Maryame has taken the lessons learned from her exchange year to make a difference in her community.
By Klea Troka (YES 2011-2012, Albania, hosted by YFU in Delaware, OH)
In January, Klea Troka began organizing monthly Networking Breakfast events to help alumni in Albania connect with professionals in a wide range of fields and also with one another.
On June 30, after several months of virtual meetups, alumni from generations 2010 to 2020 gathered for a discussion with Mark Crawford, former president of the American Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Crawford, a U.S. citizen, has lived in Albania since 1993 and founded multiple startups. He shared his perspective on entrepreneurship, taking risks, making difficult decisions, and how to decide when to give up.
For safety, no handshakes or hugs were allowed, but the event was still a nice, very welcome reunion, as well as an inspirational learning experience.