On May 24, 1891, the first female institute in Albania, “Kyrias”, was founded.

The key to this institute was the crowning of the efforts of the patriot and initiator of the organization of Albanian education for women, Sevasti Dako Qiriazi.

The General Directorate of Archives states that Sevasti Qiriazi was the first Albanian woman to study at “Robert College” in Istanbul.

After her studies, in 1891, she returned to Albania and helped establish the girls’ school in Korça. Together with her sister Parashqevi Qiriazi, they were the first teachers of the girls’ school that was opened in 1891 in Korça.

She has designed and edited a number of school textbooks together with her husband, Kristo Dako. She was a participant in the two important congresses that laid the foundations of the Albanian alphabet and education, the Congress of Manastir and the one of Elbasan. 

She participated in the Congress of Elbasan and worked in the commission for the review of school textbooks set up by the “Progress” society.

She wrote “Elementary Grammar for Primary Schools” and cooperated with patriots and with Ismail Qemali on the national issue. When she was the head of the “Albanian National Party” in the USA, she defended the rights of Albanians in many international forums. Devoting herself to national progress, she provided assistance in the field of education and social emancipation of Albanian women.

/k.s/