The 270 kilometer long Vjosa River in Albania is one of the last living wild rivers in Europe, with its wild and free canyons, magnificent canyons, oxbows and meanders. The main source of the river is in Greek territory, near the village of Vouvoussa, and for its first 80th kilometer it exits Greece, enters Albanian territory before finally flowing into the Adriatic Sea, just north of the Narta lagoon, one of the largest and most ecological. the richest lagoons of the small Balkan country.
This beautiful river in southern Albania has attracted attention inside and outside the country due to plans to build hydroelectric power plants in its basin. These projects alarmed environmental groups and also excited young people.
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Four girls on a mission to save nature
Thirteen-year-old Amantia Jonuzaj and her friends who joined forces in a group called Citrine, took their own initiative to help protect Vjosa. They created an app to help raise awareness about this sensitive topic.
“Initially, our idea was to build an application for animal protection. We did some research and were impressed that the Vjosa River contained a large number of threatened species that are endangered every day due to the construction of hydroelectric power plants,” Amantia told Trending Topics SEE.
The whole app is based on information about the Vjosa River and the protection of its ecosystem.
“Our group is made up of four girls and each of us worked on a specific theme for the app. Some took photos, others did research, some came up with ideas and I personally took care of the design and programming, which brought the app to life,” she adds.
Raise awareness
The girls hope people will download their app and raise awareness about what’s happening and why it’s wrong. “In order to protect Vjosa, we must all be united and share the same goal, the protection of the Blue Heart of Europe.”
Amantia explains that its app aims to inform the public about the hidden gems of Vjosa, the wilderness that surrounds it and its endangered animals and plants. “Raising awareness of these special elements of nature will spark interest among tourists and make people want to come and explore the area.”
The closer the public is to this nature and the more they relate to it, the more they will be aware of the treasure that Europe could lose due to human intervention.
Vjosa – everything in one place
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“Everything about Vjosa is part of the app. You can enjoy the wonders of nature that surrounds it through the gallery, you can find restaurants and hotels closest to the area or you can go fishing with family or friends while getting familiar with the fishing areas “, explains Amantia. “There are also guides offering the most interesting activities like rafting and hiking; information about flora and fauna, as well as interesting facts about the endangered species that live there.
Amantia and her friends also brainstormed ways to help endangered animals and species as well as visitors who might find themselves in a dangerous situation.
“If, while you are in this area, something unexpected happens – you see an injured animal, a fire or other accident, we have activated a speed dial feature that automatically redirects you to emergency numbers from the police, fire brigade, ambulance or the nearest veterinary center.
The group is part of a program called Technovation Girls, which organizes American Corner Tirana’s Technovation Challenge, a competition bringing together teams of girls from around the world. They will compete with mobile apps that find a solution to a particular challenge, from preparing for natural disasters and protecting the environment to preventing domestic violence and encouraging volunteerism. The winning application will be announced on May 3 and will be available on the Appstore.
“We hope to be one of the best groups and we would love to win the competition, but our main goal remains the same: to save Vjosa and raise awareness about this sensitive topic that is being talked about a lot around the world.”
Amantia hopes that its application will be open to the public in the future and will have an impact, allowing everyone to know and appreciate this treasure.
River dam
Despite calls from the EU to stop dam construction, Alanian authorities plan to build 27 hydroelectric plants in the Vjosa basin. Environmental experts warn that their construction would destroy the ecological value of the river and alter its hydrological regime.
Time is running out: construction work in the Vjosa basin is already underway and Albanian beauty is in danger.