Wismar–Pogradec town twinning

When the Hanseatic city of Wismar considered establishing a new partnership with a city in the “global south”, the focus quickly fell on the long-standing cooperation between CHW and Pogradec. Other connection points included the location on the waterside (Baltic Sea resp. Lake Ohrid), tourism topics, but also the unifying experience of the transition from socialism to a democratic society. Both cities are about the same size. And with Frieder Weinhold, member of the Wismar town parliament as well as honorary citizen of Pogradec, there was a strong advocate who supported the process on both sides.

Various visits and return visits, the internship of a Pogradec municipality employee in Wismar, a joint tourism seminar and the handover of a decommissioned Wismar fire engine to the Pogradec municipal fire department deepened the relationships. In 2019 the town twinning was officially sealed.

We as CHW and Diakonia Albania continue to support the town twinning with our possibilities:

• Advice and networking in both regions
• Logistical options for transporting donations in kind
• We conveyed Wismar’s experience of obtaining UNESCO World Heritage status; meanwhile, not only Ohrid, but also the Albanian part of Lake Ohrid with Pogradec is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Our clubhouse is used for meetings and as temporary accommodation
• Pogradec artist Taso, friend and supporter of our children’s center in Bishnca, could show his second exhibition in Wismar in 2023

• Pogradec website
• Wismar website

Wismar–Chornomorsk town twinning

Another twin town partnership with the Ukrainian city of Chornomorsk on the Black Sea is currently in preparation. Together with citizens and the city administration from Wismar, we were able to organize help and bring it to Chornomorsk, for example several generators to provide emergency supplies to schools and warming stations.