One of the pearls of southern Albania, known as the “City of Roses,” Përmeti carries amazing values, traditions, culture, and beauty. In antiquity, the city built near the banks of Vjosa was known as Trifilia. The Municipality of Përmet takes great pride in its rich history, with Frashëri village standing out as a testament to this heritage. It is renowned as the birthplace of the influential Albanian Renaissance figures, the Frashëri brothers: Sami, Abdyl, and Naim.
The Municipality of Përmet has prioritized supporting young people as an endless source of energy. The project “Improve access to public services for the empowerment of youth in Përmet (IN-YEP)” aims to contribute to the well-being of young people by improving public infrastructure and increasing the quality and accessibility of services.
The “Ollga Shuraja” Youth Center has been reconstructed, benefiting 326 young people in the Municipality of Përmet. The Municipality of Përmet accomplished the reconstruction with the financial support of the European Union through the “EU for Municipalities” grant scheme. The total budget dedicated to the project is 180,000.00 euros, of which 162,000.00 euros are the contribution of the European Union.
Through the renovation of the building, new public spaces specifically designed for youth have been established. The project aims to promote the creativity, talents, and economic empowerment of young people in this municipality through improved infrastructure and additional services. Mayor Permet Alma Hoxha is grateful for the support, which has enabled the enhancement of facilities and the provision of new services for the benefit of the youth.
Mayor Alma Hoxha stressed the vital importance of not only rebuilding the structure but also revitalizing it. “The center is currently operational and is managed by the young people of Përmet themselves, who continue to grow in numbers and contribute increasingly innovative ideas”, says Hoxha.
Today, the “Ollga Shuraja” Youth Center offers seven public services for youth.
Megi Ibrahimi, Chair of the Local Youth Council, is thrilled to see the Youth Center open its doors to all the young people of Përmet. She describes it as a place where ideas and perspectives come together, skills are developed, and free time in the afternoons is filled with enjoyable activities. Megi Ibrahimi expresses gratitude for being allowed to be part of this process.
The project consisted not only of the reconstruction of the “Ollga Shuraja” Youth Center but also of the training and support of the youth center staff and the organization of informative, entertaining, awareness-raising, and educational activities for young people. The Career Counseling Office is now up and running, helping people with their career needs.
Denisa Mamillo, Project Manager in the Municipality of Përmet, emphasizes that the construction of a youth center and the improvement of the quality of services have been constant requests of the youth of Përmet.
The successful attainment of the project in the inaugural “EU for Municipalities” call marked the fulfillment of this request. Our gratitude goes to the “EU for Municipalities” team for their steadfast assistance throughout the project’s implementation, recognizing that a well-implemented project catalyzes the development and execution of subsequent EU projects,” emphasized Denisa Mamillo.
Thanks to the project, five youth startups were established, supported by experts through legal, managerial, and financial consulting. Meanwhile, five members of the municipal staff were trained in youth issues. However, activities were developed on issues closely related to the European Union, with the active participation of youngsters.
Investing in youth is one of the most important strategies for the long-term development of a country. Youth represents energy, creativity, and the potential for change and progress. To fully harness this potential, it is crucial to allocate resources to education, healthcare, job prospects, and social integration for the youth.
