From Garbage Dump into Paradise by Vera Waterfall

We have written many positive stories so far, but today we must admit that our team is especially proud of the story of the people of Gevgelija, who are true heroes and promoters of local tourism in the village of Sermenin.

The phrase "not all heroes wear capes" is proven by Ratka and her husband Venci, originally from Gevgelija, whose life story inspired them to move to the village of Sermenin, where they decided to build a house in which they will spend the rest of their lives.

The village of Sermenin is located at the foot of Mount Kozuf. In the 1970s, the village began to decline, with many young people moving away. Today, however, the area is seeing the growth of new homes, vacation houses, as well as restaurants and private accommodations where you can taste local food. Sermenin is a natural air bath, and if you stroll through its streets, you'll notice many walnut trees, which the locals claim are a unique phenomenon. Another interesting fact is that the village has 7 cemeteries, with each neighborhood having its own, and there are two churches—one in the center of the village and the other about 4 kilometers away, nestled in picturesque nature.

The Belica River flows through the village, and due to its mineral-rich waters, it creates small pools along its course. Recently, Ratka and her husband built their new home near the river, a decision they made due to health issues their family faced, as Ratka explains.

Our team spoke with Ratka, who shared the story of the Vera Waterfall and the unique development they are creating with their own hands and financial resources. What left the greatest impression on us was the fact that the wooden path, stairs, fence, and illuminated pathway to the waterfall stretch for 80 meters. It took them two full months, together with the craftsmen Toše and Borče, to bring their envisioned idea to life.

They started the project with a simple construction of stairs and a bridge leading to the waterfall, followed by painting and arranging the space with benches and tables.

One important point to mention is that before this area was developed, some local residents used it as a dumping ground. For this reason, it took Ratka and Venci a whole month to clean it up and remove the waste.

When asked why they decided to develop the area, Ratka says they did it with the desire to leave a mark on nature. This well-maintained corner, built through their own effort, without any financial help, and with a love for nature, is an example of how we should all take responsibility for preserving our natural beauty.

Ratka says that they are not architects by profession, but with love, every idea is achievable. Today, just as they created access to the waterfall, they also take care of cleaning its surroundings. They are happy to have provided the local community with another attraction and a place where everyone can visit and enjoy the sound of the waterfall.

The team at Kajak.mk must emphasize that Ratka and Venci were contacted by us, without them expressing any desire for publicity. As an eco platform and one aimed at promoting local heroes who do small things of great significance for tourism, we can only offer praise for such an initiative.

In addition to the praise, we must appeal to all travelers and adventurers who choose to visit the Vera Waterfall to be cautious with their children, avoid having more than one person on the bridge at the same time, and most importantly, to RETURN THEIR WASTE TO THE CITY TRASH CANS, because waste doesn't have legs to go back to where it belongs!