Every young person deserves a second chance.
From a childhood dream to a trade for the future!
- English
- Shqip
Remembering his childhood, Mario from Shkodra often stopped at the barbershop window, fascinated by the rhythmic snip of scissors and the buzz of clippers. He imagined himself in the barber’s chair, shaping sharp lines and perfect fades, and dreamed of one day holding the tools of the trade.
But life, as it often does, took a detour. School became a struggle, and he eventually dropped out. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, with no clear path. The future seemed like a distant, blurred, unreachable horizon.
But life also has a way of surprising us. Sometimes all it takes is a spark, one opportunity, to reignite the fire within. That spark came in the spring, when Mario and his father attended an event at Community Center No. 5, a hub of hope for families and young people in Shkodër. The center, a lifeline for many, connects young people with programs and services that help them break free from uncertainty. There, Mario learned about the Youth Guarantee project, a program designed to support young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEETs).
The staff, tending to a field of untapped potential, introduced Mario to a world of possibilities: vocational courses, training programs, and career guidance tailored to his needs.
During one information session, Mario’s childhood dream rushed back.
When he heard about the barbering course, his eyes lit up. With encouragement and hands-on guidance from the dedicated staff at YWCA Shkodër, Mario took the leap. He registered for the course and began learning the craft he had long admired. But Mario didn’t stop there. Determined to prepare himself, he spent the summer volunteering at a neighborhood barbershop, soaking up every detail of the trade, from the precision of the scissors to the art of connecting with clients.
Now, at 16, Mario is fully immersed in his professional barbering course. He’s not just learning to cut hair; he’s rediscovering his confidence, his sense of purpose, and his belief in the future. The course is not just teaching him a skill; it is giving him the tools to rebuild his life.
Mario’s journey has not gone unnoticed. He has become a role model for his younger brother, whom he now encourages to stay in school and keep striving for his own dreams.
“When I was little, I wanted to become a barber,” Mario often says. His words remind us that the path to our dreams is rarely straight; it’s full of twists and turns, yet with the right guidance, we can find our way back.
The Youth Guarantee project, through the initiative “NEET Activation Center - Empowering Young People through the Network of Local Partnerships in Shkodër” is sparking hope for young people like Mario. The team works hard to inform, guide, and connect them with opportunities; the program is helping those who have fallen through the cracks in education and employment rise again. It’s a lifeline for vulnerable youth, offering not only a chance to learn a profession but also a chance to believe in themselves and their potential.
For Mario, that chance has helped him reclaim his childhood dream and transform it into a tangible future. And perhaps, that’s the true power of community and programs like the Youth Guarantee, they do not just help young people find their way; they remind them that they were never truly lost.
#EU4Youth is funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP Albania and UNICEF Albania, in collaboration with the National Employment and Skills Agency and the National Youth Agency, under the coordination of the Ministry of Economy and Innovation.
