From margins to opportunity: Roma women building futures in Berat

At 18, Kristina Kanan walked into the premises of "Crystal Team", a social enterprise in Berat specialising in professional cleaning. For the young woman from a Roma family of seven, with a sick father and elderly grandparents, earning an income was not a choice but a necessity.

Today, Kristina speaks with confidence about her work and her future. "This job helps me support my family and save so that one day I can start my studies in Tirana," she says, smiling as she irons curtains. "It is a steady job that has helped me see the future. While working here and going through documents and papers, I realised: I like this. I want to manage businesses, take care of different aspects, and deal with institutions. That's how I understood what my future should be."

Kristina's employer, "Crystal Team", is supported by the Challenge Fund under the EU4Innovation project, which promotes economic independence among marginalised communities, particularly women from Roma-segregated areas. For Kristina, the opportunity has been transformative, as independence is not just about income but also about dignity and direction. She has invested herself fully in the job, seeing it as only the first step in her journey.

Knowing English and Italian - languages she taught herself through films - Kristina dreams of pursuing a university degree. Born and raised in a Roma family, she barely speaks Romani. With a strong passion for languages and literature, Kristina feels deeply connected to Albanian culture. "We live and celebrate like Albanians. What I admire most from my roots is the strong family bond. And yes, our weddings are very colourful, full of gold," she says with pride.

Yet she knows one important word from her mother tongue: Baxtalo - a word used to wish luck and express joy in this community. As International Roma Day serves as a reminder of the values of equality, human rights, integration and respect for cultural diversity, faces like Kristina's remind us of the wealth we gain through diversity. Her determination to support her family, pursue education, and build a future in business administration embodies the resilience and hope reflected in the Roma anthem.

Just as music, dance, language and traditions enrich the European cultural mosaic, Kristina's story enriches the narrative of empowerment: overcoming social exclusion, finding independence through work, and envisioning a dignified future.

Her story is one of resilience and aspiration: a young woman who began out of necessity, found independence, and now looks towards a future where she can lead businesses and shape her own path. This is precisely what EU policies aim to achieve - creating opportunities for different social groups so that everyone can choose their own path, passions and purpose, regardless of their circumstances. Supporting socially responsible business models like "Crystal Team" contributes to local economic growth and women's empowerment.

"Crystal Team was established to empower women from Roma and Egyptian communities by providing them with meaningful employment opportunities. Through their work, these women are able to earn their own income and gain financial independence. The enterprise is particularly suited to their needs, as many have not had the chance to pursue formal education or graduate. Some of the employees have long been part of the local community, while others have recently returned after periods of emigration," explains Mimoza Bujaraj from the social enterprise.

At times, this social business has also served as a bridge between women and employers. Two years ago, several other women were employed at the enterprise. Over time, many moved on to new opportunities, securing jobs with better pay and working conditions. They credit the skills they developed at Crystal Team, as well as the professional contacts they made there, with helping them take that next step forward.

For Egla Kamberi, another Roma woman working with Crystal Team, the job means being able to provide for her four children. "I returned from emigration after 15 years. It was difficult, but I had to work," she explains. Her youngest daughter is just three, while the others are already in school. "I want a different future for them, one that is not like mine. To achieve that, I must create the right conditions so they can succeed."

As a mother, Egla envisions a future where her children have the freedom to make choices, take decisions, and truly flourish.

The Roma flag - blue and green with a red wheel - symbolises a deep bond with nature and a long historical journey. These celebrations remind us to build inclusive societies where everyone can live with dignity and contribute to a shared future.

Background information

EU4Innovation is a programme dedicated to enhancing Albania's innovation ecosystem by promoting collaboration between academia, industry, government, and civil society. Funded by the European Union, with additional support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the programme is structured around four key outputs: enhancing innovation policy and governance, supporting startups and businesses through financial and technical assistance, integrating entrepreneurship into education, and strengthening linkages between academia, industry, and public institutions.

The project, focuses on education by promoting entrepreneurship as a core skill and integrating it into university curricula. This is achieved through piloting green and circular projects, organising awareness-raising events, and developing targeted skills programs. By fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among young people, the program aims to equip the next generation with the tools needed to drive sustainable economic growth in Albania.