Completion of the First Phase of the Project_Boosting Employability via Social Mentoring in Albania

Tirana, June 7, 2024 – The Gender Alliance for Development Center (GADC) successfully organized the closing meeting of the first phase of the project "Boosting Employability via Social Mentoring in Albania", a part of the Regional Project for Social Inclusion of Disadvantaged Groups in the Western Balkans, supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The activity brought together professionals, representatives of public and private institutions, as well as project beneficiaries.

This innovative project, which was implemented for the first time in Albania by GADC, aimed to build the capacities of 10 Social Mentors. During its cycle, these mentors empowered and mentored more than 20 women and men from disadvantaged social groups, helping them integrate into the labor market.

In this activity, the results of Social Mentoring and its impact in Albania were presented, emphasizing cooperation with public and private institutions as well as individual success stories. The Social Mentoring methodology trains professionals such as social workers and psychologists to work with people excluded from the labor market, mentoring them in a long-term process of finding and starting a job, strengthening self-confidence and soft skills, and overcoming administrative hurdles.

The meeting moderated by Mrs. Mirela Arqimandriti, Executive Director of GADC, started with welcoming words from Mrs. Bardha Celaj from GIZ and Mrs. Klimentina Ilijevski, labor market expert and Executive Director of PUBLIC from North Macedonia. The following presentations included information on the extent of Social Mentoring in the Western Balkans by Mr. Nebojsa Ilijevski, as well as the achievements of the project in Albania presented by Mrs. Katerina Mojanchevska.

The cooperation with local institutions was also emphasized by Mrs. Anisa Subashi, General Director of Social Services in Tirana, Mrs. Klotilda Koka from the Directorate of the Tirana Employment Office, also adding discussions from the representative of the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination, Mrs. Brunilda Menalla.

One of the most important moments of the meeting was the certification ceremony for Social Mentors, where 10 trained professionals were certified by the program verified by the Ministry of Education and Science of North Macedonia. The event concluded with discussions on follow-up and plans for the future.

GADC thanks everyone for their support and cooperation for the success of this project and expresses its commitment to continue with other initiatives to improve social and economic inclusion in Albania.

 

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