Kruja, Albania, is a charming medieval village just 30 km (18.6 mi) north of the capital, Tirana. It is beautifully situated between mountainous peaks with a green valley stretching all the way down to the Adriatic coast.
It is in this idyllic environment that each year a special event takes place to encourage Albanian youth as they complete nine years of primary education and three years of secondary school. The youth dress in formal attire and parade in front of the people gathered in the piazza. Together with their parents and friends, they celebrate their success and graduation. This autumn some of them will leave town to continue their journey in higher education.
On Wednesday, July 21, ADRA Albania partnered with the Municipality of Kruja in a new initiative to highlight their resiliency in the face of the devastating earthquake two years ago and the recent long months of isolation and social distance caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ADRA team invited two talented young singers to organize a concert which left a lasting impact on the young people and their parents.
Kristi Qendro, ADRA’s representative and project manager of the advocacy initiative “Every Child. Everywhere. In school.” shared a positive message with attendees. She encouraged them to pursue their dreams and to continue their education throughout their lives.
“Education is important,” she said. “Yes, there were difficulties and even casualties due to the earthquake and pandemic, but keep dreaming and pursuing your dreams. You should never, never give up. Keep learning and growing.”
Qendro stressed the importance of girls’ education, noting the need to challenge harmful customs and practices.
“Maybe our perception is that education is not important for girls, but this should change,” she stated. “Education of girls is just as important as education of boys, because in this way we create better conditions for whole families and future generations.”
Turning to parents and other citizens present she emphasized, “Keeping youth at school builds a more sustainable and strong society.”
The beautiful summer night concluded with a speech by the director of education and culture of Kruja. The hope is that the impact of this initiative will last for many years.
This article was originally published on the Trans-European Division’s news site.