When Klint Reci returned to Albania, he was not only coming back to his hometown of Rrëshen in Mirditë. Like many young people who have spent years searching for opportunities elsewhere, he was returning with a question shared by thousands of others. What now?
At the age of 30, Klint decided to invest in himself. He enrolled in a professional cooking course at the vocational school Shën Jozefi Punëtor, as part of a UNDP-supported initiative focused on the social and economic reintegration of vulnerable young people in the Lezha region. The programme is implemented under LEAP Albania, a joint initiative of UNDP, UNICEF, and ILO, with support from the Joint SDG Fund, and is designed to help young people develop skills that directly lead to decent employment.
The training combined structured learning with hands-on practice, covering food preparation, hygiene and safety standards, and professional communication. Participants also strengthened soft and digital skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and job readiness, helping to bridge the gap between training and the labour market.
Klint quickly applied these skills during a traineeship at a local hospitality business, where he stood out for his discipline, reliability, and ability to respond to real-world workplace demands. Yet the impact of the programme extended far beyond the workplace.
Back home in Rrëshen, a family crisis had placed his father’s small business at risk. With renewed confidence and practical know-how, Klint stepped in. He reorganised daily operations, improved food quality, and introduced clearer work processes. Gradually, stability returned.
Today, Klint is fully employed, managing the family business and planning how to grow further in the culinary field. What began as vocational training became a pathway to resilience, independence, and dignity.
For Alesio Prendi, the opportunity came earlier, but it was no less significant.
While still in school, Alesio joined the same UNDP-supported cooking course, gaining practical experience in food preparation, hygiene standards, and service ethics. Shortly after completing the training, he secured a job close to home in Lezhë, working after school hours.
Balancing school and work is demanding, but Alesio approaches it with determination. His income supports his family, and his job allows him to continue developing skills in a real-world work environment. It is an early but essential step towards long-term employability.
“These stories show how targeted investments in skills can make an immediate difference,” says Eno Ngjela, Programme Specialist at UNDP.
“By combining vocational training with soft skills, traineeships, and close cooperation with local businesses, we are helping young people move from exclusion to opportunity. This is the real value of the Joint SDG Fund’s support through LEAP.”
Klint and Alesio are among 50 vulnerable young people aged 15 to 29 supported through the project. Many come from families receiving Economic Aid, or are classified as not in employment, education, or training. Through partnerships with local tourism and hospitality businesses across the Lezha region, the initiative aims to ensure that at least half of participants transition into employment within months of completing their traineeships.
Together, their journeys show what becomes possible when vocational training is accessible, practical, and rooted in community needs. With the right support, skills become more than certificates. They become tools for staying, building, and belonging.
Mirditë is one of eleven partner municipalities of LEAP Albania, Lifelong Empowerment and Protection in Albania. Implemented jointly by UNDP, UNICEF, and ILO, in partnership with the Government of Albania and supported by the Joint SDG Fund, LEAP is strengthening pathways to social protection, employment, and inclusion for vulnerable groups across the country.
Original publication: https://www.undp.org/albania/stories/skills-bring-people-home-and-help-them-stay
Note:
All joint programmes of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds, and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
