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The first Albanian mayor in Italy/ Sindi Manushi confesses the difficulties of emigration: I often visit Albania

2023-06-23 18:16:06Politikë SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
The first Albanian mayor in Italy/ Sindi Manushi confesses the difficulties of
Sindi Manushi

Sindi Manushi from Elbasan became the first Albanian to head a municipality in Italy. Now, the mayor of Pieve di Cadore, Sindi Manushi, tells how she and her family immigrated to Italy.

In an interview for the show "Opinion", Sindi Manushi confesses that she was 9 years old when she moved from Elbasan to Pieve di Cadore, as she shows the difficulties she faced in her beginnings in Italy.

Sindi Manushi: I have always lived in Elbasan before I came here.

How did you move to Italy, who made the decision? How do you remember even though you were very small?

Sindi Manushi: Yes, I was little, but those memories were very clear in my mind. My uncle came here in the 90s, this is a touristic, mountainous area. My uncle came and worked as a cook and then my father came. We came 3 years after my father came here. Both father and uncle came here clandestinely. We came with papers, plus since the beginning of the 2000s, the opinion about Albanians here was somewhat different. In the 90s there were many prejudices, while in the 2000s the opinion had started to change.

For a 9-year-old who was born and raised in Elbasan and moves to a completely new life, how difficult was it?

Sindi Manushi: Very difficult because Pieve is different from Elbasan, here it is a small place, the air is very clean, there is no metallurgy here, there is a lot of snow, it is very cold. Even people are cold, but when they get to know you, those first prejudices don't count and they open up, they are honest people.

What did you study?

Sindi Manushi : I studied in Albania until the third grade, then I finished high school here and then I studied Law in Trento. I came back because I don't like medium cities, I don't have mine. I chose to come back here to Pieve.

How did you decide to run for mayor?

Sindi Manushi: I decided gradually because at first I had no idea to run myself because I knew it was an election that would take a lot of time in my profession, I am a lawyer. But events unfolded in such a way that the others themselves sought me out. When people were coming together to create the list, there were many other candidates before me, but they didn't manage to have the consensus that the others gave me, and it was born naturally, let's say.

How interesting was your campaign, how much did you enjoy this campaign?

Sindi Manushi: I enjoyed it a lot. It has been very tiring to be honest. Here the city is very small, but people love you there, to be very punctual, to meet all those who have shops, who have businesses, volunteers and so on. People seem few, but in a month it is difficult to meet everyone.

What is the priority of Pieve di Cadore? What the town deals with the most. Where is it concentrated?

Sindi Manushi: There was a very strong eyewear industry until the early 2000s. Many eyeglass brands have been created here, but in the early 2000s a very big crisis broke out, so the eyeglass factories were relocated and tourism remained here, we have very beautiful places.

What is the population of the municipality you lead?

3,600-3,800 people. Italy is a very old country in general. The population is very old.

What are the priorities you will have in your work?

Sindi Manushi: There are many, but social services are the first point. They are precisely because the population is quite old because there is a great need for everyone to stay close to them. We also have the problem of migration. In addition, it is also the "potentiation" of tourism that is necessary to move forward.

Do you often return to Albania, or do you visit Albania?

Sindi Manushi: I usually come once a year to Albania. I come to see my grandmother and aunt in Elbasan, but I don't stay long, no more than 10 days.

Do you find Albania changed from the Albania of your memories?

Sindi Manushi: Yes, absolutely. The city that you always find different is Tirana. I have experienced Tirana a lot when I was little because my aunt was in Tirana and I often went to see her at "Rruga e Kavaja". Tirana in the 90s is very different from Tirana now. I prefer Tirana then to be honest. I don't like Tirana now.

Since you are an immigrant who went to Italy, meanwhile you have reached a high level as you are the first Albanian to be elected mayor in Italy, what is the message you can give to young people and people who enter the path of immigration, or are they afraid of this road?

Sindi Manushi: The message is that the school, and at least in my story, the school made me get here and get an education. Education does a lot.

Blendi Fevziu: I would also join your appeal. I have often said to you young people in universities: There is no other way to be successful in life than school.


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