We are a group of Albanian professionals currently living and working abroad and active members of Diaspora për Shqipërinë e Lirë, an organization bringing together Albanians across the world who remain deeply committed to Albania’s social and democratic development.

While our careers and life decisions have taken us abroad, our hearts and minds remain deeply connected to our homeland Albania. We believe that one of the most meaningful contributions we can make back to Albania is not charity, but opportunities.

In Albania, there are many brilliant young women with the potential to become doctors, engineers, researchers, enterpreneurs and leaders. And while financial hardship is not the only barrier holding them back, it is often the one barrier we can help lower. By easing this burden, we can help talented girls stay in education, focus on their studies, and pursue their ambitions with dignity and confidence.

As members of the Albanian diaspora, this is something concrete and impactful we can do: invest in human potential, reduce structural barriers, and contribute to a more just and resilient future for Albania.

Therefore, inspired by the legacy of Sevasti Qiriazi, pioneer of Albanian education and tireless advocate for girls’ right to learn, we are launching the Sevasti Qiriazi Scholarship to carry her mission forward into the present day.

How the scholarship works

Our initial fundraising target is €6,000, allowing us to support four students starting their academic year in 2026.

Governance, transparency, and accountability

Beneficiaries will be selected through a clear, merit-based process, considering academic performance, financial need, and motivation.

A small oversight committee composed of Albanian diaspora professionals will be responsible for managing the scholarship selection process and overseeing the allocation of funds. The committee will operate based on clear, predefined criteria and collective decision-making to ensure fairness, integrity, and accountability.

To further strengthen transparency, an informative webpage will be published, providing detailed information about the scholarship, selection criteria, governance structure, and use of funds. This information will be accessible to both donors and the wider public.

Our goal is to establish a transparent and credible process that not only builds trust with donors and beneficiaries but also serves as a practical example for other community-based initiatives and NGOs. By openly sharing our approach, we aim to contribute to higher standards of transparency and trust across civil society organizations.

Of course, donors will receive regular updates, including anonymized impact stories and transparent reporting on how funds are used.

A modest beginning with lasting impact

To be honest, none of us has done this before. For that reason, this initiative is intentionally modest in scale but ambitious in impact. It is designed to start small and grow over time, based on trust, results, and community engagement.

By supporting this scholarship, you are not just helping a student pay fees. You are helping a young woman remain in education, build confidence, and envision a future in which she can give back to her country in return.

Help us turn potential into progress.

Because when you educate a girl, you are not only changing one life, you are investing in the future of Albania.