Young man from Novi Sad, Vukašin Kešelj (26), came to America as a scholarship student and talented basketball player, with the desire to advance both in sports and in his other life interest — everything related to health and quality of life. That’s why he enrolled in kinesiology, the science that studies how physical activity affects humans.
After completing college and earning a master’s degree at one of the most prestigious American universities in his field, the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, he devoted himself to the science he studied for. Today, he is a successful physiotherapist and personal trainer who always provides his clients with important advice about healthy nutrition.
However, America awakened other interests in him, so he decided to combine Serbian tradition with modern technology and create his own social network, called — RakijaConnect!
We asked him where he found inspiration and how he decided to “connect people through rakija.”
— Honestly, the main inspiration was the feeling that followed me for a while in America — I was lonely! I studied in Nebraska, a state where few of our people live, and in the city where I studied, I couldn’t find anyone with whom I could cure my homesickness. On the other hand, my classmates were busy with studies, and every free moment they used to go home to be with their families. I couldn’t afford frequent trips home, and then the Covid pandemic followed, which further increased my sense of loneliness. When I went to Serbia, I felt great, surrounded by familiar people, but every return was difficult. Through conversations with other students and immigrants, I realized that they suffered from the same thing. And that’s how the idea for RakijaConnect was born.
HEALTHY AND FULFILLED LIFE AS A GOAL: Vukašin decided to turn his knowledge into an app
How did the story develop further?
— I finished my master’s studies in kinesiology and know a lot about the human body and health. Once I understood what my problem was, I started reading a lot about how social life affects human well-being. Interestingly, the longest study in the world, from Harvard Medical School, deals with exactly that topic. It has lasted for more than 80 years, and scientists have discovered that strong, warm, and supportive relationships are the most important factor for health and happiness. I decided to do something for myself and for all our people in the diaspora.
I also found in books and studies that immigrants disproportionately suffer from mental and cardiovascular diseases, caused by loneliness and poor social circles that arise due to changes in environment. Health and quality of life are my greatest passions, and that’s why I decided to create a social network. I see this as a health problem, and that gives me energy and strength to make it happen.
RAKIJA AS A SYMBOL OF COMMUNICATION: And now, a symbol of a new social network
What aspects of life abroad were the hardest, and therefore the biggest challenges you tried to overcome with RakijaConnect?
— When you go abroad, you have to completely build a new world, and in that process, you encounter many challenges. As time went on, the challenges changed. You learn the language, overcome cultural shock, finish college, solve paperwork, buy a car, find a job — but some things continue to follow you: lack of understanding from your environment, nostalgia, superficial relationships, and rare socializing. We, who come from the Balkans and Southeastern Europe, are naturally warm, empathetic, and love to socialize. Our values are different — we greet with hugs and kisses, value honesty, and don’t shy away from deep topics or personal issues. For those reasons, it’s harder to connect with people in the West, who are mostly cold, reserved, and distant, and whose conversations are superficial. Because of this emotional and cultural mismatch, our people feel isolated, misunderstood, and long for relationships they’re used to back home.
LOVES TO HELP OTHERS: Vukašin Kešelj
How will RakijaConnect solve problems for the Balkan and Slavic community in America?
— Life in America is fast; people are overwhelmed with obligations and don’t have much free time to go out, drink coffee, or naturally build new friendships. There aren’t many of us, so the chances for someone to form a large circle of friends are small. Within that small circle, it’s even less likely to find someone with the same interests or hobbies. Imagine, for example, how hard it is for a fisherman to find someone who shares the same passion? That’s why the goal of RakijaConnect is to bring together a large number of people in one place, where they can find others who share the same interests, culture, and passions.
The ultimate goal is to connect our people around the world and make RakijaConnect an essential tool for every person in the diaspora looking for someone like themselves. It takes time for people abroad to adjust to a new environment, find friends, romantic or business partners, and then, one by one: a mechanic, lawyer, doctor, etc. With RakijaConnect, all of this will happen faster and more efficiently.
How does the app connect people? What features does it offer that other networks don’t?
— Unlike other networking apps, RakijaConnect encourages culturally familiar connections, providing users with a sense of closeness, community, and belonging. The app will be intended for all our people, regardless of their needs or age, because it will have three separate modes: DATING, FRIENDSHIP, and BUSINESS.
LOVE, FRIENDSHIP, BUSINESS: All in one app, whose theme is — rakija
This way, users can choose how they want to connect, all within one app focused on Balkan and Slavic people. Each mode will have specific filters that identify location, age, interests, and profession.
And where does RAKIJA fit into all this?
— What makes RakijaConnect unique is that we’ve merged the digital and real world. We’ve partnered with local Balkan restaurants, cafés, and clubs where users can, with the help of a QR code, get a free rakija or a discount when they match on the app. Rakija is a synonym for socializing, culture, customs, warmth, lifestyle, communication, and conversation, which is why we chose it as the central motif of our app.
In this way, we’ll give people interaction and a lifestyle they’re used to, while supporting our local businesses. The app also includes a TRAVEL MODE, which allows users to choose a location where they want to meet others — ideal for those who work in transport and travel often. More about the app’s design can be seen on our website www.RakijaConnect.com.
DISTANCE AND LONELINESS: Immigrants are more prone to mental and heart diseases
At what stage is RakijaConnect now, and when will people be able to use this social network?
— We’re currently refining the final design and features of the app, collecting data and users, and looking for business partners interested in investing in the project. Once we complete that, we’ll launch the app. All those interested in becoming early users and receiving PREMIUM STATUS can leave their information and email on our WEBSITE, and you can follow the app’s launch updates on our Facebook and Instagram pages, says Vukašin Kešelj at the end of the interview — a young man who decided to cure his (and not only his) nostalgia and loneliness in the most American way — through creativity and entrepreneurship!
The editorial team of Serbian Times wishes him the best of luck on this journey, and our journalists and editors have already registered and can’t wait to meet new friends, business partners, or maybe even the love of their life on RakijaConnect!
Good luck!
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Source: Antonije Kovačević Foto: Privatna arhiva.