The women who changed Albanian history.
Sevasti and Parashqevi Qiriazi are widely known as the Mothers of Albanian Education.
Archival portrait · Korçë, late 19th century
At a time when Albania was still under Ottoman rule and girls had limited access to education, the Qiriazi Sisters championed a revolutionary idea: that girls deserved the same educational opportunities as boys.
In 1891, Sevasti Qiriazi helped establish the first Albanian school for girls in Korçë, creating a milestone in Albanian education and women's emancipation.
Parashqevi Qiriazi expanded this mission through teaching, publishing textbooks, literacy programs, and national advocacy. She was the only woman participant at the historic Congress of Monastir, where the modern Albanian alphabet was standardized.
- Opened educational opportunities for Albanian women
- Promoted education in the Albanian language
- Contributed to Albanian nation-building
- Advanced women's rights and leadership
- Inspired generations of educators and changemakers
Timeline
A legacy in milestones
1891
First Albanian school for girls opens in Korçë, founded with the help of Sevasti Qiriazi.
Early 1900s
Parashqevi expands literacy programs, publishes textbooks, and advocates nationally.
1908
Parashqevi is the only woman participant at the Congress of Monastir, where the modern Albanian alphabet is standardized.
Legacy
Generations of educators, leaders, and changemakers are inspired by their work.