The Europe Challenge

The Local Challenge 

Hekal, a small village in southern Albania near the ancient city of Bylis, carries centuries of history yet faces a deep cultural void. There is no library, no public cultural space, and no digital learning hub. Young people leave in large numbers, with 71% of rural youth express a wish to migrate, while elders grow increasingly isolated. Women, despite being central transmitters of knowledge within families, remain largely invisible in public life.

Hekal’s challenge is the loss of connection between people, past, and place. Without intervention, its oral traditions risk fading into silence, and its young people risk losing any sense of belonging.

The Initiative

Through Bylis Whispers, the creation of the Bylis Community Library is turning this gap into an opportunity. The library established through The Europe Challenge serves as a storytelling hub, hosting monthly reading circles, oral history workshops, and children’s story hours that rebuild social bonds. Young people join photography and creative writing trainings, leading to The Humans of Bylis – a bilingual photo-story book and outdoor exhibition. A mobile story cart extends the library’s reach to nearby villages, bringing books and activities to communities beyond Hekal.

Its programming is inclusive from the ground up. Elders lead polyphonic singing sessions, recording traditional songs for a digital archive, while youth – including girls – learn to carry the tradition forward. Women’s groups, craft circles, and wellbeing gatherings establish a regular presence in the space. Partnerships with rural libraries in the Netherlands and Lithuania open channels for knowledge exchange, while the Bylis Whispers podcast and digital archive ensure that local voices, stories, and songs are preserved for future generations.

What’s Next?

In the first year, the library will complete its transformation from an empty stone building into a fully functioning cultural hub, with curated book collections, a digital corner, and equipment for recording oral histories. By the close of the project’s first phase, the library will not only have a regular audience across generations, but also a tested programme model, documented outcomes on participation, and a locally owned plan for the next steps, positioning it as a permanent fixture in Hekal’s cultural landscape.

Contact theeuropechallenge@culturalfoundation.eu if you have any questions or want to be connected with the team behind the project.