23 July 2021 | Kruja, Albania [Kristi Qendro/tedNEWS]
Kruja, Albania is a charming medieval village just 30km 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.
Idyllic maybe, but each year they host a special event to encourage their 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 successful graduation. This autumn some of them will leave town to continue their education journey at university.
In a new initiative on Wednesday, 21 July, ADRA Albania partnered with the Municipality of Kruja to highlight their success despite 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 young and talented singers organizing a concert whose memory will leave a lasting impact on the youth 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 in your lives” 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 developing.”
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. Education of girls is as important as education of boys. By educating a girl, we create better conditions for whole families and future generations,” she said.
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 will last for many years.
tedNEWS Staff: Victor Hulbert, editor; Deana Stojković, associate editor
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