(ANS – Tirana) – The economic activities managed throughout 2012 by Drita, Arjeta, Stela, Zina and Gjystina, women involved in projects supported by the Salesian “Volunteer Movement for Development” (VIS) in northern Albania, have won them recognition as “Successful business women in the rural area” from the Albanian Ministry of Agriculture and the UN body for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).

The Award Ceremony took place in Tirana on 27 December last.

Regard for remote but incomparable mountain villages, promotion of simple but genuine typical produce and building up latent business sense has been the field of activity for a very large team – part of a three year plan by VIS known as “The rural development project in Kelmend and Shkrel municipalities, in the districts of Malesia and Madhe, northern Albania”. Now that this plan has run its course, its well-deserved success can be seen.

UN Women and the Albanian Ministry of Agriculture chose to reward innovation and strong female business sense. In these rural areas they found not only serious socio-economic but also cultural obstacles to be overcome. The Award, then, has a double significance and value: against poverty and discrimination.

The work carried out by VIS in the mountainous region of northern Albania has always had these aims: fighting poverty by helping people to create economic activity which can lead families out of a context of constant financial aid and to give a voice to socially disadvantaged groups, in this case young women who have to experience violation of their rights on a daily basis.

Published 23/01/2013