Three Investments Intended for the Youth of Puka

Three youth investments were recently inaugurated in the Municipality of Puka. The Innovation Center is the latest public educational service of the municipality, created with the help of European Union funds through the #EU4Municipalities grant scheme. Capacity-building programs are offered to enhance youth’s entrepreneurial and communication skills in ICT. The sports center and the gym at Migjeni School have also been renovated. The following infrastructure serves as a provider of services for approximately 800 children and young adults who are residents of the municipality and its administrative units.

Marie Augouy, the Program Manager for Regional and Local Government at the European Union Delegation, highlighted the significance of municipalities’ preparedness to receive EU funds while Albania prepares to join the EU. Augouy announced that the European Union will continue to support the Albanian municipalities through infrastructure investment and capacity building. “The European Union supports and will continue to support Albanian municipalities through investments in infrastructure, but also through capacity building, where human resources are an important chain,” said Augouy.

During his speech, Puka Mayor Rrok Dodaj emphasized the importance of improving the skills of the municipal staff. Furthermore, he urged the European Union to continue investing in Puka, particularly for its goal of becoming a popular tourist destination.

Referring to the EU investment of about 200,000 Euros in the Municipality of Puka, according to Adelina Farrici, the Executive Director of the Association for Local Autonomy, the municipality of Puka “has a shared vision among its leadership. The current administration has continued the previous administration’s goal of investing in youth. This vision aims to provide young people with improved resources and opportunities to help prepare them for a brighter future. These investments were made possible thanks to this vision,” said Farrici.

Elton Stafa, the Team Leader of the EU4 Municipalities grant scheme, underlined the importance of enhancing local-level capacities despite the challenges. He pointed out that the #EUMunicipalities program is most valuable when considering the benefits it provides to young people and the community.

The “Municipality for Youth” project aims to enhance young people’s skills in entrepreneurship, sports, and communication.