From Dream to Reality: How a Full-Day Kindergarten Changed Women's Lives

“I love my job, but I was finding it almost impossible to balance work and childcare with the limited services available in our area,” shares Lije Dedej, a hairdresser and mother of a four-year-old girl living in a new neighborhood in Durrës, in western Albania. For years Lije struggled to make ends meet while dreaming of opening her own hairdressing business. The absence of full-day childcare services meant she could only work a few hours a day, holding her back and leaving her professional aspirations out of reach.

Like many parents in this outlying neighborhood with a high concentration of vulnerable families that have relocated here as a result of internal migration, Lije Dedej faced a difficult choice: pursue a career or stay home to care for her child. The lack of accessible full-day kindergarten services was a barrier that many families could not overcome, perpetuating cycles of economic dependence and limited opportunities for women.

Change began when she attended a community meeting organized by the “Today for the Future” Community Development Center. Supported by UN Women as part of the UN Joint Programme “Leave No One Behind” and funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, these meetings encouraged women and marginalized groups to participate in decision-making processes. During the meeting, Lije Dedej and other parents raised the issue of childcare, pointing to how it impacted their daily lives and aspirations.

Through collective advocacy, the community successfully pushed the Durrës municipality to allocate funds which made it possible for the kindergarten to expand its services, introducing full-day care with lunch for children in 2023. This transformed not only Lije’s life but also the lives of 116 families in the neighborhood.

“Since the kindergarten started offering full-day care, I’ve been able to make my dream a reality,” she shares. Today, she has opened her own hairdressing business, confident that her child is being taken care of in a safe and supportive environment.

Valdete Thërmija, the kindergarten director, has been at the forefront of this transformation. A mother of two and lifelong resident of Durrës, she brought her experience as a preschool teacher to the role, determined to create a space where children could learn, play, and thrive.

“When I first started working here, the kindergarten was only offering reduced morning hours,” she recalls. “Parents would often rush to pick up their children early, and many mothers were left with no choice but to stay at home, unable to pursue their careers or attend any social activities. We knew that a full-day service, including lunch, would make a huge difference—not just for the children, but also for the mothers and the entire community.”

The impact of this initiative extends beyond individual families. The “Neim Babameto” kindergarten now serves 80% of childcare needs in Spitalla, prioritizing support for single parents, marginalized families, and children with special needs.

Since 2018, the “Participate, Express, Decide” initiative has engaged over 3,000 women and girls across 15 municipalities in Albania. By fostering collaboration between communities and local authorities, the program has enabled women like Lije Dedej to advocate for and achieve solutions that improve their lives.

Such initiatives helped push local governance attention toward a gender participatory agenda. Meme Xhaferaj, Head of Social Services at the Durrës municipality, emphasized the positive impact of the “Participate, Express, Decide” initiative:

“Women’s participation in public hearings has been invaluable in improving social services in Durrës. A standout example is the ‘Neim Babameto’ kindergarten, in a neighborhood where many vulnerable families live. Women raised the need for a full-day kindergarten that would serve lunch, to support working parents, and today, I am proud to say the kindergarten operates full-time, providing meals and essential care. This has met parents’ needs and created real employment opportunities, showing the power of acting on community voices.”

For the families, the changes at “Neim Babameto” day care are more than just a practical solution – they are a symbol of what can be achieved when communities come together to address shared challenges. As the director Valdete Thërmija reflects, “Small changes can change the world. Here, they have made a difference to the lives of mothers, children, and the entire community.”