Profile information
Host rating
80 %
Last replied
15 Sep 2025
Reply rate
64.8 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
14
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Details
Description
The project is looking for like minded people who would love to join and live with us and help us revive the old house of our grandparents in the historical village of Zhulat, nestled in the mountains of the south. The village is a magical place, isolated from the world and mountains view like a big natural amphitheater. It has lost ruins of the antiquity and reached the 90’ with 1200 inhabitants while only 40 live today. People are very much connected with the nature for their food, flocks and housing. We're a family of three - Fatmir, Fjona and our son Dardan.
Fatmir, a tour guide for many years is spending his time on renovation and putting his energy and presence to create accommodation and food to host the guests.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Culture
Videography
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Self development
Farming
Animals
Carpentry
Blogging
Architecture
Photography
Plant care
Music
History
DIY & crafts
Art & design
Gardening
Cooking & food
Yoga / Wellness
Camping
Nature
Mountain
Beach
Outdoor activities
Hiking
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Volunteers who love nature, mountains and Mediterranean climate and cuisine to help transform the old village house into a warm place. Our dream is bring back life in the village. There is so much to explore, meditate and enjoy the moment cut out from the carbon. You can learn the history, or learn to cook some traditional dishes and some Albanian too.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Tasks vary depending on the season including:
Landscape help - with ecological impact on the environment;
Gardening - help the land, planting, removing wild herbs, pruning, harvesting, eating fruits :);
Food preparation - harvesting, cleaning, drying, cooking, preserving for winter by reviving the old traditional techniques
Cooking nourishing and delicious food with fresh ingredients from the garden;
Cleaning and maintaining - shared spaces;
Babysitting - just keeping an eye on Dardan when we are busy doing something/playing/dancing, he loves to stay with people;
Social media - capturing beautiful moments from the daily activities through photos and videos to post them on our personal Instagram and Facebook page
Cultural exchange - sharing stories around the fire, watching sunsets, learning more on local traditions and history, drinking raki, taking short walks/hiking/refreshing in the river, taking photos and exchanging contacts to hopefully reunite in another time;
Art - the last but not the least, if this place is calling you and want to express yourself, feel free to make it vibrate higher <3
All this work is done by sweat and passion. We are lucky to live here.
Whoever who want to join, whoever wants to get things done by hand, carpentry, stone, art, the door is open.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Albanian: Fluent
Italian: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
I am open to learn new words/expressions from other languages and to teach some Albanian too.
Accommodation
1st option: One shared room (2 single beds/1 double bed) in the house of the family, shared bathroom and kitchen outside. Depending on the situation the 2nd option would be an abandoned house at the neighbor's (attached photo). The conditions are basic. The 1st floor is freshly painted and fixed as much as possible. We have a kitchen to cook with fire or gas. We enjoy life in community, simple life in the village, cook for ourselves, preserve food, slow down to simple things.
Food is not included. We provide a kitchen to cook the food together and essential local food. Anything extra must be provided by the person himself. Shopping once a week.
Any donation for the support of our project is welcomed and appreciated.
What else ...
During our free time and weekends we love to do outdoor activities like walking, hiking, river walking(during summer), fishing, birdwatching, camping or just relaxing in the hammock, meditate, doing yoga, listening to music, watching the stars, reading books and cooking delicious and seasonal food. Sometimes we also enjoy city walking in Gjirokaster. There is transport to Gjirokaster everyday, or if you want to reach for Sarande you should set off from Gjirokaster or try your luck hitchhiking.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
There is space for 2 to 3 people working online. There is free WIFI which usually is fast (4G). Sometimes the electricity goes out so be prepared if your battery is not strong enough for a 1-2 h interruption.
Space for parking camper vans
There is enough space for 2 Medium/Large campervans next to the house, or bigger campervans can be parked in the center of the village 7 minutes walking from the house.
Can possibly accept pets
Any pet which is not dangerous to other pets/animals and surroundings, which is well behaved and can live in Mediterranean mountainous climate is welcomed. We love cats & dogs! Just be aware that there are other around.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
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Photos
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Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
I really feel like I have made a second family in little Zhulat. Fatmir and Fjona are so very welcoming, easy to get along with and best of all - good fun! Their little baby boy Darden is… read more
They came to stay for couple of days and it was hard when they left after 6 weeks. They are super nice people, very chill and easy-going to live with, always helpful and hardworking, trusted and respectful. During these weeks we together completed several tasks including building stone wall… read more
We stayed 6 weeks with Fatmir, Fjona and Dardan together as a family. They are all together very lovely human beings! We shared all… read more
I apologize for the very late review. Zhulat eco-village project has been on hold due to personal reasons, and I have been away from Workaway.
Dear Julie&Ivan thank you very much.
This French couple, who are traveling the world on their bikes came at my village house to help for almost one month. Our place is cut off… read more
We really liked Fatmir's project to set up a form of eco-responsible tourism in the village of Zhulat.
For 3 weeks we carried out a variety of tasks, mainly in the construction field: dry stone walls, helping to build a roof, making concrete and… read more
When we arrived in the mountain village of Zhulat 40 minutes down a gravel road, we were initially skeptical about what to expect here. But we quickly got to know the people and their hospitality.
The simple way of life and the remoteness allow you to slow down. The nature is breathtaking and makes zhulat… read more
