In the well-known Qiriazi family in Manastir, Sevasti Dako Qiriazi was born, an activist of the National Movement and for the emancipation of Albanian women. In the hometown, she completed her secondary education in English at the school of the Bible Society of the city. After finishing her studies at the American Women’s College in Istanbul (1888-1891), she returned to Korça, where, with the help of her brother, Gjerasim, she opened, in 1891, the first national school for girls: “Shkolla Shqipe e Vashave”. She participated in the educational Congress of Elbasan (1909). She prepared and published a series of texts on the Albanian grammar, world history and the history of Albania, etc. Sevasti Qiriazi collaborated with the albanologist Edith Durham for the recognition of the independent Albanian State in the international arena (1913). She collaborated with her sister, Parashqevi, for the publication of the magazine “Ylli i Mëngjezit” (“The Morning Star”). After returning to her homeland (1921), together with her husband, Kristo Dako and her sister, Parashqevi Qiriazi, she dedicated herself to the “Kyrias” educational institute, opened by them in Tirana and Kamza. She was decorated with the “Order of Skanderbeg “, 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: © National History Museum
Graphic processing: AHCF
