The awards ceremony for the winners of the Tirana WRITE ON contest will be held at the American Corner on Saturday, April 5 at 11am.If you have any questions, contact Marty at martyfeess@yahoo.com. #awardceremony

The results are in! After 7.5 hours reading and critiquing nearly 1300 essays, our amazing panel of judges have found the winners of our 2014 Creative Writing Competition. This year, we had such an incredible turn-out that we decided to have two competitions: a National Competition (all students outside of Tirana) and a Tirana Competition (only students in Tirana). Congratulations to all of our winners! National Winners: 6th Grade Form: 1. Orjona Skenderaj, Fier 2. Maria Gjata, Vlore 3. Holger Lilaj, Kucove 7th Grade Form: 1. Anxhela Doko, Fier 2. Vasil Prendi, Kucove 3. Megi Kushta, Librazhd 8th Grade Form: 1. Sara Pjetrushaj, Fier 2. Iris Osmanaj, Bajram Curri 3. Oriola Biba, Lezhe 9th Grade Form: 1. Elisa Pashku, Fier 2. Sabina Lloshi, Fier 3. Frida Isufaj, Kucove 10th Grade Form: 1. Dea Frroku, Lezhe 2. Inda Piroli, Lezhe 3. Irida Shyti, Kavaje 11th Grade Form: 1.Kristiana Sokoli, Bajram Curri 2. Kristjana Rrapaj, Fier 3. Kostandina Marku, Lezhe 12th Grade Form: 1. Joerd Hysa, Librazhd 2. Eleana Rraku, Saranda 3. Denis Blloshmi, Librazhd University 1st Year Form: N/A University 2nd Year Form: 1. Maria Lara, Gjirokaster 2. Kristina Nikaj, Shkoder 3. Marsida Kaloshi, Shkoder ______________________________________________________________________ Tirana Winners: 6th Grade Form: 1. Amra Tagani 2. Era Boka 3. Jana Bako 7th Grade Form: 1. Ted Kurtaliaj 2. Alken Rrokaj 3. Elena Kolaveri 8th Grade Form: 1. Ana Bushi 2. Katia Hanxhari 3. Anisa Sinaj 9th Grade Form: 1. Henri Balla 2. Darjel Dullaj 3. Edit Muzhaqi 10th Grade Form: 1. Onejda Ndreu 2. Gisi Musa 3. Hygerta Qosja 11th Grade Form: 1. Aleksandra Selimej 2. Megi Hamza 3. Alba Tahiri 12th Grade Form: 1. Rea Bakiasi 2. Xhulia Mema 3. Klaudia Bufazi University 1st Year Form: 1. Enxhi Pica 2. Silvi Koçiu 3. Klea Mërtenike University 2nd Year Form: 1. Lusila Murati 2. Atea Kamenica 3. Greta Ndregjoui We want to thank each and every student that participated. Your essays blew us away and we are so impressed at the level of creativity and imagination of all the Albanian students in the competition. Thanks for making Write On! Albania better than ever! Click here to read all of our winning essays! #winners #2014

There's only one week left till we start our annual writing competition and we couldn't be more proud of our students! This week we want to give a shout-out to the students of Bajram Curri! It's their first year participanting in Write On! but they are already turning up the heat. From playing writing games and writing songs to expressing their options about the ideal society, these students have showed us what can happen when you open up your mind and believe that anything is possible. Congrats Bajram Curri! Good luck in the competition next week! To check out our previous Writers of the Week or if you want to nominate a specific group, click here. #writersoftheweek

As we get closer to the competition, our groups are becoming more and more prepared. We are so impressed with all of the students that are participating in their local Write On! groups and their ability to share their imaginations. This week, we want to celebrate the creativity and the passion of the students in Lezhe. The Lezhe group meets once a week to practice creative writing. They write essays and do various activities designed to stretch the imagination and incorporate fun into English language learning. Keep up the good work Lezhe!!!!! To check out the previous Writers of the Week click the link here! #writersoftheweek

