The Colours of Albania

This initiative, now in its second year, is inviting the Albanian public to participate in a photography contest on social media, so that everyone can play their role as "ambassadors of our country." It also aims to promote the beauty of Albania through the eyes of its citizens, particularly of the youth and photography enthusiasts.

On 3rd of June the second edition of #ColoursofAlbania was launched by the Prime Minister Edi Rama, Ministers of state, the Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj and representatives of the diplomatic corps. The contest is a platform which is aimed at supporting Albania’s digital diplomats around the world by promoting Albania’s vivid history and culture. At the end of the first edition in 2015, the best 10 pictures were selected and turned into a traveling exhibition. It is still being displayed at Albanian diplomatic missions around the world.

The contest will be carried out through social media, on Instagram and Facebook platforms, where photos of all participants will be collected through the use of the # (hashtags on Instagram) and the @ (tag in Facebook). The Colours of Albania initiative will last for 6 months (May-October 2016). In September the contest will end and the best pictures will be selected by a jury of professional photographers.

Applicants are free to choose their own subject for submission, be it a promotion of Albanian society, art, culture or religious coexistence etc. Each week the subject will be published on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, websites of Telecom Albania (which sponsors the activity), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Albanian diplomatic missions abroad and other public institutions. Winners will be invited to attend the photo exhibition and activities to be held in the framework of #ColoursofAlbania. The winning entries will be part of a booklet which will be distributed to all Albanian diplomatic missions abroad and it will be used as a symbolic gift by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Prime Minister Rama emphasised the importance of this initiative in promoting the values and beauty of the country, as well as the opportunities that technology provides in increasing human capacities to communicate with others. Executive Director of Telekom Albania, Dimitris Blatsios, noted his positive impression of Albania; bright and vivid colours in all areas of life, the country's natural beauty and tradition, the rich culture of the society and hospitality of the people.