The idea for this project came to me when I was driving past a kafana and saw a group of teenagers inside. I asked myself, 'How do teenagers actually live in the village?' What does their day-to-day life consist of? I took a first step towards them, and after a few days, I felt I was allowed to enter their world.
Teenagers fascinate me. One moment they're children; the next, small adults; and then, just as quickly, children again. We communicated with the help of the whole group, some of them spoke English well enough to facilitate understanding. They showed me pictures of their everyday life and special moments: how they spend their days, their parties, campfires, boyfriends and the music they listen to.
I showed them the city where I live.
Although I hadn't had much contact with teenagers before, I found myself drawn to the interplay between their vulnerability and strength, and between safe spaces like family and friendship and their own emerging identity. I was impressed by how quickly and easily they transitioned from childhood to independence, and by their bravery in making that leap. Yet there was still a child in each of them. I was also touched by how the village protects them, like a big, supportive, caring family. It makes me smile inside of me few times, remembering myself as a teenager, because I got this feeling again - the feeling of that everything is possible. It reminds me of the value of this period in a person's life, which one can only fully understand and cherish once it's ended. These times creates a memories that we don’t know yet how important they will be one day.