Our dear colleagues and friends from the organization Cultural Heritage without Borders (CHwB) are celebrating this year the 10th anniversary of their Regional Restoration Camps.
The CHwB Regional Restoration Camps represent a simple and successful training model, the main objective of which is to use cultural heritage to build relations among young professionals and to preserve traditional crafts and techniques.
Since 2007 the CHwB has organized 38 Regional Restoration Camps in 10 historic locations across the Western Balkans, attended by over 940 participants from 26 countries.
In recognition of their excellence and dedication, the CHwB Regional Restoration Camps won a prestigious 2014 EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Award in the category of “Education, Training and Awareness-Raising.”
Within the framework of 38th Regional Restoration Camp held in Gjirokastra from 24 September to 14 October 2017 a representative of EXPEDITIO held on 7 October 2017 a presentation on the topic “Community driven approach and activism in cultural heritage protection”.
Celebration of the 10th anniversary of Regional Restoration Camps was held at Gjirokastra Castle, on 7 October 2017, and it was attended by CHwB representatives and their numerous collaborators, camp participants, craftsmen, lecturers, etc.
Lejla Hadžić, executive director of CHwB Albania, the main driving force and heart of the Regional Restoration Camps said the following in a brochure dedicated to the 10th anniversary of Camps: “When the sun sets in Gjirokastra, Jajce, Rogljevo, Prishtina there is one thing we carry in our heart, and that is that tomorrow brings forward new knowledge, new experience and new friendships casted in hearts of all of us. This friendship is a strong foundation for less hostility, more dialogue and stronger heritage preservation. As that is what the Regional Restoration Camps are about, the practical learning that fosters trust through team working and achievement that in turn enhance condition for personal trust, greater togetherness and compassion.”
We are truly honoured to have taken part in the celebration of Regional Restoration Camps’ 10th anniversary and share the joy with our dear colleagues and friends at CHwB to whom we wish that they may have many more successful activities and continue with developing and sharing excellent models for cultural heritage protection in the Balkans area!
