Sonio's Story
A Real Perspective
Honestly, living in Shkozë is not easy. Sonio is 24, and for over a year, he hasn't been able to find a job. When you live in social housing with five other family members, and not a single adult has steady work, the pressure is incredibly heavy. He woke up every day carrying that weight, just wanting to do right by his family but having no idea where to start. He didn't want a handout; he just wanted a chance to work.
Everything changed when staff from a UNICEF-supported youth outreach program in Tirana came out to find people like him. Sonio had basically given up on finding anything, but they sat down with him, listened to what he was going through, and didn't just hand him a generic information flyer. For the first time, he felt seen as a person, not just another statistic.
He told them straight up:
"I need someone to open a door for me and give me the chance to move ahead with my life. A stable job so I can help my family; this is all I can hope for."
Thanks to the outreach program supported by UNICEF, he was able to navigate the confusing paperwork for a job application. They found him a position in the cleaning sector. Some people might not think much of a job like that, but to Sonio, it was a real, honest paycheck and a way to start building stability. The outreach counselors gave him basic training, offered advice, and accommodated his family's schedule.
When you've been down for so long, you lose a lot of confidence. But Sonio's experience shows that having someone listen and point you in the right direction can help you realize that a fresh start is possible.
#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.
