Kullolli Family

For generations, the Kullolli family from the village of Pëllumbas in Bërzhitë, Tirana, has dedicated itself to olive cultivation — a tradition deeply rooted in passion, perseverance, and love for the land. Yet, their daily work was marked by long hours of physically demanding labor, relying only on basic hand tools and traditional methods that made it difficult to keep up with larger farms.

Through the project "Inclusion and Economic Empowerment in the Western Balkans", the family received essential agricultural equipment through the IGA grant scheme — including a tiller, an olive harvester, pruning shears, and collection nets. These tools transformed the way they work, allowing them to harvest faster, prepare the land more efficiently, and reduce the physical strain that once limited their potential.

"We never thought that such simple equipment could make such a big difference," they shared. "Now harvesting olives is faster, and we can finally take steps to improve our farm for the future."

With renewed motivation and better opportunities, the Kullolli family looks ahead with optimism — aspiring to expand their olive production, improve quality, and one day bring their own olive oil to the regional market. "This support has given us hope and motivation to keep growing," they added. "We want to build a better future for our children, and now we feel like we have the right tools to do it."