A three day course on "Heritage, driver for sustainable development in LakeOhrid region" took place in Pogradec, Albania from 25-27 April 2017. 25 people from two countries
working and living in different areas of Lake Ohrid region participated. The training course aimed at Increasing
appreciation of shared heritage values and building awareness on the potential
of heritage, both cultural and natural, as a support for sustainable development among small-scale entrepreneurs and sharing
knowledge on how to build and sustain successful micro-enterprise based
around the values of the area.
Case studies and examples on how heritage can support sustainable opportunities in the Lake Ohrid Region were presented on the first day by UNESCO and its advisory bodies representatives
like ICOMOS and IUCN to lead the discussion and inspire. At the end of the day participants were organized in groups, agriculture group, forestry group and fishing group and worked together
The second day, was organized as a forum with representatives from
Municipality of Pogradec, which took answers from participants related to opening a new business, knowledge about the taxes, how to be friendly
with environment around Lake Ohrid. After the meeting, participants had the chance to visit some small local business. The first visit was in one
of the oldest pastry 'Shop in
Pogradec' producing an authentic “llokum” a dessert made
with corn flowers, sugar, powdered sugar, gelatin and rose flavored water. The shop dates from 1930 opened by his
grandfather a former immigrant in Istanbul. The recipe is inherited in generations. A small fair
was organized near the promenade in the center of Pogradec with local food
and art-crafts. Artisan women presented their work alongside the
promenade in an open fair. Some local specialties like lakror, byrek and revani cooked by some women was served for buffet-dinner to
participants and other guests invited from Municipality and NGO-s acting
in Pogradec.
Mr. Avdulla Cano, Vice
mayor of Pogradec Municipality congratulated the project for the series of
training and work done aiming to include Albanian part of Lake Ohrid in UNESCO
Heritage List, while UNESCO representative, Ms. Alexandra Fiebig thanked
participants, artisans and municipality for the support.
The next stop was in old shop of wood
carving where the aged-man welcomed the group with
a big smile, sitting in his chair. The three-floor house was
decorated and filled with art-works in wood. It was amazing to see the walls of the mall shop full of wood carving; each one a piece of art. Mr. Llazi Icka has been
carving small and large wood pieces for over 60 years in his small studio in
Pogradec, southeastern Albania. His detailed carvings are worth examining
closely and he does it more for passion rather than for living. For
some items he couldn’t even tell the price and for some others he wouldn’t sell
at all. He pointed out that his daughter and his son are both excising in this.
The façade on the back was also made of wood.
After this amazing visit the group headed to Tushemisht to visit two
other small businesses; fish farm and pottery shop. It was a nice
trip for 10 participants riding bikes
kindly offered by a local operator visit-pogradec.com. The ride through a nice
road covered with greenery and shadowing trees was a great experience.
On the Third day of training, each group prepared the business
plan on these topics: recreation and tourism, traditional craftsmanship,
Eco-environmental services and heritage enterprises/agriculture, forestry. The jury evaluated the presentation and chose as a winner one group. At the end of the training course participants received a Certificate of Attendance”, organized in the framework of project "Towards strengthened
governance of the shared transboundary natural and cultural heritage of the Lake Ohrid region" co-funded by EU
and Government of Albania.