This weeks Writers of the Week hail from Delvine. Each week, we practice with an array of prompts and activities ranging listening to music and compiling a list of adjectives, using colors to tell a story, drawing, personification, creating senses poems, haikus and more. We've explored the different genres of writing like comedy, scary and fantasy and written original short stories under these labels. For the most part, we've been having a fun time learning and sharing creativity together and Delvine is excited to participate in WO! once again! Click here to check out past Writers of the Week and how you can nominate a group for future weeks! Way to go Delvine! #writersoftheweek

This week, we would to highlight the combined efforts of our wonderful volunteers in Gjirokaster, Connor and Laurel, and all the students who have been practicing their creative writing skills and preparing for the competition in March. Click here to check out some of the activites that they've been up to and see why we have chosen them to be our celebrated group this week. Way to go Gjirokaster! #writersoftheweek

Gezuar vitin e ri! Our number one resolution this year is to make Write On! Albania bigger and better than ever before. What's yours? Our creative writing family keeps on growing thanks to the work and dedication of our volunteers in the following sites: Gjirokaster, Delvine, Librazhd, Korce, Sarande, Lezhe, Vlore, Tirane, Leskovik, Bajram Curri, Kavaje, Gramsh, Fushe Arrez, Bilisht, Fier, Elbasan and Kukes. Keep up the bukur work, you are an inspiration to us here at Write On! Don't see your city or town on this list? Message us and we'll see what we can do! As of now, all of our wonderful volunteers have received a bundle of goodies designed to cater to their every need and ensure a wonderful time for their students such as yourself. We look forward to hearing how it goes, what activities you do, what stories you will write and more importantly, how you will express yourself. Remember to stay tuned to our FB fan page or here for updates, tips, exercises and more. WORD. - Team Write On! Albania #2014

Team Write On! Albania has been hard at work preparing creatively to make Albania stand out on the map these last few months. We are proud to announce the start of the 2014 Write On! season and we would like to invite you to join us in this unique and wonderful adventure. If you are an interested volunteer or teacher, please e-mail us at write.on.albania@gmail.com by Tuesday, December 31st and we'll put you on our mailing list! If you are a student and wish to participate, please contact your local volunteer or reach us at the e-mail provided above. We can't wait to see what 2014 brings. WORD. - Team Write On! Albania P.S. Ever wondered whose behind Write On! Albania? Then wonder no more! Simply hover under the "about us" section and scroll down. While you're at it, explore the rest of the site that our new media director put together!

Last year, Albania had three students place at the international level. This year, we came back even stronger and had four students place world wide. A huge celebratory congratulations go out to the following for their beautiful writing. Georgia [the country] has spoken. 7th Grade - 2nd Place - Irvi Cela - Burrel 9th Grade - 1st Place - Gloria Hoxhallari - Kucove 11th Grade - 3rd Place - Ana Bici - Elbasan 12th Grade - 1st Place - Ardita Koxhaj - Kucove With that said, thank you to all the winners for their funny and wise words. You strung together a story that mesmerized the judges and it shows in their decision making process. And for everyone that participated, please don't forget that you are true artists as well. Please join us again on this writing adventure next year! PRESS RELEASE Last year, around 600 essays were submitted and 3 out of 8 of our national winners placed at the international level. This year, our total number came to 375 and although it may not have been as high as last year, the diversity within our winners’ backgrounds is astounding. Of the 30 first place winners that placed this year, 10 cities and 10 towns were represented versus last year where only 2 cities delivered winners. Males were strongly outnumbered with only 62 participants versus 313 females. The age brackets were more evenly split with 115 students from the 9 year schools, 154 at the high school level and 76 total for university. With this in mind, we are extremely proud of the results in this year’s competition and we hope to be even bigger, better and more diversified next year. Write On! Albania isn’t just an opportunity for the student, it’s also a chance for volunteers to work outside of their sector in a comfortable setting. This year, we had health and COD volunteers branch out and give weekly creative writing sessions throughout the country. Because of this opportunity, more volunteers were able to experience the simple joy of watching their students grow in their learning. Increased self confidence and pride are other enjoyable benefits of this competition. To see a child smile as they review their work, is one of the most rewarding experiences that a volunteer can receive. Write On! Albania is proud to say that we are already excited for next year’s competition. May creativity never die. C'KEMI! Please check up for the final update for this year's website to meet the winners from all across Albania. We are in the process of gathering mini bios and photos at the moment and we are more than excited to introduce you to them. Cheers! - Write On! Albania #winners

