Rural Albanians abandon the countryside in search of work

From left, Badi Tafaj, 20, Nadire Tafaj and Mali Tafaj, 23, thresh rye near the village of Novosej, Albania. In the past year a wave of people have left villages in the region, looking for work in the European Union but many are sent back to Albania. Badi Tafaj says life in the village is very hard but leaving would be difficult for her since she feels a responsibility to help her parents. As his parents age Mali Tafaj says he feels a sense of responsibility to step up and care for the family and has considered moving to the EU to work.

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Copyright: Elie Gardner
Image Size: 3600x2400 / 7.0MB; albania immigration village poverty european union farm country unemployment jobs economic migrant
Contained in galleries: Abandoning Rural Albania for Der Spiegel

From left, Badi Tafaj, 20, Nadire Tafaj and Mali Tafaj, 23, thresh rye near the village of Novosej, Albania. In the past year a wave of people have left villages in the region, looking for work in the European Union but many are sent back to Albania. Badi Tafaj says life in the village is very hard but leaving would be difficult for her since she feels a responsibility to help her parents. As his parents age Mali Tafaj says he feels a sense of responsibility to step up and care for the family and has considered moving to the EU to work.