By: Beti Beno, Esq
AAWO PRESIDENT/
On behalf of the Albanian American Women’s Organization – Motrat Qiriazi, it is my pleasure to welcome you all to our celebration of the International Women’s and Teachers’ Day. Today, we come together to honor the incredible achievements of women around the world, and to pay tribute to the teachers who have dedicated their lives to educating and inspiring future generations. I wanted to note that we are also honored to have two distinguished guests with us today: New York Senator Kevin Thomas and Anna Cohen from our Florida Chapter. Senator Kevin Thomas has been a tremendous advocate for women’s rights and has worked tirelessly to advance gender equality in our society. Anna Cohen is a remarkable individual who has dedicated her life to empowering women and has made an immense contribution to our community in Florida. We are very grateful for their presence here today and for the important work they have done and continue to do in the field of women’s rights. With the mission to empower women and girls and to provide them with the tools they need to succeed, over the past year, AAWO has organized numerous workshops and seminars. These events have covered a wide range of topics, from career development, financial management, Real Estate to self-care, mental and physical health. We are proud of the impact that these events have had on the lives of women in our community, and we will continue to organize them in the future. In addition to our workshops and seminars, we have also helped many women and children in need by donating and providing support and services to those facing difficult situations. It is important for us to give back to our community and to support those who are most vulnerable. I would like to thank the Board of Directors for the remarkable work done in the past year. I would like to thank the event Committee for organizing this wonderful evening. A big shutout to our Secretary Eva Milo, Albana Konci, Ariana Elezaj, Agathia Llupa and our volunteers Daniela Beno, Bojkena Selmanaj and Anila Gjika. I would like to thank our members, supporters and volunteers because your support means lot to our organization’s mission. Also, today we will also be holding a raffle whose proceeds will be donated to a domestic violence survivor and her 3-year-old son currently living in the Bronx. It is important for us to support and uplift women in our community who are facing difficult situations, and we hope that through this raffle we can make a positive impact in their lives. It is a tradition of AAWO to select a “Woman of the Year” and a “Teacher of the Year”, in order to recognize distinguished women for their personal achievements, but most importantly for the incredible work they do for our community. This year, we are proud to honor Ertrita Ibroci as “Woman of the Year”, and Professor Anila Duro as “Teacher of the Year”. Both of these women 2 have made significant contributions to our community and have inspired us all with their passion and dedication. Today, as we celebrate the achievements of women and teachers, let us also remember that we have much work to do to create a world where women and girls can thrive, free from discrimination and inequality. Let us re-dedicate ourselves to this important cause, and to the pursuit of a more just and equitable society for all.