For generations, the village of Dukat in Vlora is known for its generous hospitality, traditions and often mentioned in important historical events.

But even this village with great glory, which was once inhabited by about 350 families, has not escaped the phenomenon of depopulation that has affected many areas of the country in recent years. Today in this village, calmness prevails, the only voices that are heard are those of the elderly who deal with livestock and are helped by the children in migration.

“There is no life, now there is neither crying nor singing, it is bitter to leave, but this is the case here they do not come”, says a resident.

“Only we have a few young people left, most of them have fled, left with emigration. Unemployment, the economic situation, only elderly are left. Yes, I have thought about it and I will leave because we can no longer live like this, it is a miserable situation that’s all i can say”, says another.

The school in Dukat, where about 300 students were previously enrolled, is closed today. For 7 years, the school door has not been opened because there are no students. Once full of children, today cattle graze in the yard of Dukat’s school.

Before the 90s, about 1500 inhabitants lived in Dukat, while today the village has no more than 200 inhabitants. Young people have left to migrate due to difficult conditions and high unemployment.