Leontina Trajkoska ’26 (North Macedonia), who grew up in Skopje, the capital city, was waiting at a bus stop with two of her friends when they asked her, “Leontina, why don’t you apply to UWC?”. That simple question sparked her curiosity to learn more about the movement, mission, and values.
“I thought to myself, ‘You know what? I just like to try and apply.’ I was not sure what the outcome would be, so let’s see. And that is how it started.”
After experiencing rather challenging visa issues and an 18-hour journey, Leontina arrived at UWC Costa Rica in late September 2024.
At home, Leontina left behind her family in the SOS Children’s Village, where she lived following the death of her parents.
“It was definitely a new system, a new situation where you have to get accustomed to new people. But I’m very thankful for all the support they (SOS Children’s Village) have given me, and I don’t think I would be here today if that didn’t happen to me then.”
Her life before attending UWC Costa Rica was a typical high school experience. She participated in various activities, including swimming, community service, music, art, cultural exchanges, and volleyball. She has also demonstrated academic excellence, earning top marks in all subjects at both school and high school.
With the support of a CVG-sponsored scholarship, Leontina can connect with friends from all continents around the world. “I never thought of taking subjects that were never offered in my old school, like Global Politics.”
“Make Cents, Make Sense”
Being in Costa Rica opened the opportunity for Leontina to transform her passions into action, lifting others; this was her main reason for participating in the UWC initiative GoMakeADifference with her project, Make Cents, Make Sense.
Leontina’s project focuses on providing financial education workshops to vulnerable youth. She first undertook this project in North Macedonia, where it had a profoundly positive impact on her peers.
“It was very spontaneous because it started first at home, because there was a call for a grant in social impact, and how you can use the skills you have to impact your community. And when I saw the positive impact, I thought that it was a good idea to do it here in Costa Rica.”
Grounded in the principle of turning pain into purpose, Leontina recognized a critical gap: young people leaving care systems, such as SOS Children’s Village, often lack the financial literacy tools to avoid crippling debt and falling into fraudulent schemes. Her solution? Interactive workshops to provide essential and agile financial literacy skills.
Leontina’s project is one of the 23 winning projects out of the more than 100 applications received. She received $1,500 to expand the impact of “Make Cents, Make Sense” further.
Supported by the Co-curricular Program, Leontina executed this project at the local SOS Children’s Village near campus, in Santa Ana, making the connections to her background even stronger and more special.
The training sessions focus on personal budgeting, savings, responsible money use, renting negotiations, and fraud prevention, empowering participants to reclaim control over their financial futures. As one participant shared, “Nobody had explained this to us before,” underscoring the vital need this project addresses.
Over 30 UWC Costa Rica peers of Leontina got behind the project. They volunteered as co-facilitators and mentors, directly working with 15 local youth in Costa Rica, and dozens more in North Macedonia, making the project a great success that reached over 100 youth across two nations. At the end of the Santa Ana training, one unexpected outcome brought great fun to the program: a friendly football match among peers that promoted community integration and personal gratitude.
Leontina reflects that this project tested her resilience, forcing her to see roadblocks as launchpads for practical solutions. She navigated the demands of international collaboration, established critical external partnerships, and guided diverse teams through cultural challenges.
“This project not only demonstrates her ability to identify needs and propose innovative solutions, but also reflects the core values of UWC: promoting peace and sustainability through action.”
– Luis Abarca, Co-Curricular Director of UWC Costa Rica.
Leontina’s vision extends far beyond the campus. This story made national news and was described as a significant project that enables the transformation of realities through experiences. She is already coordinating with SOS International to scale the model globally. Ultimately, she plans to convert the initiative into a digital platform that offers financial literacy, mentorship, and access to remote work opportunities, leaving a lasting legacy of resilience and self-determination, born at UWC Costa Rica.
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