Meet Jasmina: host of the IHL parent group

Meet Jasmina, originally from North Macedonia and now living in Belgium for 11 years. She hosts once a month the Parent’s meetup at the International House Leuven and is an Ambassador’s host for the IHL Ambassador’s programme.

By
International House Leuven
4 December 2025
Photo credit: Petra Israel Photography - www.petraisraelphotography.com/

Get to know Jasmina

Country of Origin: Bitola, North Macedonia
Time in Belgium: 11 years
Interesting thing about home country: We love music and dancing
Activity: Parents meet-ups, Ambassador’s programme
Languages: Macedonian, English, French, Dutch, Spanish, Slovenian, Croatian and counting
Favourite thing from home country: Food, Family, Friends
Favourite thing about Belgium/Flemish life: Diversity
Ask me about: Places where to listen to Jazz in Leuven

Jasmina moved to Belgium on several occasions for work but was here to stay since 2014. After her first love- Brussels she moved to Leuven in 2019, and the city charmed her on first sight. She now already feels like a proud Leuvenaar and shares her love for the city on social media and through the IHL Ambassador’s programme for newcomers.

Why Jasmina started the parent group

After becoming a mum in 2023, Jasmina wanted to surround herself with people who go through the same joys and struggles of parenting and volunteered to organise monthly meetups for parents. Especially in the expat community, when family is usually far, these meetups and connecting to other parents have been so important and enriching.

A big number of parents have already attended the meetups, and a sense of community has been built which is the utmost beauty of this activity: to see how parents connect and sometimes find the answers to some of their burning questions about parenting.

About the parent group

Jasmina schedules a variety of activities for the parent group. Sometimes they go for a walk, picnic, or meet up at a cafe in town. The activities are usually planned once a month. Check the IHL activity page for when the next group will meet.

Would you like to join the group?

Follow International House on social media and subscribe to their newsletter to follow future parents' meetups.

Advice to newcomers

Integrating in a new place is not always easy. It has its up and downs. Meet other people who are in the same situation through the IH and continue following your passions, whatever that might be, even when you are far away from home.
Jasmina

Quickfire Quiz

Favourite thing to do locally?

Take a coffee and stroll around the city

Best thing about Leuven?

The rich cultural offer

Early bird or night owl?

A forever night owl.

What song gets you dancing every time?

Blue Skies from Ella Fitzgerald makes me sing every time. All fast-paced swing songs make me dance (Google: Collegiate Shag).

What motivates you?

Coffee.

Spontaneous or planned?

Forever love of planning for my son, forever love for spontaneity for me.

Would you like to volunteer too? Check out the options!
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This page was last updated on: 4 December 2025