The morning of 26 November 2019 found Albania in agony after an earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale. It killed 51 people, and more than a thousand aftershocks further damaged homes, education institutions, and public and private buildings. The earthquake left cities paralysed and communities hopeless. It took a heavy toll on education facilities, leaving thousands of children traumatised and uncertain about their future education.
But there came a ray of hope. On February 17, 2020, the European Union organised the “Together for Albania” International Donors’ Conference in Brussels, aiming to support the reconstruction efforts after the earthquake. The European Union, the Government of Albania, the United Nations, and the World Bank carried out a post-disaster needs assessment which served as a guiding tool for the Conference and as a basis for reconstruction and repair efforts. The European Commission pledged €115 million from the EU budget to rapidly reconstruct and repair key public buildings.
“The demand for support was high, as schools and kindergartens were destroyed, leaving students and children without proper learning facilities. Some of these educational institutions were already in poor condition, and the earthquake only exacerbated the situation.”
Nora Kushti, Communication Specialist, UNDP in Albania
The #EU4Schools initiative, worth €75 million, was launched soon afterwards, bringing hope to pupils and teachers in the 11 most affected municipalities. Nora Kushti is a communication specialist with UNDP in Albania and says, “The demand for support was high, as schools and kindergartens were destroyed, leaving students and children without proper learning facilities. Some of these educational institutions were already in poor condition, and the earthquake only exacerbated the situation.”
During the reconstruction process UNDP has combined two key principles: #BuildBackBetter and #BuildBackTogether. “Building back better” means creating stronger structures which can resist earthquakes and natural disasters, meeting the highest international standards of quality and safety. All 63 education facilities, benefitting 24,000 pupils and teachers, will also be fully accessible for pupils with disabilities and will have dedicated spaces for medical care and psychological support.
Meanwhile, “Building back together” has offered a unique opportunity to engage beneficiaries in the reconstruction of their own education institutions and to tailor the design to their needs. There have been 58 consultation meetings and 16 other events organised so far which have brought together around 1,900 pupils, parents, local government representatives, and local institutions, promoting ownership and securing the sustainability of the investment.
“The new schools are fantastic and boast ultra-modern facilities including gyms, state-of-the-art libraries, modern labs, energy-efficient cooling and heating systems, and full accessibility for children with disabilities, including elevators and emergency exits: these schools are truly top-notch.”
Nora Kushti, Communication Specialist, UNDP in Albania
So far, 38 schools have been completed so around 10,000 children are studying in modern facilities just like their peers in any European Union country. “The new schools are fantastic and boast ultra-modern facilities including gyms, state-of-the-art libraries, modern labs, energy-efficient cooling and heating systems, and full accessibility for children with disabilities, including elevators and emergency exits: these schools are truly top-notch,” says Nora.
The Transparency Portal is a unique aspect of this project. This offers real-time updates on the reconstruction progress and strengthens the EU4Schools open data and transparency commitment. The portal provides open and comprehensive access to the reconstruction process, fostering trust among beneficiaries and the public.
The project has also run the “I Love My School” public awareness campaign. Through this campaign, children come together to discuss topics related to their schools, including gender equality, environmental protection, climate action, and Albania’s EU accession path. It’s clear that the project has brought a sense of hope to the community, as the new and colourful schools provide a tangible investment in education. As Nora says, this is a “long-term social and human capital investment by the EU, which will yield enormous returns.”
About the project
“EU4Schools” is a programme funded by the European Union in response to the earthquake of 26 November, 2019. The programme is being implemented by UNDP in cooperation with the Albanian government. It aims to support citizens in eleven affected municipalities: Durrës, Kamza, Kavaja, Kruja, Kurbin, Lezha, Mirdita, Rrogozhina, Shijak, Tirana, and Vora. The programme is part of the European Union’s financial commitment during the International Donors’ Conference, organised in Brussels on 17 February, 2020. The overall objective of this initiative is to further support local and national governments in reducing social and economic losses, and to accelerate the recovery process through educational facility repairs and reconstruction.
EU4Schools (eu4schoolsportal.al)
Photo credits: EU4 Schools
But there came a ray of hope. On February 17, 2020, the European Union organised the “Together for Albania” International Donors’ Conference in Brussels, aiming to support the reconstruction efforts after the earthquake. The European Union, the Government of Albania, the United Nations, and the World Bank carried out a post-disaster needs assessment which served as a guiding tool for the Conference and as a basis for reconstruction and repair efforts. The European Commission pledged €115 million from the EU budget to rapidly reconstruct and repair key public buildings.
The #EU4Schools initiative, worth €75 million, was launched soon afterwards, bringing hope to pupils and teachers in the 11 most affected municipalities. Nora Kushti is a communication specialist with UNDP in Albania and says, “The demand for support was high, as schools and kindergartens were destroyed, leaving students and children without proper learning facilities. Some of these educational institutions were already in poor condition, and the earthquake only exacerbated the situation.”
During the reconstruction process UNDP has combined two key principles: #BuildBackBetter and #BuildBackTogether. “Building back better” means creating stronger structures which can resist earthquakes and natural disasters, meeting the highest international standards of quality and safety. All 63 education facilities, benefitting 24,000 pupils and teachers, will also be fully accessible for pupils with disabilities and will have dedicated spaces for medical care and psychological support.
Meanwhile, “Building back together” has offered a unique opportunity to engage beneficiaries in the reconstruction of their own education institutions and to tailor the design to their needs. There have been 58 consultation meetings and 16 other events organised so far which have brought together around 1,900 pupils, parents, local government representatives, and local institutions, promoting ownership and securing the sustainability of the investment.
So far, 38 schools have been completed so around 10,000 children are studying in modern facilities just like their peers in any European Union country. “The new schools are fantastic and boast ultra-modern facilities including gyms, state-of-the-art libraries, modern labs, energy-efficient cooling and heating systems, and full accessibility for children with disabilities, including elevators and emergency exits: these schools are truly top-notch,” says Nora.
The Transparency Portal is a unique aspect of this project. This offers real-time updates on the reconstruction progress and strengthens the EU4Schools open data and transparency commitment. The portal provides open and comprehensive access to the reconstruction process, fostering trust among beneficiaries and the public.
The project has also run the “I Love My School” public awareness campaign. Through this campaign, children come together to discuss topics related to their schools, including gender equality, environmental protection, climate action, and Albania’s EU accession path. It’s clear that the project has brought a sense of hope to the community, as the new and colourful schools provide a tangible investment in education. As Nora says, this is a “long-term social and human capital investment by the EU, which will yield enormous returns.”
About the project
“EU4Schools” is a programme funded by the European Union in response to the earthquake of 26 November, 2019. The programme is being implemented by UNDP in cooperation with the Albanian government. It aims to support citizens in eleven affected municipalities: Durrës, Kamza, Kavaja, Kruja, Kurbin, Lezha, Mirdita, Rrogozhina, Shijak, Tirana, and Vora. The programme is part of the European Union’s financial commitment during the International Donors’ Conference, organised in Brussels on 17 February, 2020. The overall objective of this initiative is to further support local and national governments in reducing social and economic losses, and to accelerate the recovery process through educational facility repairs and reconstruction.
Photo credits: EU4 Schools
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