She was only 29 years old when she decided to pursue a physically demanding yet incredibly humane profession – that of a firefighter, without knowing that she would become the second female firefighter in North Macedonia.

Meet Menka Stojanoska, a 33-year-old from Skopje, who is setting an example for her male colleagues by breaking stereotypes about firefighting being a male-dominated profession.

“I have been a part of the Skopje firefighting brigade for four and a half years now. I chose this profession because I wanted to be actively involved in something good and humanitarian, where I could contribute to the well-being of citizens. I always thought I would find myself in this profession, and working in the field has proved it. I have a strong desire for professions that require physical effort, and firefighting demands a lot of preparation and physical strength, which motivated me to push my limits. After passing the physical fitness test in the competition, I gained the trust of my male colleagues, and during training and tasks, I proved that they do not view me with prejudice or suspicion,” she tells Euronews Albania.

Stojanoska was not aware that there would only be one other female colleague in her profession, which further motivates her to promote firefighting among other women.

“There are only two females in the firefighting unit, but when I applied for the position, I wasn’t even interested to know if there were any other women in the firefighting unit. I found out about it after joining the brigade. I am happy to have another female colleague who is older and more experienced.”

Stojanoska believes that women in any profession, always face more challenges on the road to success, but they can overcome them if they want to.

“As I am still a young woman with few obligations, I find it easier to handle the weight of the profession and the schedule. However, I believe that when I become a mother someday, it might be a bit more challenging, but there is nothing in life that cannot be managed. In any profession, a woman has to manage both her career and her private life, educate and care for children, and that’s something to be admired.”

The Skopje firefighting brigade is the only one with female members in its team, while in other cities, the profession is entirely male-dominated.

The state has done nothing to increase the percentage of women in this profession.