On October 2nd, Young European Ambassadors (YEAs) Edona Haklaj and Stjuart Islamaj, from Albania, paid a visit to the “Olsi Lasko” high school, which has been meticulously reconstructed thanks to the #EU4Schools programme. During their visit, Edona and Stjuart had the opportunity to explore the school’s upgraded facilities and engage with the students there. Additionally, they took the opportunity to introduce the YEA Network and shed light on the myriad opportunities that the European Union offers to the region’s young populace. The YEAs also had a valuable exchange with both students and teachers, gaining insights into the transformative impact the project has had on the learning experience. These insights were subsequently shared via Webalkans’ social media channels.

The “EU4Schools” initiative is a commendable program funded by the European Union, launched in response to the devastating earthquake that struck Albania on November 26, 2019. This programme is currently being executed through a collaborative effort between UNDP and the Albanian government, providing essential support to citizens across eleven municipalities: Durrës, Kamza, Kavaja, Kruja, Kurbin, Lezha, Mirdita, Rrogozhina, Shijak, Tirana, and Vora. It is worth noting that this program forms a vital component of the European Union’s financial commitment, as declared during the International Donors’ Conference held in Brussels on February 17, 2020. The overarching objective of this initiative is to further bolster local and national governments in their efforts to mitigate social and economic losses, while expediting the recovery process through the renovation and reconstruction of educational facilities.