Community of Uzina needs help!

Hapësira Kulturore Uzina Official Website
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Why are we asking for funds?
Hapësira Kulturore Uzina was built in an abandoned tractor factory. The building has a surface of nearly 1000 square meters and a very high ceiling. Putting this place in a good shape requires a lot of money. Since the space is run only by a group of young volunteers, our financial capacity is very limited, thus the reason behind crowdfunding.

We plan to use the funds for:
- Fixing the roof so it won't leak inside the building when it rains.
- Fixing the draining system of the terrace.
- Building walls and fences in order to make the place safer from burglaries and vandalism.
- Fixing some of the windows and buy new ones to protect from rain and cold.
- Finish a wooden house that is half built, that we call "the box", that would serve as our haven during winter.
- Buy equipment and furniture for "the box" such as chairs, desks, teaching boards, sound system etc.


Who are we?
We’re a group of volunteers from Tirana, the capital city of Albania, who have risen to the challenge of giving function to an old industrial building by transforming it into a social-cultural center.
What was built in 1978 as a combined auto & tractor factory has been transformed into our haven today; a place where we can strengthen common  efforts to assess and meet the needs of youngsters, artists, marginalized communities, etc.
This urban space is a space of the commons- a space of social interaction and where resources are collectively owned or shared between or among  communities. Uzina is held in common, by and for the community.



What do we do?
We are multi-purposed. The activities and events that occur in the center are run by different people for different audiences.
This space is open for artists who are looking for an audience, for BBQ Sundays, slam poetry clubs, interdisciplinary workshops, etc.
With our building being positioned at an area of factory buildings and social housing projects where vulnerable communities are trying to get ahead, we are physically close to the issues we want to work on and see improvement in and we have already seen the positive impact on the people, especially the children, coming each day to Uzina.



How did we get here?
In the beginning of July 2019, with the help of three other NGOs, “Toestand vzw” from Belgium, “Social Cultural Space Tetova” from North Macedonia and “Termokiss” from Kosovo, we adapted and repurposed this former factory during the span of 10 days into our space of commons. This project was done by participatory design, in all its stages, from brainstorming to construction.
Almost a year before the repurposing of the building, people from the Tirana crew searched, walked and biked around the city to find an appropriate building and community spot, held open meetings encouraging everyone to join and help, being persistent and holding on to the dream and vision of working for social improvement and the empowerment of the people of Tirana.
Around a hundred volunteers got to be part of a powerful experience, as we got to learn more about construction, DIY culture, managing a center, got to work together and share experiences, as well as create meaningful bonds with each other.
And at the end of the Erasmus+ backed project, our dream became a reality by transforming an empty and abandoned factory into a functioning space.


What do we need ?
Now we are in urgent need of funds as winter is approaching and fall rains are already weighing in on the building.
Given the conditions of this place, we are in danger of having to stop our activities for a long time, while what we have built, such as the provisional doors and windows, the internal rooms and the cube, might get ruined if they are not protected correctly.
The budget and timeframe of the “Tirana International Project” led by “Toestand”, only allowed for main major works to be carried out, while plenty still remains to be done, that is why we still have a ton of reconstruction work left to do, such as providing lights, running water and working
toilets, fully closed walls, finishing the so called “the cube”, creating and maintaining the garden, etc.

We are facing a tremendous challenge, while we want to carry out and facilitate community work, art projects etc., that is why we are asking for your help!
We encourage you to join us on our journey to betterment.
You can help us by donating any amount, for which we would be extremely grateful, as well as by spreading the word with your friends and sharing this on social media.

This building is important for many of us, so please support us and join us on pushing forward our dream.

Thank you!