How we began
Our founding story
H.A.N.A. Centre began in Lezhë with a simple observation: young people had opinions, energy and questions, but almost nowhere to be heard. Local media rarely reflected their lives, and few institutions treated youth as participants rather than an audience. A small group of organisers decided to build the space that was missing.
When a passion for social development goes hand in hand with will power of people who share similar viewpoints, a vision for the future is naturally born and set in motion. The foundations of H.A.N.A. are based on the ideal of changed societies – in mind, heart and attitudes, to meet human (youth) potential and create new empowering mechanisms. H.A.N.A was shaped when individual efforts of a few people challenged a mindset of civic apathy in the communities in Lezhë through a number of youth initiatives. The initiatives were later transformed into a structured approach (legal entity) with the goal of multiplying the impact and number of youth participants. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) can have one of three legal forms; association, foundation and center. H.A.N.A is a Youth Center.
The founders of H.A.N.A are, Besmira Lekaj, Edisona Xhani, Lorenc Daja and Minju Kim. H.A.N.A is the abbreviated form of the phrase “Hand to Hand Against Nation Apathy” in English language. It will be shortly read/pronounced HANA (as hëna in Gegë dialect; moon in English). The founders deliberately intended and welcomed the coincidence; the moon symbolizes the feminine energy and the Albanian society has many struggles to face regarding girls/women empowerment. Moreover, as the only permanent natural satellite of the Earth that determines the rhythm that has guided humanity for thousands of years, the moon represents fluidity, creativity, and change. Although the comparison is hyperbolic, the symbiosis that our H.A.N.A aims to have with youth of Lezhë, as a CSO, is of an influential nature. Meanwhile, the phrase remains a reflection of the founding vision regarding a declared and uncompromising attitude towards indifference and collective passivity that affects the common well-being of our country; therefore, H.A.N.A’s programs will be tailored to reduce the consequences of such behavior for the Albanian society, through youth. Though an overly ambitious ultimate goal, we at H.A.N.A trust that what counts in the long run is the persistence with heartfelt passion and professional ethics in the efforts to meet it!
H.A.N.A is an Albanian non-profit, non-governmental organization and legally organized as youth center, whose purpose is to educate the Albanian society, youth in particular, about the importance of pro-active participation in issues of common community importance, so that this participation brings change and social development. Our organization will pursue this goal by fostering partnerships with public structures, civil society, community members and national or international development agencies to ensure the resources needed.
When young people are given real tools and real trust, they don't wait for permission to lead — they simply lead.
Today H.A.N.A. is a youth-led centre for independent media, civic participation and democratic culture — a place where that founding belief is put into practice every week, by a new generation of young people in Lezhë and beyond.
What we do
Five programmatic pillars
Our work is organised around five connected areas. Together they turn young people from an audience into authors of public life.
Independent youth media
We train and support young people to report, investigate and produce their own news and storytelling — an independent newsroom where the journalists are the young people themselves.
Civic & democratic participation
We help young people engage directly with institutions, elections and public decisions, turning civic interest into real influence over the decisions that shape their communities.
Media & information literacy
We build the skills young people need to navigate disinformation, question sources and think critically in an increasingly noisy information environment.
Community & dialogue
We create spaces for open debate, inclusion and cross-community conversation, bringing together voices that are too often kept apart.
Capacity & leadership
We mentor, employ and promote young people into professional and civic leadership — so the next generation of leaders is already practising today.
Governance
Board & governance
H.A.N.A. is governed by an independent board that oversees strategy, safeguards our editorial and financial independence, and holds the organisation accountable to its mission.
Legal identity
- Full legal name
- H.A.N.A. Centre
- Legal form
- Non-profit organisation
- Registration number
- [registration number]
- Country
- Albania
- Year of registration
- [year]
- Registered address
- [registered address, Lezhë, Albania]
Our team
The team
sfgdsf
John Doe
Executive Director
Lezhë, Albania
John Doe
Executive Director
Lezhë, Albania