After 9 hours of deliberation and much discussion, we are more than happy and proud to announce this year's winners. One neat statistic is that our winners represent 5 towns and 5 cities. Congratulations to all the participants because whether you placed or not, you did a phenomenal job so be proud of your accomplishments. We hope to be reading your works of art next year! 6TH 1. Roel Shyle - Leskovik 2. Anxhela Doko - Fier 3. Ada Dobra - Burrel 7TH 1. Irvi Cela - Burrel* 2. Erikejsa Kuka - Burrel 3. Vefiana Shkurti - Vlore 8TH 1. Enxhi Hysa - Burrel 2. Ermenda Hoxha - Burrel 3. Xhoana Nuzi - Burrel 9TH 1. Gloria Hoxhallari - Kucove* 2. Redina Zani - Gramsh 3. Gebri Mishtaku - Vlore 10TH 1. Ana Doko - Fier 2. Danjela Ruci - Burrel 3. Eralda Meta - Burrel 11TH 1. Ana Biu - Elbasan* 2. Ina Shemplaku - Elbasan 3. Antoneta Gjelaj - Lezhe 12TH 1. Ardita Koxhaj - Kucove* 2. Anela Hoxhallari - Kucove 3. Arlinda Gogo - Kucove UNIVERSITY 1 1. Onesti Caushaj - Sarande 2. Ketrina Yejdi - Sarande 3. Ana Mitro - Sarande UNIVERSITY 2 1. Julisa Gjetja - Shkoder 2. Sabina Merkulaj - Shkoder 3. Armena Dyli - Shkoder UNIVERSITY 3 1. Arsjola Bode - Sarande 2. Xhuljeta Stofasoni - Sarande 3. Xhuliana Bufi - Sarande Now what? All winners will be contacted by their respective volunteers and receiving a certificate of placement and a book prize thanks to the International Book Store. All first place winners will move on to the international phase of the competition meaning that their essays will get sent to Georgia where they will be competing against 14 other countries. Thank you Alket & The International Book Store! If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us via our FB page, write.on.albania@gmail.com or even here on our blog. Thank you again for everyone who helped make this possible from the volunteers to the students who took the time to put their words on paper. It has been an amazing season! Let's repeat this next year! Here are some questions that you might be wondering: How were they judged? We had a panel of 5 university students, 8 volunteers and a teacher. Location was disregarded completely to prevent bias opinion. We first sorted the essays into piles by grade and then rated them from 1 through 5, 5 being the best. With our piles of 5, we then had everyone read them and rank them and eventually we found our gems! Why didn’t I win? It was a very difficult decision to make but the ones that we chose were the ones that moved us the most in the creative spirit. They took the prompts and truly made it their own by providing a unique and refreshing point of view. What was the criterion for the winners? The essays we chose were the ones that moved us the most. Some we laughed at as the author wanted, some made us think and some left us in awe [for real, you should read them]. I got placed! What next?! Well, students that ranked 1 through 3 all received a prize and a certificate of placement. All of their essays will be typed up and proudly immortalized on our website. Essays that placed first will be sent to Georgia and then compete against the other 14 participating countries. Pretty exciting stuff and once again, we have a strong feeling that Albania will do well at the international stage. Winners will also be asked to answer a few questions and have their photos taken to complete our online archive for 2013. Check back to find yourself and your essay within a week! Hobbies: Fun Fact About Yourself: Favorite Quote: Where do you see yourself in 10 years? See you all next year! *Recognizes international winner #winners

Welcome to Write On! Albania's new home page. March 4th is the big day so grab your pencil and paper and get ready to get your write on. We currently have the following cities, towns and villages participating for the upcoming competition: Fushe Arrez, Orikum, Gramsh, Koplik, Kelcyre, Gjirokaster, Erseke, Delvine, Shkoder, Burrel, Rreshen, Elbasan, Berat, Pogradec, Librazhd, Bilisht, Vlore, Fier, Leskovik, Diviak, Kucove, Sarande, Lezhe, Klos & The Student Learning Center located in Tirane. If you're interested but don't see your location on our list, please have your teacher or local volunteer contact us for more information. We can be reached at write.on.albania@gmail.com or send us a message on our facebook page.