Changing the World One Story at a Time
Albanian Talk Show Host Uses Her Voice for Empowerment
Albanian radio host Veko realized that she couldn’t let her blindness hold her back from her dreams. With her iron will and some training from USAID, she’s overcome many obstacles to create a successful radio show.
American public radio has its share of famous and beloved talk show hosts like Diane Rehm and Kojo Nnamdi. Albania has their equal — Ervehe Tushe, better known as “Veko,” who writes, produces and broadcasts the interviews and life stories of Albanians, gives her listeners the daily news, and catches their interest and imagination with features, announcements and reviews of events.
Tushe also happens to be blind — a result of a childhood accident.
After graduating from college, Tushe was uncertain about her life and what to do next. Then, in 2012, she attended specialized coaching for job seekers with disabilities. She became one of the 482 people who have benefited from this USAID-supported program implemented by the Albanian Disability Rights Foundation.
“The coaching gave me confidence,” she said.
After sending in her resume and sample voice recording, Tushe interviewed at one of Tirana’s biggest radio stations. She was hired on the spot.
“I sometimes wonder how I did it,” she said.
Her background provides some clues. Abandoned as a child, Tushe found herself in a loving foster family, learning through audio-books, and recognizing that she could remain sheltered and dependent or take the extra difficult road to independence. Her iron will has also helped her accomplish her successes.
Her next goal, she says, is to own a radio station.
Tushe is becoming a leading activist and voice for others. She is one of 20 women with disabilities in Albania to be part of an in-country leadership training program that grew out of the 2015 Women’s Institute on Leadership and Disability Training-of-Trainers Program, which was supported by USAID and NGO partner Mobility International USA.
With a population of nearly 140,000 citizens with disabilities (about 5 percent of the total population) Albania requires that 4 percent of all jobs be filled by people with disabilities, a requirement under the 1995 employment promotion law that has not yet been met.
USAID stands behind the Albanian Disability Rights Foundation as it influences new and improved legislation on behalf of people with disabilities, and supports legal reform of vocational training to meet the best international guidelines and practices. The foundation also conducted and published the first assessment of Albania’s employment policies and laws in 2010, and has measured their enforcement.
The foundation’s close collaboration with Albania’s National Employment Service and its regional labor offices has been key to the success and sustainability of the USAID program’s efforts to match job seekers with receptive businesses. There are promising signs that the partnership will help mainstream the program.
In April 2014, for the first time, the Government of Albania released a special fund that supports businesses that employ people with disabilities by subsidizing their salaries and contributions to social security and providing them with reasonable accommodation, which means adapting the work environment and offering accessible transport. To date, 24 businesses have accessed this special fund.
“Providing employment service to job-seeking persons with disability is a complex issue, but jointly we are changing and improving,” said Brikena Nallbani from the National Employment Service.
About the Authors
Judith Robinson is the Desk Officer for USAID/Albania, and Stephanie A. Pepi is the Development Outreach and Communications Officer for USAID/Albania.
