Dua Lipa helps Tirana kick off its year as European Youth Capital 2022
More than 3000 young people and international guests gathered in the Albanian capital, Tirana, to celebrate the city’s new status as European Youth Capital 2022.
This title awarded by the European Youth Forum to cities in Europe annually, and the intention is to to empower young people, boost youth participation and strengthen European identity in cities right across the European Union.
More than 10,000 events have been held since 2009, during which time cities have secured tens of millions of Euros in additional funding and over 12,000 volunteers have helped to deliver the projects.
The launch event heard from a host of luminaries, including Dafina Peci, Executive Director of the National Youth Congress of Albania (NYC), Dafina Peci, and CEO of Tirana EYC 2022; Luigi Soreca, the EU’s Ambassador to Albania; Bora Muzhaqi, Albanian Minister for Youth and Children.
‘Being the change they want to see in the world’
Also present was Tom Matthew, Board Member at the European Youth Forum, and he said: “I hope that the activities that will unfold over the coming years will demonstrate to the rest of Albania and to the rest of Europe that this city, is an exemplary, gold standard, world-leading example of young people getting involved, taking part and being the change that they want to see in the world.”
There was also a special message from pop singer Dua Lipa, who sent a video message giving her full support to the European Youth Capital, and her excitement about the initiative. The singer’s parents are Kosovo Albanian and she also highlighted the huge potential of young people in Albania. Watch her video message here
Erion Veliaj, the Mayor of Tirana, told the audience: “Each one of you has the opportunity to change the world. This is our moment, our time, this is our day and this is our year as a European Youth Capital. We have worked hard for this day and I am humbled, I have all love and respect and am very thankful to all of you who worked hard during the last three years in achieving this amazing title. Thank you from my heart!”
