Rural Albanians abandon the countryside in search of work

Mali Tafaj, 23, works on the farm with his family near the village of Novosej, Albania. 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. In the past year a wave of people have left villages like Novosej looking for work in the European Union but many are sent back to Albania as Germany has labeled it a "safe" country.

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Copyright: Elie Gardner
Image Size: 3600x2400 / 5.0MB; albania immigration village poverty european union farm country unemployment jobs economic migrant
Contained in galleries: Abandoning Rural Albania for Der Spiegel

Mali Tafaj, 23, works on the farm with his family near the village of Novosej, Albania. 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. In the past year a wave of people have left villages like Novosej looking for work in the European Union but many are sent back to Albania as Germany has labeled it a "safe" country.