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After several years of investigation and enquiry as to exactly what kind of Summer Programme would be appropriate in this remote mountain corner of Europe, our pilot project, has already created a great deal of excitement, especially in the hope that it will grow year by year, and revive a community which once knew harmony across the borders into Montenegro and Kosovo/a.

Project Area: Thethi National Park, northern Albania

Background: Whilst this area is one of Europe’s most stunning mountain regions, and with one of the most distinctive cultural landscapes, it suffers from a wide range of socio and economic problems. Of particular concern in connection with this project are:
• A very high level of depopulation, with (mostly younger) people from the local communities leaving for the urban centers of Tirana due to the lack of educational and employment opportunity.
• A poor level of environmental awareness and protection.
Proposal: To address these issues, and as part of a wider program of projects for the area within the proposed Balkans Peace Park area, the BPPP intends to run a summer education programme, based in the state school in Thethi, over a period of 2 months during the summer of 2008 (primarily aimed at the younger generations within the Thethi region, but with modules for adult education as well) with the purpose of:
• providing English language skills with an emphasis on phrases that would be useful in communicating with visitors to the area. As a pilot project the intention is to build on this in future years and extend it to other villages in the region, especially with a view to promoting peace across the borders of the Balkans Peace Park, where there is no common language, and English serves as the lingua franca.
• working towards exchanges in the other regions of the Balkans Peace Park, to enhance peacebuilding measures, particularly in supporting the youth of Kosovo/a, who, lacking diplomatic representation, too often miss out on international opportunities available to the youth of other nations.
• promoting awareness of the local environment and the issues concerning environmental protection and the promotion of environmental activism, with a particular focus on the responsibilities of young people in the communities.
• exploring the potential for sustainable tourism within the region by developing the capacity and infrastructure within the local communities accepting visitors.
• addressing the problem of depopulation in the mountainous communities in and around the Thethi valley by providing local educational opportunities and promoting the development of new economic activity via sustainable tourism.

The Thethi area of northern Albania is one of the most stunningly beautiful areas of wilderness in Europe. It is a region that exemplifies the troubled histories of the south Balkan region, with debates about politics and ethnicity still only partially resolved. It is also one of the remotest corners of Europe, one that hosts it own distinctive cultural landscapes. Indeed, it is the only place in southern Europe where a tribal socio-political organization survived well into the last century. It is an area that historically has attracted foreign travellers, and has enormous capacity – and the necessary will to host small-scale modern tourism (visitors interested in traditional lifestyles sampling local organic food, walking, hiking, etc.) But the area suffers, from a number of significant problems.
Depopulation. Due to the lack of educational and economic opportunities in the mountain communities, there has been, over the last 10 years a massive problem of depopulation, with inhabitants (particularly the young) leaving their home communities to search for work in the main urban centers of Tirana and Skhoder.

Environmental Degradation. Although an area of outstanding beauty, this region has also suffered significant environmental damage over the last 20 years. Despite being a protected area, the lack of authority or will of government and the economic poverty of the region led to many actions that have seriously infringed upon the environment. Growth in the numbers of foreign visitors during the summer months puts increased pressure on the environment and local resources, particularly due to issues of waste disposal.

Adult Programme:

The Adult Programme will focus on enabling the participants to address the needs and interests of visitors (whether from across the BPPP borders, or further afield), by providing some very basic English instruction, and a chance to voice what further skills they would like to continue to develop in the future. Some of the workshops will be focused discussions (in Albanian) on, for example, standards in both prices and goods and services (a subject which can too often lead to misunderstanding and dispute); and on environmental action. A special need in this region, where central government no longer provides the most essential needs (for example, there is no health care facility) is the possibility to cultivate the rights as well as the responsibilities of citizens, enhancing citizenship and good governance. It is a fertile valley – magnificent organic food is locally produced. Other workshops will focus on marketing local produce and crafts (e.g. wood-carved and woven goods).

We already have the very strong endorsement of the Shkodra Commune, of the head of the Shkodra Region, Dr. Gjovalin Kolombi, of the head of the Shkodra Region Education Department, and of the Shkodra Region the National Parks Department and of the Rector of the Luigj Gjurkuqi University of Shkodra

Additional personnel already committed:

Mark Rupa (Summer Programme Co-ordinator); Cartographer and environmentalist, and a native of Thethi, Albania, trained in Germany, will organize and facilitate the summer programme in Thethi. Mark Rupa’s contacts with individuals living in this area and in Shkoder, Albania, etc., as well as his expertise are most valuable.

Alan Hulme, Ranger Services Manager and Paul Sheehan, Access Ranger, senior Rangers of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority have generously offered to visit Thethi and Valbona to spend one week in the Albanian Alps, developing the Summer Programme at several levels (children, adults, organizational), both with very practical workshops and discussions for present activity and taking forward discussion of a much longer term close collaboration. Additionally, they plan to participate in a trek from Thethi to Valbona.

Sokol Bushgjokaj and Aferdita Prroni of the NGO Environmental Centre VALBONA- ECV will also be conducting a similar, congruent summer programme (in summer 2008) in the Tropoja District of Albania, which lies in a nearby section of the Balkans Peace Park.

Mario Delia, a private business owner and former accountant (1998-2006) in the economic sector of the Thethi (Commune of Shala), will work on distribution of materials advertising and detailing the schedule of the summer school programme, at the local school and centres, and will collaborate with local teachers.

Atrita Ferketi, Director of the Shkodër Region Department of Education, has given her full support for the Programme, and written permission to use the school building and facilities. She also hopes to be present at the final ceremony.

Dr. John Holmes, Department of Education, Leeds University, UK, will lead drama workshops.

Prof. Mahir Hoti, Rector of LJ Shkodër University, gives his very strong support for the Programme. As a former Headmaster of Thethi school he has a particular interest in its development. He has offered to participate in the awarding of certificates to students completing the Programme.

Petrit Imeraj, Director of the environmental NGO, Preservation of the Forests and Green Environment, and the Balkans Peace Park Information Centre, both based in Shkodra, will take responsibility for environmental awareness training.

Abbey Radis, BPPP Assistant, based in USA; BA in French and International Relations- Bucknell University, Pennsylvania, USA; Abbey is assisting with the development of the summer programme, and recruitment of volunteers.

Alma Shkreli, graduate in English language from Shkodra University, and an experienced organizer, will also assist with the development of the summer programme. Alma Shkreli is currently pursuing an MA in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution at Sabanci University in Istanbul (June 08). She is an advisor, and will be in Thethi in the last two weeks.

Peter and Mary Spafford, professional writers for TV and radio, will be available for 2-3 weeks, working on creating a permanent record of the Summer Programme.

Angelika Temper, Consultant with the Austrian Montenegrin Cooperation, will discuss the development of mountain guide training for young adults for future years, hold round table discussions surrounding environmental issues, and the identification of the economic and other benefits of environmental preservation for adults in the local community.

Prof. Arjeta Troshani, Dean of Economic Faculty at Shkodra University, with one of her recently graduated students, will hold weekend workshops on marketing sustainable tourism.

Todd Walters, Director of Experiential Peacebuilding- Center for Peacebuilding International; Facilitator at Hemlock Overlook Center for Experiential Education, US; Independent Contractor and Strategic Media Planner at Carat Brand Experience; Todd will serve as an international coordinator throughout the summer programme, and will facilitate the development of a cross-border experiential peacebuilding initiative. Todd will work with Mark Rupa in co-ordinating the whole Programme.

Additionally, we already have the full complement of native-English speaking volunteer teachers of English, Albanian graduate students to instruct on environmental awareness and interpreters to ensure complete understanding between locals and visitors.