Erseke, Albania Joins the 21st Century

We hope to start an internet café where people can come to communicate with their loved ones living abroad, do research, take computer classes, and become more connected with the outside world. To earn profit users will pay for the internet time, pay for classes and also have the opportunity to buy coffee shop beverages and snacks. To do this a location, computers with software, furniture, espresso machines, internet access, and coffee shop supplies are all needed. These materials will be bought locally wherever possible and those things that can’t be gotten locally will be bought from other businesses within the nation. We will also need to hire 4 part time employees—3 to run the café and 1 computer specialist to do maintenance and teach computer classes.
This type of business doesn’t exist in Ersekë although it is much desires. In other towns like Erseke internet cafes have been very been successful. All of Erseke shall be the target market and the target groups will include student, those interested in learning and those with family living abroad. The surrounding villages will also be able to gain from this as every Wednesday people come from all around for the market.

High speed internet access is in demand as there is currently the knowledge that it in other communities but it doesn’t yet exist here in Erseke. The people of Erseke desire the knowledge, information, and communication that high speed, affordable internet provides. As the business begins ads will be shown on television, announcements will be made at the schools, brochures may be handed out and knowledge of our café will be spread by word of mouth. As this is a completely new business in Erseke we will start out without and competitors. Should competitors arise however this business will hold the edge by remaining up to date with current technology and software. It will be a clean and welcoming environment for all. The internet access it will provide will be both cheaper and fast than any other internet access in town which is currently only through dial up if a person has access to a computer at all.

This business is unique as it is the first internet café in the area of Erseke. It is needed here by both the people and other businesses and has been proven successful in other communities.

For 10 years I have worked as the sector manager of the Ersekë branch of the Agrinas Foundation in Albania. I have managed projects that deal with technical assistance to farmers, environmental and agricultural education of people, and improvement of schools.

For 3 years now Agrinas Erseke has been running a computer education project for the entire region that offers many computer courses and education opportunities. This has been very helpful for the community and widely appreciated and used. Currently a high speed internet connection is a strong desire of the community and very important for community development.

Immediately after the computer course was started all the workers in the governmental and private institutions were involved and 70 % of the pupils from the high school have been involved over the course of the program. We are a district that has less access to internet and computer courses and so the previous computer program was an immediate success.

There are several developemental impacts from this company. We will create jobs with in the community and provide a new and sought after service. The created jobs will mean up to $600/month going back into the local economy and the refurbishment of the location will increase property values. Having high speed internet access will also provide people with more access to the world with out the need to leave there own country. Having this access and having the improved services in Erseke will, over time, make Erseke a more desirable place to live and cut back on the number of people moving to the bigger cities. It will help to create a more stable community.