Sevasti Dako Qiriazi, an activist of the National Movement and a champion for the emancipation of Albanian women, passed away in Tirana. Born in 1871 into the prominent Qiriazi family in Manastir, she completed her secondary education in English at the Bible Society school in her hometown. After studying at the American Women’s College in Istanbul from 1888 to 1891, she returned to Korça and, with the assistance of her brother Gjerasim, opened the first national school for girls, “Shkolla Shqipe e Vashave” (“Albanian School for Girls”), in 1891. Qiriazi participated in the Educational Congress of Elbasan in 1909 and prepared a series of educational texts covering subjects such as Albanian grammar, world history, and the history of Albania. She collaborated with the albanologist Edith Durham to promote the recognition of independent Albania in the international arena in 1913. Alongside her sister Parashqevi, she contributed to the publication of the magazine “Ylli i Mëngjezit” (“Morning Star”). After returning to her homeland in 1921, she, together with her husband Kristo Dako and her sister, dedicated herself to the “Kyrias” educational institute they established in Tirana and Kamëz. For her contributions, Sevasti Qiriazi was honored with several decorations, including the “Order of Skenderbeu,” the “Order for Patriotic Activity,” and the “Order of Freedom.” (In the photo: Sevasti Dako Qiriazi)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 3, Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2009, page 2182-2183.
Photo: © https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sevasti_Qiriazi-Dako
Graphic processing: AHCF
