Sandra and her children come from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Few migrants decide to settle in North Macedonia, a transit country along the Balkan route, where the right to asylum is rarely given. Yet Sandra chose to remain in the capital Skopje and acquire her independence through work.
Sandra is 32 years old. She has perfect braids and a black sweater embroidered with a crown on the front. She lives in a peaceful housing project in the suburbs of Skopje, North Macedonia’s capital. Sandra’s ten-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter calmly sit on the sofa, watching a cartoon on television as she tells her story.
Sandra was nine months pregnant with her daughter when she sought to cross the North Macedonian border in 2018 to reach Serbia, and eventually Western Europe. After being separated from her son, she fought for six months to get him back. Exhausted after her ordeal, she decided to stay in North Macedonia to rebuild her life by working. Her goal is to open a beauty and hair salon one day, she says.
"My husband lives in France, he obtained a residence permit for 10 years. When I was still in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) he tried to get us to come to France through the process of family reunification, but it was taking years. I ended up abandoning these procedures and looking for a faster way to meet again. I left in 2018: I crossed Congo, Senegal, Morocco, Turkey, Greece… I had many experiences during this long trip. Once I reached North Macedonia, I had a meltdown.
First, there was a huge problem at the Macedonian border. My husband came to Greece in a car to pick us up: both my two-year-old-son and me. I was nine-months pregnant at the time. My husband wanted to try to bring us to France by simply driving toward Western Europe. Yet while my husband had a passport and French documents, I only had fake documents and no passport. The police stopped us at the Macedonian border and told me: ‘You need to go to the French Embassy in Skopje to obtain valid documents.
My husband continued along the road with our son, with a plan that I would meet them in France after carrying out the necessary steps with the embassy. I stayed in a hotel in the capital, while pregnant, to try to resolve the situation.
Yet right after continuing their journey, the Serbian police stopped my husband and son. The authorities asked my husband about the child’s mother. My husband tried to explain that I was in Macedonia for administrative procedures, but they insisted that I needed to be there. My husband had to return here to Skopje to look for me. In the meantime, the social services in Serbia sent my son to a children’s institution for those with no parents.
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When my husband came back, he explained the situation to me. He told me again and again: 'Be brave, don’t cry, be strong. There are many lawyers here in Europe who can help us get our son back.' The separation took place in December 2018.
I gave birth two months later, in January 2019, while my son was still in Serbia. It was very hard to manage everything all at once. There were complications every day. My husband had to go back to France, my son was stuck in Serbia, and I was still in Macedonia with my baby.
I couldn’t even talk to my son over the phone. I didn’t have news about him for six months, until an association confirmed to me that he was still there. They would tell me to calm down and I would respond: 'How can I calm down? I need my son; I am a mother. I need him. Every night, every day.'
I managed to get my son back after six months, in June 2019, with the help of lawyers and the Macedonian Red Cross.
After this ordeal, I wanted to stay here [in Macedonia, editor’s note]. I filed for asylum as soon as I arrived in 2018. After getting my son back, I obtained temporary protection. It’s calm here, it’s good for the children. I have so many projects. I also now have refugee status.
Refugee status in North Macedonia grants the right to a three-year, renewable residence permit. Sandra has a card for 2024-2027. Before, she benefited from temporary protection, a status also falling under the right to asylum but more precarious, since it only grants the right to a one-year residence permit. There were only five refugees in North Macedonia in 2025 – including Sandra, her children, as well as a Syrian and her child. There are only two people with temporary protection status (an Afghan and a Moroccan), according to the non-governmental organization Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), which assists asylum seekers.
I stayed at Safe House [a house in Skopje for vulnerable asylum seekers, which closed in 2019, editor’s note] for two years, while North Macedonia examined my asylum request. JRS later helped me find the apartment where I now live.
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Hair stylist, Red Cross employee, maid
Nobody spoke French when I arrived in the country, and I didn't understand anything. I learned Macedonian through daily lessons at the Red Cross. It wasn't easy. I passed my Macedonian language certificate in 2022. Now I understand everything. I can read and write in Macedonian. I've also learned a little English in my time here.
I started working in a hair salon in Skopje in 2020, but it closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Red Cross helped me find a new job in 2021 with their organization, in a clothing donation center. I ironed clothes, organized...
I worked there for almost five years. It was good, but the salary was low. My current rent is 260 euros. Groceries and everyday life are becoming increasingly expensive. I started handing out my CV to the clothing stores around me. I looked everywhere for work. But it was difficult.
I finally found a job three months ago as a maid in a luxury hotel in the capital. It pays about 600 euros a month for eight hours a day, five days a week.
'I want to open my own hair and beauty salon'
It's great that I found this job, but it's not part of my future goals. I'm only doing it for the money. When I introduce myself to my colleagues, I tell them that I'm a hairstylist. And they tell me, "But why are you working here? You'd earn more money as a hairstylist!" They don't understand my path, so I stay quiet and don't talk about my real goal.
I know exactly what I want at the bottom of my heart. I want to open my own hair and beauty salon someday. I'll never stop until I reach my goal.
I’ve obtained many certifications. I’ve had a hairdressing diploma since 2020. JRS helped me finance my training. I’ve also acquired a diploma in 2023 to become a nail technician. I’ve also completed an online European training program in the summer of 2024 for businesswomen (Women's Innovative Business Incubation Zone). I also worked toward obtaining waxing and makeup certifications this year.
I show banks all these diplomas whenever I approach them for a loan. My main problem is money. I try to save a little with my hotel job. I also do a little hairstyling at home. I meet about two clients every week.
I need to go to Greece or Kosovo to buy hairdressing equipment. There are certain items you just can't find here in North Macedonia. The only problem is that with North Macedonian documents, you can't leave the country or travel within Europe, because Macedonia isn't part of the Schengen Area. For example, it’s my husband who comes from France to visit me four or five times a year. He stays anywhere from a week to two months, depending on his work schedule.
'Where else would I go?'
It's normal that all this took time: I didn’t even have real documents when I arrived in North Macedonia. Everything is ready now, the diplomas and all that, but I just don't have the money. I need someone's help. I really don't need much to get started. I can begin here at home, expanding my business with more equipment and better organization.
With next month’s salary, I plan to buy waxing equipment and a small table for manicures and pedicures. The next step will be to open an Instagram account for marketing. I already have a few clients through word of mouth and social media will create even more publicity. With more clients, I’ll be able to save even more so I can open a proper salon one day.
There are many salons in Skopje, but few that cater to Afro hair. I only know two people who can do that. I'll be styling all kinds of hair. It will be a real beauty salon open to all women, with a variety of services. I'm sure I will open the salon in Skopje. My daughter was born here in Macedonia. Where else would I go?
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