Roalb’s Journey into Entrepreneurship

UNDP Albania

July 1, 2026

Roalb’s Journey into Entrepreneurship

UNDP Albania

His name is Roalb. This is his story.

At 24, Roalb had just graduated with a degree in Physical Education in Cërrik, Albania. He had energy, ambition, and dreams for his own future—but stepping into the world beyond education felt like hitting a wall. Jobs were scarce, opportunities were unclear. He found himself stuck in uncertainty.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Like many young people in his situation, he became part of a growing reality: a NEET—Not in Education, Employment, or Training—caught in the difficult space between study and working life, unsure of where to begin.

Deep inside, he carried a strong desire to build something of his own—independence, stability, and a future he could shape. Then he saw a possibility in agricultural entrepreneurship. What if he could use the land his family owned as a foundation for sustainable income? But how?

His turning point came when he learned about the Youth for the Labour Market in Elbasan, Cërrik, Librazhd & Prrenjas project. He reached out and soon gained access to structured support tailored to his needs.

Roalb's turning point came when he learned about the Youth for the Labour Market in Elbasan, Cërrik, Librazhd & Prrenjas project. He reached out and soon gained access to structured support tailored to his needs.

UNDP Albania

Through the project, Roalb received individual counselling, professional guidance, and practical assistance to develop his idea further.

Step by step, he built a viable business plan. With continued support from the project team, he successfully applied for the Self-Employment Grant offered by the National Employment Agency.

Thanks to that grant, today, Roalb runs his own agro-farm in Cërrik, cultivating and processing olives, pomegranates, and grapes. As a self-employed entrepreneur, he works his land daily, grows his business, and contributes to the local economy.

Roalb runs his own agro-farm in Cërrik, cultivating and processing olives, pomegranates, and grapes. As a self-employed entrepreneur, he works his land daily, grows his business, and contributes to the local economy.

UNDP Albania

“Today I have built my own business, and I work with joy every day on my farm. This programme helped me turn my idea into reality. I have already earned my first profits. I could not be happier.”

Roalb’s story is one of many supported through the Youth for the Labour Market project. Across Elbasan, Cërrik, Librazhd, and Prrenjas, 164 young people have benefited from counselling, skills development, vocational training, internships, and pathways to self-employment.

Key results include:

100 NEET young people reconnected with opportunities
154 Individual Employment Plans developed
34 young mothers, 21 economic aid beneficiaries, and 9 persons with disabilities received tailored support
6 young people have already become employed or self-employed
97.2% participant satisfaction rate

These results reflect real lives transformed, families supported, and livelihoods created.

This intervention is implemented through the Jocelyn Foundation, one of the grantees of the EU for Labour Market Inclusion project.

“Roalb’s story is a strong evidence how targeted support can unlock opportunity and change trajectories.For young people facing uncertainty, it is a reminder that pathways exist—and that with the right support and determination, they can succeed. We are happy to see that this project is changing many young people’s lives by creating tangible pathways to employment”-says Edlira Papavangjeli, the project manager.

Share Roalb's story. You never know whose life it might inspire today.

EU4LMI The EU for Labour Market Inclusion (EU4LMI) project is funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP Albania in partnership with the Swedish Public Employment Service and the Albanian Disability Rights Foundation.

Working alongside the National Agency for Employment and Skills and 12 civil society organizations and their partners, EU4LMI focuses on those often left behind. Rather than offering quick fixes, the project builds long-term empowerment for NEETs, people with disabilities, young mothers and cash assistance beneficiaries through:

Personalized vocational counseling and psycho-social support.
Basic skills and life skills necessary for accessing relevant employment promotion programs.
Tailored support for job-matching and employer mediation.
Professional job-coaching and supported employment to ensure long-term retention, especially for people with disabilities.

By turning social and employment policy into professional practice, the project advances Albania’s EU accession journey, proving that a more inclusive labor market is a cornerstone of the country's European future.