DAY 41: Inspiring Practices, Impact for Development
By Ermira Pirdeni and Albanian Society for All Ages (ASAG), Lezha, Albania, 14 October 2017
To make Albania a better place for All Ages
Contribution of Rural Women to Development
ASAG was honored to host the event ‘Inspiring practices, impact for development’ in the framework of ‘100 DAYS OF LEARNING’.
The overriding theme of the Meeting is „Participation“
Artistic Center ‘My business’ or ‘Artistike Zadrima’ in Lezha (northern coastal city in Albania), was the venue of our activity. The Center is run by an elderly woman Mrs. Tereze Gega, whose primary objective is to empower women through employment and professional formation. She passes to younger women the tradition of handcraft through the production of souvenirs and memorabilia, which this center has successfully introduced in local and foreign market.
During our activity, Mrs. Teresa emphasized the crucial role that women in age play in ensuring the sustainability of rural households and communities, improving rural livelihoods and overall wellbeing, and building resilience in society. The participants then discussed on the structural barriers and discriminatory social norms which continue to constrain women’s decision-making power in rural households and communities. Women and girls in rural areas lack equal access to productive resources and assets, public services, such as education, training, infrastructure, while much of their labor remains invisible and unpaid, even as their workloads become increasingly heavy due to the out-migration of men.
Our learning day was a multidimensional day as ASAG organized a group with 20 people with different ages aiming to involve a broader spectrum of persons, varying in culture and age. Throughout our meeting, a constant intergenerational dialogue took place, which could be likened to passing of the ‘baton’ from those who have acquired experience to those who face the future.
As Mrs. Tereza extended further on her business practices and goals, she focused on the importance of employment as a tool to solve people’s problems. Teamwork increased creativity and productivity as suddenly people realized new possibilities such as the growth of the silkworm. More women got involved, thus ending their unemployment and introducing them to a more productive lifestyle. In Mrs Tereza’s words: “If you remove the personal profit motive and think only about solving problems, you will suddenly see many possibilities; make sure it really solves people’s problems. You will also learn a lot about yourself by doing it. ”Our activity focused on how older generations can guide the younger ones and use their drive to transform our society for the better. The question: “Why youth?” resonated, and through dialogue we discovered that youths’ minds are open, they possess a lot of energy, they understand technology, and they are eager to do something significant.
“No barriers based on age”
Tereza’s Imprint: I work hard and I’m not rich! If getting money leads to happiness, making other happy people leads to super-happiness. For me, this economic activity is the most creative way to be happy, to enjoy life. I am happy to share my story with you, a fantastic intergenerational group. I believe the drive of these extraordinary men and women will slowly, but certainly bring about social change.
The fruitful collaboration of ASAG with Mrs. Flutra Xhabija / President of Albanian National, Professional, Businesswomen and Crafts Association, allowed us to engage with women such as Mrs. Teresa, whose contributions in their communities are cushioning the stark poverty that affects many rural areas in Albania. Through work and productivity these woman are transforming their families and giving a chance to the younger generations to enhance their knowledge and abilities.
Many extraordinary stories were highlighted during our meeting. A hidden transformation is taking place, unreported by the media, women entrepreneurs are increasingly stepping in, in an adverse environment, in order to solve the problems where governments and bureaucracies have failed and with determination and innovation.
Women of all ages traveled from Tirana to Lezha, in order to visit and experience the lifestyle of rural women first hand. How these women convey skills to younger generations, so that traditions and craftwork may produce sustainable models, which will then guarantee the degree to which each generation benefit from each other.
The participant in our activity were of different backgrounds: actor, teachers, journalist, students, public health economist, social activists, pharmacist, etc. Their fascination with the simplicity of rural livelihoods and the strong community bond that they forge was undeniable. This report aims to convey their impressions and lessons learnt.
At the end of the activity all the participants visited the bio restaurant ‘Diella’ in the Vain-Kuin lagoon which is run by a relentless woman, whose dedication to local cuisine and outstanding care in the farming have synthetized in a brand that is recognized and awed by the tourists who visit the area. We followed her during the preparation of the lunch and were amazed by the simplicity and care she showed in her profession.
All participants expressed acknowledgement and gratitude towards the Age Wonderland, for making this activity possible and for promoting learning throughout the world directly affecting and bringing diverse cultures together through creativity, productivity and global challenges.
We need innovation that is not merely ‘best’ practice but ‘next’ practice.True inclusive innovation should bring a smile on the face of each citizen of the world, not just privileged few — Dr. R. A. Mashelkar
Impressions from activity
THE WORKPLACE IS MY HOME
(Impressions from a small handicraft business)
As part of the ongoing projects of ASAG, I was fortunate to visit a handicraft center for traditional Albanian clothing. For Albanians, tradition is one of the things that is still preserved as a sacred thing. The first impression is fantastic! The various combinations of costumes and handicrafts are amazing and at the same time turns me back through centuries…
There are not more than 5 women and girls accompanying us throughout the workshop explaining the work processes and details of the centuries-old mastery they inherited. It seems like the entire cultural heritage of the Albanians passes through the silk threads. Teresa Gega, the “heroine” of this micro business starts to talk with us and explains how everything has begun. Through all the difficulties, it shows how it has managed to transform national culture into a pride and profitable business. With the help of the programs and the assistance of some NPOs, in the eyes of Teresa, she expresses her gratitude and thankfulness for her work.
