Current situation in Albania:
Although there are legal provisions for gender equality in Albania, there is still an expectation that women are housewives while men are considered breadwinners. These notions are reinforced by social norms and education, making it difficult for future generations to challenge traditional gender roles. As a result, many Albanian women have little ambition to break through these ingrained notions and are still considered by themselves and society to be worth less than men. Women face various challenges, including violence (almost 50 percent of Albanian women have been abused in some form), comparatively lower wages, limited access to reproductive healthcare and harassment in the workplace. Due to social conditioning, women often remain silent and have little self-confidence, making it difficult for them to speak openly about their challenges, but also about their talents, goals and achievements.
Main goal of the project
The overall goal of the project is to give young women in Albania the opportunity to develop their inner potential and shape a future based on freedom, equality, awareness and courage. To this end, they are provided with resources, education and mentors, while at the same time challenging conventional beliefs and social norms.
The project promotes a forward-looking and inclusive view of gender equality and encourages young women to act as catalysts for change in their communities. It also aims to promote an understanding of self-determination and reproductive healthcare, actively combat discrimination and strive for gender parity.
Role of the diaspora:
The aim is to recruit experts from the diaspora as well as local experts for the Spring School. An essential part of this training program is also the use of mentors from the diaspora, who support the participants in Albania. The establishment of this mentoring system ensures continuous support from experienced women from the diaspora.
Planned activities:
- A one-week spring school in Pogradec
- 1:1 mentoring (online) once a week for 3-6 months
- An online series of four coaching sessions before and four after the Spring School
- Support with know-how in the implementation of project ideas in each community as needed
- Included topics:
- Personal development
- Information on early detection of breast, ovarian and endometrial cancer, contraception and family planning
- An overview on feminism and women’s rights in Albania
- Development of a training concept
- Coaching basics