Italy Tells Permet
Un modello di sviluppo rurale replicabile in tutta l'Albania.
Un modello di sviluppo rurale replicabile in tutta l'Albania.
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italy<br />
tells<br />
përmet<br />
culture nature hospitality food quality
culture<br />
nature<br />
hospitality<br />
food quality<br />
Përmet is a European town in the South of Albania. Its community is made<br />
up of European people, even if Albania hasn’t joined the European Union yet.<br />
<strong>Italy</strong> can tell you its story.<br />
20 years ago Përmet was a municipality of a troubled country. Common citizens<br />
had a dream: escape. Still, they were embraced by an astonishing Nature<br />
and had the proud of a strong popular Culture. Everything started from them.<br />
In 1997, after the collapse of the financial pyramids and the explotion of<br />
violent revolts, <strong>Italy</strong> leaded the International Operation Alba to sustain the<br />
Albanian Institutions and population at risk. Too much weapons engulfed the<br />
streets. Many boys were shooting for fun and many girls were sleeping on the<br />
floor to avoid bullets entering from the window. Everyone understood military<br />
operations were not enough to get over the conflict. The Italian Government<br />
increased the number of Development Cooperation initiaves.<br />
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Mountains embraced Përmet, with snow in winter, woods in summer. The<br />
town was safer then Vlora, Tirana or Durres. Emigration and crime were<br />
desperate solutions against poverty, but a rural rebirth was clearly possible.<br />
In 1997 the Ngo Cesvi, funded by the Italian Cooperation, started working<br />
in the South of Albania focusing on the emergency sector: health care, water<br />
and sanitation, assistance to the refugees from Kosovo. In 2004, Cesvi became<br />
officially a local association: Cesvi Albania.<br />
“Living side by side, people for people,<br />
Italians and Albanians on the ground<br />
had a new dream: change.”<br />
The assets of the area haven’t changed. Përmet had natural beauty to discover,<br />
food tradition to taste, welcoming people to meet. Treasures to rely on. But too<br />
many times Albanians had been brothers of foreigners, foreigners of brothers.<br />
In 20 years of Cooperation with <strong>Italy</strong>, Përmet, around 10.000 citizens, has<br />
proved to have a partecipatory, active and creative community. The number of<br />
tourists is steadily increasing. It raised up to 25.000 in 2018. At the beginning,<br />
citizens desired to leave, now international travellers plan to visit the region.<br />
It wasn’t as easy, as talk. Together we walked, following a shared path. The<br />
Italian Cooperation funded the creation of a Consortium: Pro Përmet. Families<br />
and small private companies joined in, bringing traditional know how<br />
and innate proactivity. Cesvi, No Profit associations and the municipalities of<br />
Përmet and Kelcyre were part of it. Also Italian partners, like Slow Food, Local<br />
Action Groups and Responsible Tourism associations contributed with their<br />
best practises and know how. A local develpment strategy for the region was<br />
approved.
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Grants and microcredits have been released, for new public infrastractures,<br />
start-ups, new machineries and capacity building. Now Përmet has new guesthouses,<br />
better hotels and restaurants, stronger small companies in the food<br />
sector, new associations for outdoor touristic activities. Everything was made<br />
through a equal partecipatory model.<br />
Nothing could have been possible without the women and men of Përmet. 25<br />
small entrepreneurs and more then 50 among products and services have been<br />
awarded with the ethical mark Made With <strong>Italy</strong>, conceived and owned by the<br />
Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Albania. In the near future,<br />
tens of Përmet typical products will be distributed and promoted, along with<br />
touristic services.<br />
Nothing could be possible without the enhancement of the environmental and<br />
cultural heritage of the region and improving the quality of public services.<br />
<strong>Italy</strong> sustained the reconstruction of the multifunctional centers of Kelcyre and<br />
Përmet. The University of Florence will complete 3D mapping and restoration<br />
of cultural heritage in the villages of Benje, Kosine and Leusa. A management<br />
plan for the Protected Areas of Bredhi i Hotoves has been outlined. New<br />
infrastructures have been and will be created. Tourism packages promoted.<br />
A new One Stop Shop digitalizes and simplifies public services for citizens.<br />
The Government of Albania, European Union, UNDP and the International<br />
Cooperations are part of this community of change.<br />
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Today the Consortium Pro Përmet works for the development of the<br />
area as a European Local Action Group. As soon as the Law on the<br />
Leader Approach is approved by the Goverment of Albania, they may<br />
start applying for European funds. They may well received them. <strong>Italy</strong><br />
supported the Albanian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development<br />
in writing the Law. 2019 is the year to act, approve Law and ByLaws and<br />
open a new door of integration for Albanian citizens.<br />
“Përmet is a European town to discover.”
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Credits:<br />
Ernesto Spinelli.<br />
Texts, Communication Management<br />
Kube Studios.<br />
Creative Agency, Executive Production, Photography & Design<br />
Special thanks to:<br />
Embassy of <strong>Italy</strong> in Tirana<br />
Cesvi<br />
Municipality of Përmet<br />
Municipality of Këlcyrë<br />
Pro Përmet<br />
Slow Food Përmet<br />
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More on aicstirana.org<br />
and visitpermet.org