When Klint Reci returned to his hometown of Rrëshen, Albania, he faced the question many young returnees share: what comes next? At 30, he invested in himself by enrolling in a professional cooking course at Vocational High School “Shën Jozefi Punëtor,” part of a UNDP-supported initiative under the LEAP Albania programme, funded by the Joint SDG Fund. The project targets vulnerable youth in the Lezha region, providing practical and theoretical training in food preparation, hygiene standards, workplace safety, professional communication, and soft and digital skills to prepare participants for employment in the tourism and hospitality sector. During his traineeship with a local business, Klint quickly distinguished himself through discipline and reliability, and when his family’s small business faced challenges due to his father’s health, he applied his new skills to restore stability and improve operations. Today, he manages the family business and is planning further growth in his culinary career.
Similarly, Alesio Prendi, still a student, joined the same course, gaining hands-on experience and securing employment locally while balancing school. His income supports his family and allows him to continue building skills, demonstrating how early opportunities can foster long-term employability. Both Klint and Alesio are part of a cohort of 50 youth aged 15–29, many from families receiving economic aid or classified as NEET, with the initiative aiming for at least half of participants to transition into employment within months of completing their traineeships. Their experiences highlight how accessible, practical, and community-rooted vocational training can transform skills into stability, dignity, and lasting impact, exemplifying the broader goals of the LEAP Albania programme, which strengthens pathways to social protection, employment, and inclusion across the country.
