The abandonment of rural areas, mainly by young people, has caused many areas to become depopulated. The specific case comes from the village of Shmil in Elbasan. Shmili is located about 27 km from the city of Elbasan. It is being abandoned day by day, while two decades ago there were dozens of families in this area, today only 5 houses remain inhabited. There are no more young people and those who are left are the third age.

“This is called the Buzhiq neighborhood, I am a resident of this neighborhood, the country is depopulated here, there is no more youth. The youth have all gone to the corners and here the most vulnerable have remained, the elderly have been left unable to find another way, everything has ended here, the neighborhood and the houses are completely abandoned”, says a resident of the area.

According to those who continue to live in this village, there are many reasons for young people leaving. The only activity for the remaining residents is the chestnut trees, which ironically only produce once a year.

“It has been abandoned because there is no work, no products, nothing. The youth is completely gone, there were 24-25 families here. We only think of chestnuts and they are degrading. Only my wife and I are left, the youth is gone, the children are gone”, says another resident of the area.

Agriculture and livestock are the only source of economic income for the inhabitants of this village, but with the massive departure of young people, the weight of work has remained on the shoulders of the elderly who mostly have abandoned the land.

The influencing factors of this departure are numerous. Faced with unemployment, difficulties to cope with living, the young generation has chosen to leave, seeing immigration as the only salvation.