Tirana – 17 schools from Albania have been awarded the title of “Superschool” this year, and their proposed projects, which will contribute to peacebuilding, reconciliation, and intercultural learning and dialogue within the framework of the Western Balkans School Exchange Program, were presented at a public event called “Meet the Superschools,” organized by the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
Alongside the representatives from the selected schools, the event was attended by representatives of the European Union, the German Embassy, the Ministry of Education and Sports, National Agency for Employment and Skills, National Youth Agency and RYCO Governing Board.
The event was opened by Ms. Flutura Brakaj, RYCO Local Program Officer in Albania, who welcomed the participants by emphasizing the ‘back to school’ atmosphere of the gathering and the presence of key stakeholders supporting the newly selected Superschools.
Mr. Kreshnik Loka, RYCO Deputy Secretary General, emphasized in his welcoming remarks that Superschools is one of RYCO’s flagship programs and a symbol of what regional cooperation and reconciliation can achieve. He thanked teachers for their dedication, partners for their support, and highlighted the program’s role in reaching even smaller communities that had never experienced mobility projects. ‘” I couldn’t imagine a more meaningful way to begin my mandate as RYCO Deputy Secretary General than by being surrounded by 17 inspiring schools and 34 super teachers who continue to write a new chapter for our region,’ he concluded.
H.E. Mr. Silvio Gonzato, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Albania underlined “Visiting schools and speaking with students from across the region who are part of the Superschools exchange programme has convinced me of the importance of this initiative. Students and teachers are not only gaining new perspectives but also turning friendships into lasting partnerships between schools, fostering dialogue, understanding diversity, and promoting peaceful coexistence, which are core values of the European Union. At the same time, young people from all backgrounds and from across Albania are acquiring valuable skills in areas such as STEM, environmental protection, and climate action, skills that will benefit their future. The EU will continue to support Albania and the Western Balkan through a variety of programmes, most notably the EU Growth Plan and its Reform Agenda for Albania, which place young people at the heart of reforms, offering concrete opportunities for training, education, and employment to support their personal and professional growth.”
Mr. Jan Maibom, Head of Culture and Press Sections of the German Embassy in Albania shared in his remarks: “We are delighted to see the growing number of Superschools across the region. This initiative is an integral part of our broader commitment to fostering youth engagement, regional cooperation, and reconciliation. The German Government highly values RYCO and its Superschools initiative, which offers young people unique opportunities to create lasting memories, build trust, and form friendships that endure.”
Mr. Klajdi Priska, Youth Representative in RYCO Governing Board noted on his remarks: “The significance of Superschools and its pupils lies at the very core of RYCO’s mission, to foster peace education, reconciliation, regional cooperation, coexistence, and social cohesion. Through these exchanges, we are not only investing in the knowledge and skills of young people but also empowering them to become bridges of understanding and true agents of lasting peace in the Western Balkan”.
Mr. Klevis Hysa, Director of the National Agency for Employment and Skills, emphasized “The strong participation of VET schools in Superschools since its launch clearly demonstrates the value of education. He underlined that a program like Superschools not only prepares young people with the skills needed for the labour market but also empowers them to return to their schools and communities with greater confidence, fresh insights, and the drive to innovate and contribute meaningfully.”
Ms. Mirela Cami, General Director of Pre-University Education, Ministry of Education and Sports added in her speech, ”The Superschools program reflects what education should be: open, dynamic, inclusive, and future-oriented. It is not only about travel and exchanges, but about instilling core values of respect, tolerance, cooperation, and responsibility. We are confident that our Superschools will continue to be a source of pride for all of us, true ambassadors of our culture and values, and a living example of what can be achieved when we work together.”
Mr. Auron Mëneri, Director of Programmes, Coordination and Youth Cooperation at the National Youth Agency, underlined that this initiative demonstrates the importance of empowering young people at multiple levels. “The benefits of this program are far-reaching, from developing skills to fostering intercultural exchange – and it continues to provide young people with meaningful opportunities for growth and cooperation” he noted.
Besides presenting project ideas, the event also served as an opportunity for representatives of the selected schools to get to know each other better and engage in discussions with key local and international partners of the Superschools project, as well as to learn more about the next steps in the exchange implementation process.
The upcoming exchange activities will be conducted from November 15 of this year through April 15 of next year. During this period, school principals and teachers will coordinate and develop these activities with the support of RYCO and its mentors. You can view the list of 100 secondary schools from the region, including 17 from Albania, on RYCO website.
During the implementation phase, each partner school will organize one exchange visit to the partnering one lasting up to 6 days, with students traveling accompanied by one or two teachers. Through the exchange scheme, students and teachers will have the chance to travel, present themselves, their schools, and customs to their hosts, and learn new things about local communities all throughout the region. More than 100 exchange proposals were submitted for the Superschools 4th Open Call, which placed special emphasis on the concept of homestays—a unique opportunity for students and schools to participate in bilateral exchanges within their local communities and homes. In this call, 13 partnerships are implementing homestays.
Background
About the Superschools program
Superschools is a RYCO program for school exchanges in the region with the objectives to support the peacebuilding and reconciliation process and intercultural learning and dialogue among schools, students and their communities. The program is part of a multi-donor project “Western Balkans School Exchange Scheme” co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) together with the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO).
About RYCO
RYCO is an intergovernmental organization that stewards and promotes regional and intercultural cooperation of young people within and among Western Balkans societies. RYCO’s programs focus on creating opportunities for young people to engage in activities that build mutual understanding and reconciliation in the civic, social, educational, cultural, and sports domains. RYCO initiates and participates in policymaking and advocates for reform. It supports the development of a political and social environment that empowers and facilitates youth exchange.