As an economist, I tried to find elements from the classic economics. I was looking at elements of capital, work and technology, calculating the approximate cost and revenues you can get. Yet, I realized that the bigger capital were those women. The whole philosophy of this business was created by this human capital and knowledge of artisanship. There was no regular promotions and marketing, you could not find monthly strategies and goals. All you could get was the great spirit of the workers and the mission to revive the national heritage through promoting business.
There was no incentive by the government for this business. Under a real pressure to work, I realized that the workplace was their home. Teresa and her colleagues had linked their lives to this business. If we love work and move on from passion, we can achieve the greatest values. And so it should be!!!
Blisard Zani, Msc (Economist)
Speak up, the poverty is not created by poor people!
By Enkelejda Elbasani, DS, MPH/Journalist, News Anchor RTSH (National TV) elbasanieda@gmail.com
It was a beautiful Saturday morning, when as part of a group of nearly 20 friends, parted to Lezha. Knowing some things, heard and read about the golden-handed Teresa Gega, and her artisanal job, I was looking forward to meet in person this marvelous woman, who work with devotion to keep alive the tradition and who created by herself the special dresses for Pope Francis and the accompanying delegation through His visit to Tirana three years ago.
As we arrive a small house appears, and a smiley lady welcomes us at her atelier. We remain impressed by the beauty of so many traditional dresses, which we couldn`t help but trying some of the vests. Seemed like we went through back to the roots of where we belong. It`s all handmade, beginning to the textile, in different colors made in “vegjë”- the working tool to prepare the fabric in silk and cotton to the embroideries with gold thread and little peaces of pearls and sequins… a real peace of art!
An interview with the lady, who created all from just her work, to the employment of many house-working ladies of the zone, creating for them the possibility to gain something and to be part of a common investment.
Eda: Dear Teresa, thank you for welcoming us today, and allowed us to try on all these pieces of art you`ve created with such love and devotion!
Teresa Gega: Be my guests. It`s my pleasure to welcome you all!
Eda: From how long now you`ve been working on creating the traditional costumes and all this enterprise?
Teresa: It all begun back to 1993. The idea was to work and to gain something from selling them. I remember the first fair I`ve been part. It was just a table with my work in a corner. It was all sold out! That moment I understood I had to keep working harder. Now we`re talking, my whole family is evolved in the business. Also here with me there are 6 women, real professionals on artisanal work, but there are also over 20 other women, working from home, women who can`t leave there houses for different reasons, who live even far from here.
Eda: Seems like very profitable business! How successful it is?
Teresa: Successful? Yes, our work has made us very reach at our soul and heart! But we work for very little money! The state doesn`t take care at all about the little businesses, our work is threatened by the taxes and economic constrains which are too much for us not to mention the illegal competition. But to other hand all we create, is filled with love and dedication so for every peace we sell we give and take very much of this.
Eda: Hadn`t you had any help in all these years?
Teresa: Well, a special thank you goes for Flutura Xhabija, the President of Albanian National Professional, businesswoman and craft`s association. She has been a great help, all the way through to direct us in the market through promotion skills, and how to better understand the laws and directing and supporting us through our work. Also the Head of the Catholic Church, through spiritual support and encouragement, giving us strength on our work through all the difficulties.
Eda: Can you please distinguish a special moment in your work?
Teresa: It has been such a great emotion to deliver the outfit the Pope Francis and his people dressed, in the case of His historical visit to Albania three years ago! A work done with such love, devotion and dedication.
Eda: Is there some plan or idea to further develop and strengthen your work, to give possibilities even to the young generation to learn the skills of preserving the tradition and to pass it through generations?
Teresa: We would love to open a school, for 6 months to one year courses to teach to everyone who`s interested the secrets of our craft. The state must help us with this. To the hand, soft loans will be really helpful to young entrepreneurships, donators who might support them, the markets finding in the country and abroad, etc.
Eda: Have you developed collaborations for orders to nearby countries?
Teresa: Yes. There are two shops in Milan and Bologna, Italy. We sell baby slings prepared from our strong and soft fabrics, in different colors and designs. But those are bough in very low prices from us, sold in salty prices there. We must have our own shops in the nearby countries. The handmade job is requested. To the other hand the beauty of our traditional costumes, might be an inspiration for the hot couture also. Albanian traditional costumes are so colorful, so marvelous, real pieces of art.
Eda: Where do you take the silk you use for the fabric material?
Teresa: We cultivate the silkworms. We take the silk from those nests from which comes out a beautiful butterfly, which gives us the eggs also. We preserve the eggs to have more worms, so those will make the silk nest and we can take 700 m silk threat from one of them.
Eda: Dear Teresa, thank you for your interview! Congratulations and successes to your noble work
Teresa: Thank you all for coming and visiting.
Writing these lines of this interview to my mind come the words of Muhammad Yunus, the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner, founder of the Greeming Bank, expressed in an interview for the News York Times, 10 October 2017, “Poverty is not created by poor people,” he says. “It’s created by the system we built. Poor people are like a bonsai tree. You take the best seed from the tallest tree in the forest, but if you put it in a flowerpot to grow, it grows only a meter high. There’s nothing wrong with the seed. The problem is the size of the pot. Society doesn’t give poor people the space to grow as tall as everybody else. This is the crux of the matter”…
All the credits to ASAG, the Society For all Ages, and it`s Director Ermira Pirdeni, to whom I`ve been collaborating and working for 11 years now, who made us together, as many times alike, and who gave me the inspiration to open even my own center, which is still a baby in fact “Speak up”, but being together with all the other centers and societies who work for the civil society rights, and specifically women empowerment of all ages, we can together have a strong and powerful voice!
Towards the Vain-Kuin Lagoon for Lunch
