LocationsWith the support of the “EU for Prespa” Programme, a young woman brings her vision to life and sets an example of how success is possible, even from a small village
She Leads: Young Women Redefining Prespa’s Future
March 4, 2026
“Growing up in a rural area is challenging, but being a young woman from a small village adds another layer of complexity,” says Angela Trajchevska, a 22-year-old from Pretor in the Prespa region. After finishing high school, she moved to Skopje to pursue studies in acting and music. It was only once she left home that she began to realize how much Prespa has to offer—not only to its own youth, but also to young people from Macedonia’s urban centers and from abroad.
Together with four other young enthusiasts, she co-founded the NGO Prespa Hub – a platform connecting youth, sport, gastronomy and music with a clear vision: to bring new energy to the region. The organization is supported through the sustainable tourism program within the EU for Prespa project, which aims to develop innovative tourism services and enhance the area’s unique tourism offer.
The idea for the race, symbolically titled Run and Fun, had been alive for years. Now, with the right support and strong dedication, it is finally becoming a reality. This June, around 300 runners from the country and the wider region will run along the shores of Lake Prespa, combining sport, nature, and community into one unique experience.
“I don’t think that being only 22 years old is an obstacle to taking on this challenge. The world offers us so much information; we just need to know how to filter it,” Angela says confidently.
But her story is not only about one event. It is part of a broader narrative — that of young women in Prespa who choose to stay, create, and transform their communities.
“I have many examples of strong women, pillars of their families. Starting with my mother and continuing with so many Prespa women who drive the community forward — women working in tourism, agriculture, education, and culture. They don’t wait for change; they create it.”
Angela represents a new wave of young women in Prespa — a generation that refuses to accept limitations imposed by geography or traditional expectations. These are young leaders who think long-term, who connect local resources with modern trends, and who believe that the communities of the future are built today through cooperation, innovation, and solidarity.
“These young people were bold enough to imagine a progressive future. In a place where many still dwells on the past, reminiscing about the bustling summer workers’ resorts of the 1980s, it takes courage and creativity—like that shown by the young talents of Prespa Hub—to reimagine Prespa and shape a fresh, vibrant identity for the region,” concluded Marijana Milevska, UNDP Project Manager.
Within EU for Prespa, women in the region gain access to training, mentorship, and financial support to develop their own ideas — from small family businesses to creative initiatives promoting local heritage. In this way, Prespa is becoming an example of how rural areas can be spaces of opportunity rather than limitation.
“We don’t have to leave to succeed. We can create success here — if we extend a hand to one another,” Angela emphasizes.
With every new step and every new initiative, Prespa gains a new story — one told by brave, outspoken, and determined women redefining what opportunity means in a rural setting.
This is a story about empowered women. About a new generation of leaders.
And about a Prespa that is moving forward — step by step — toward future communities built by them.
