On 17 October 2025, Hedayah with the support of the European Union Programme (EU STRIVE II) and in coordination with the Coordination Center for Countering Violent Extremism (CVE Center), organized an introductory event to launch four communication campaigns developed by religious and community leaders under the project “Message Dissemination for Religious and Community Leaders in Albania”.

The event opened with the welcoming remarks by Ms. Lejdi Dervishi, National Coordinator for the Prevention and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE); Mr. Davide Casale, representative of the European Union; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Genti Kruja from the Interreligious Council of Albania; and Ms. Irene Belmonte, Manager of the EU Programme for Strengthening Resilience Against Violent Extremism (STRIVE Global), Hedayah.

All speakers emphasized the vital importance of interfaith dialogue as a means of building bridges of understanding and coexistence among different religious communities. They highlighted the need to empower religious leaders as voices of peace, tolerance and social stability, by training and preparing them to play an active role in preventing violent extremism. It was noted that through proper religious education, institutional cooperation, and community engagement, safer, more inclusive, and more resilient environments can be created against divisive and radical ideologies.

In her speech, Ms. Dervishi stated that this is a meaningful milestone in the joint efforts to strengthen resilience against violent extremism in Albania. She noted that the presentation of the four media products represents tangible results of an intensive and inclusive process, in which religious leaders, community representatives, and youth have come together to craft positive, inclusive and powerful messages.

She also emphasized that only through interinstitutional and intercommunity cooperation can Albania build a safer and more stable society for everyone, especially for the younger generations.

Meanwhile, Mr. Davide Casale, the EU representative, emphasized that Albania is unique in terms of the harmony that exists among its religious communities, describing it as a rare and valuable quality in today’s world. He stated, “Albania should be proud of these achievements and at the same time motivated to continue in this direction”.

During the event, participants were introduced to the campaign dissemination plan, outlining that the four campaigns will be broadcast across media outlets and social networks over the next six weeks. Participants contributed to assessing the quality and effectiveness of the campaigns, while representatives of the Audiovisual Media Authority (AMA) highlighted the importance of maintaining privacy and avoiding content or imagery that could have a negative impact on the public.

This event marks a significant step in strengthening the role of religious and community leaders as positive voices in building resilience against violent extremism and promoting coexistence in Albanian society.