How Kevin Found His First Job—and Himself—Through Albania’s Youth Guarantee

UNDP Albania

May 23, 2025

How Kevin Found His First Job—and Himself—Through Albania’s Youth Guarantee — Nora Kushti, Communications Specialist at UNDP Albania, shares a moment with Kevin during a visit to the center where he now works as a graphic designer—proof that the right support can unlock limitless potential.

UNDP Albania

Author

Nora Kushti

Communications Specialist, UNDP Albania

What does it feel like to be told you’ll never work—then prove everyone wrong?

For Kevin, a 22-year-old from Tirana living with a developmental delay, it felt like walking into a room full of strangers and walking out with hope. He never imagined he’d land a job. Not because he lacked dreams—but because the world rarely made space for someone like him.

Kevin’s condition made communication difficult. His thoughts—rich and imaginative—often struggled to find their way out. Making friends was rare. Being understood? Even rarer.

But today, the computer—once a lonely escape—has become his most powerful tool. Kevin now works as a graphic designer at a local social centre, part of a network of organizations supporting Albania’s most vulnerable youth through the Youth Guarantee. And Kevin isn’t just designing graphics—he’s designing his future.

The Youth Guarantee aims to tackle youth unemployment and inactivity in Albania. It is implemented by the National Agency for Employment and Skills (NAES), in cooperation with partners institutions, under the coordination of the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation. The programme benefits from technical support provided through the EU-funded EU4Youth project, implemented by UNDP and UNICEF.

Kevin’s journey began with a single, courageous step: walking into the local employment office to seek help. He wasn’t sure what he’d find, perhaps another closed door. But instead, the staff listened. They didn’t see a young man with limitations—they saw potential.

That visit set off a chain of support.

“Kevin came to us on his own,” recalls Mimoza Ulqinaku, Head of the Youth Guarantee and Social Fund sector at the employment office in Tirana. “He barely spoke at first, but you could tell—he was eager. He just needed someone to believe in him. We worked one-on-one to understand what Kevin liked and what he was good at. He loved computers and had a natural eye for colours and shapes. We saw an opportunity.”

The employment office provided Kevin with graphic design training turning point in his journey. Then, they connected him with one of the five NGOs contracted by NAES to offer tailored services to NEETs -young people Not in Education, Employment, or Training- under the Youth Guarantee in Tirana.

A group of five people collaborating around a table in a meeting room. — Moments during the workshops held in Tirana, Shkodra, and Vlora with vocational training centers and employment offices, in the context of the EU4Youth project.

UNDP Albania

As part of the EU4Youth Programme, the local coordinators based at the employment offices in each pilot area play a key role in outreach efforts that connect the office with local organizations supporting vulnerable youth. They have one key aim: to build partnerships with service providers that can offer tailored support to this group. Through these efforts, the EU4Youth project helps implement the Youth Guarantee by expanding access, activating new local partners, and ensuring more young people benefit from the services provided by employment offices or local service providers.

That’s how Kevin met his counselor, Albana Troshani, working for the partner youth organization. She quickly became a source of support and stability.

His opportunity came in the form of a four-hour daily work placement at the center. Participants like Kevin receive half the minimum wage—a vital source of income, but more importantly, they gain something money can’t buy: dignity, routine, and connection.

Kevin’s early days at the organization were filled with small wins. His first assignment was to help design a regulation handbook for the center—both the layout and written content.

His mentor remembers:

“He stayed late to get every detail right.
At lunch, he started joining conversations. For the first time, Kevin wasn’t the quiet boy in the corner. He was part of a team.”

Partner organizations implementing the Community Public Works Programme employ young people like Kevin for a 12-month period, engaging them in community-beneficial activities while supporting their integration into the labor market. Through this experience, participants receive partial wages, ongoing mentorship, and financial support to attend vocational training courses. These organizations act as a bridge to long-term employment in the private sector, helping young people develop their skills and take on an active role in society.

Kevin’s family—especially his older sister, Dorela—clearly see the change. “He used to barely leave his room,” Dorela says, her voice thick with emotion. “Now he wakes up early, showers, dresses with purpose. He even asked me to help him pick out clothes for his ‘future office.’ I cry just thinking about it.”

Kevin is one of several NEET youth currently supported by the programme. The group includes young mothers, Roma and Egyptian youth, and others with disabilities or limited formal education. Their roles vary—cleaning, gardening, admin work, interpreting—but the impact is the same: each has found a sense of direction.

The Youth Guarantee in Albania is changing lives through a simple promise: any young person under 30, not in education, employment, or training, will receive a job, apprenticeship, or education offer within four months of registering.

“This programme stands out in its ability to recognize and unlock the potential within every young person. It’s transformative and profoundly impacts the lives of youth, especially those facing significant barriers to employment,” says Lorena, the Local Coordinator of the EU4Youth project.

“By targeting inactive youth aged 15–29 who are dealing with challenges related to education and employment, the Youth Guarantee provides practical alternatives that enable them to transition toward a more sustainable future.”

That’s not just a dream—it’s already a reality. Since launching in Albania, the Youth Guarantee has reached over 1,000 NEET youth, turning passive disconnection into active participation. And it’s only the beginning.

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Kevin still spends a lot of time with his computer. “It doesn’t leave me,” he jokes. “It’s my best friend.” But now, friendship is building something real: a career, a future, and—perhaps someday—his own graphic design business.

And he’s not alone anymore.

“I have friends now,” he says shyly. “We talk during breaks. They wait for me if I’m late.”

Kevin’s story is just one of thousands waiting to be told. But his journey—from isolation to empowerment—proves that inclusive employment through the Youth Guarantee isn’t charity. It’s a smart policy.

Every young person deserves a chance. And when given the tools, the training, and the belief, they don’t just find work, they find purpose.

So, what can you do?