Our Roots

Project "Our Roots

Location: Gjirokastra, Tepelena

August 2020

While focusing to abide to our mission statement, our recent activity has been entirely focused on preserving and promoting the Albanian cultural identity, attracting public interest and promoting cultural tourism.

The activities carried out aimed at:
a) Reviving and preserving the values of the Albanian tradition;
b) Recognition and transmission of the values of the Albanian tradition to the younger generation;
c) Promoting cultural-economic development by combining tradition with modernity.

Through this project, we aimed to attract the interest of the public, promoting cultural tourism, as part of the activities coincided with the period of the beginning of the tourist season. Also, through the transmission of activities on social media, we aimed to influence the preservation and promotion of the Albanian cultural identity, thus influencing the economic development.

Albanian Initiative for Development was fully and maximally committed to implement the activities as foreseen in the contract and in the plan of activities within the set deadlines.

Exhibition of horn instruments The presentation of the most special traditional instruments of the area, multi-year, inherited from generation to generation, which in addition to personifying the area of Gjirokastra and Tepelena, in terms of music, they reveal a less studied side such as that of the ornaments of engraved on them, which express a part of the rituals or traditions that our people have inherited over the centuries.	Display of instruments in Gjirokastra Ancient and traditional horn instruments, carved, mostly wooden.	Display of instruments. Reporter interviewing local musician
The Old Bazar of Gjirokastra Display of instruments	Old Bazaar People visiting the display and learning about the local culture.	Display of instruments Expert presenting some unique wooden instrument

The announcement of the tour "Towards the footsteps of 'Lion' Ali Pashë Tepelena" as a tourist product with cultural heritage values.

Location: Beçisht, Tepelena

August, 2019

The ‘AID’ Association in cooperation with the ‘Argonaut’ Association and with the financial support from the Ministry of Culture, succeeded in creating the tourist path that leads to the birthplace of Ali Pasha Tepelena, in Beçisht (Tepelena). The placement of billboards, signs and information board, turn this place into a very interesting asset and attraction for local and foreign tour guides!

Screening of a documentary film by filmmaker Petrit Ruka "The national anthem" with important national historical content.

The third activity was the screening of a documentary film with important national historical content. The documentary was shown on July 16-17 near the Bashte of the Gjirokastra Teqe (on the days of the anniversary of Gjirokastra's admission to the UNESCO Heritage List) and near Lord Byron Square in Tepelena. This documentary was a promotion of the national values of our country, as well as their recognition by the public, young people and local and foreign tourists.
Mr. Petrit Ruka, originally from Tepelena, a well-known filmmaker has a special connection with the country of origin. His film, "Kryekenga e Kombit" was organized to be shown in two activities in Gjirokastra and Tepelena.
The working group together with the author and the moderator was organized and the place where the film would be shown was chosen, one of the newest spots of the museum part in Gjirokastra, which has become a trend by having local and incoming tourists, other visitors who followed the film enjoying the characteristic environment of the city of Gjirokastra.