure of calculations, but with the use of MS Excel, this process can become more efficient, quick, easy and environmentally friendly.
  • Career Development revolves around career management. The tasks such as learning management, time management, work and life management, and goal-focused habits are very important and can be effectively practised on MS excel.

TRELLO 

For personal use, you should take advantage of Trello’s free trial.

Trello has earned a strong reputation as a tool teams can use to manage shared projects. In fact, it works just as well for individuals and families, because part of Trello’s appeal is its flexibility which you can adapt it for a variety of purposes.

This service offers mobile and web apps, and both work the same way: You create a variety of digital “cards” and arrange them in columns. Each card might represent a household chore, an item on your to-do list or a looming calendar event. The columns can represent categories of tasks, priority levels, specific dates, or any other factor you might use to arrange your cards.

You can invite teams to work with and use the calendar feature. It is a great way to make sure you’re getting things done.

For example, Stella’s team members are using Trello, or as we call it, Stello, for organizing project-related tasks, keeping track of the progress of the mentoring process, and brainstorming for future ideas. 

EverNote

EverNote is a note-taking app which keeps track of to-do lists, lengthy research, web clippings, photos and drawings, and pretty much anything else. You can also save it on all of your devices (like Google Calendar, Google Drive or Dropbox), allows collaboration both in-app and web browser form, and presents all of your data in one easy-to-navigate digital workspace so is easy for task management. (Other good option: Slack). 

MIRO 

The online equivalent of an office whiteboard is MIRO and it is a great way for personal organization, if you are a visual person, meaning you prefer visualizing your goals and tasks. Simply sign up with your email address, and you can start inviting team members if necessary to collaborate right away.

Well if all of this does not help; you can always try freedom. https://freedom.to/, literally. As written on their website: If you need to focus on your work, break a habit, or simply improve your relationship with technology, by blocking distracting websites and apps, you’ll be more focused and productive. You will develop healthier, more intentional digital habits, that give you control over your time and attention.

We hope some of these suggestions will help, however, there is a chance online tools might overcomplicate your approach to organization, that is why it is important first to take time to set out your goals. That process can be done much better with the help of an actual personal connection which supports you in setting the goals and vision for the future. Organizational skills can definitely be developed through the mentorship process. Lastly, always remember, someone else was on the same spot as you, with the same insecurities about the future, so it is for the best to seek advice, and we have plenty of womentors which are more than glad to support you.

Sources: 

https://www.creativelive.com/blog/best-apps-organize-life/
https://www.popsci.com/apps-tools-for-organization/
Read more

How to Write a Good CV

Your CV is your story. How you tell your story matters and it especially matters who your audience is. 

A common mistake we make is having the same CV for different job applications. Another thing we often get wrong is to list chronologically what we’ve done rather than focusing on what is most important to a particular employer or university in case you are looking to continue your education.

We also tend to write everything we have ever done – after all, we put time and effort into these activities and we want to acknowledge them. But your future employer only needs to know she has the ‘right’ person in front of them for the job; they are not interested in reading a report card of life activities for each candidate. 

Here are some quick tips of how to write a good CV:

  1. Keep it short: stick to 2 pages, write in a clear font and no smaller than 11 font-size.
  2. Read, re-read, read aloud: grammatical mistakes or odd sentences can happen to the best of us but it’s a guaranteed way of not getting the job. 
  3. Contact details: Make sure you have given correct contact details and provide a professional email address. For example, Tina_tigerlover_3#[email protected] is a no-go. Open a new email account if you have to. 
  4. Good match: You must show you are up for the job so select only achievements and activities that make you a good match to the profile the employer is seeking. If you only have modest previous experiences, you can include them by linking to how that background matters in the current job. For example, if you are applying for a project coordinator position but you have only a few previous jobs as shop assistant or event organiser, you can add a short description of your tasks and responsibilities such as how you can work under pressure, you are good with people skills and you can plan long-term. It is the qualities and experiences that will make you the right choice. 
  5. Don’t lie, don’t exaggerate: If you were not the top of your class, don’t say you were; if you only got a passing score, don’t say you were excellent, etc. When we really want a job we can get carried away with ‘polishing’ a few facts. But not only is this a mistake, it is fraud. You can and should focus on positive achievements, but stay true to what you have done. 

Writing a good CV is also about having support. Stella Mentors provide one-on-one support to girls and women seeking their next educational or career step. If you want to be a mentor or a mentee, simply sign up for free at Stella.mk 

Read more

Stella 2019 highlights

Read more

© 2019 Stella. All Rights Reserved. | Developed by VAV Technology