Sevasti Qiriazi Dako, born on February 24, 1871, in Manastir, was a key figure in the advancement of education for girls in the Albanian language.

She was the first Albanian woman to attend higher education at “Robert College” in Istanbul. After completing her studies in 1891, Sevasti returned to Albania and played an instrumental role in founding the girls’ school in Korça. Alongside her dedicated sister, Parashqevi Qiriazi, she helped educate the first generations of young women in the region.

Sevasti, in collaboration with her husband, the patriotic educator Kristo Dako, also wrote and edited a number of school textbooks. She actively participated in two major congresses that laid the groundwork for the Albanian alphabet and education: the Congress of Manastir (1908) and the Congress of Elbasan. In the realm of national affairs, she worked closely with Ismail Qemali, the Prime Minister of Albanian Independence, as well as with Albanian patriotic groups abroad.

As chairwoman of the Albanian National Party in the United States, Sevasti championed the rights of Albanians, delivering lectures at various international forums. Her commitment to education and the social emancipation of Albanian women continued after her return to Albania in 1920, when she opened the “Kyrias” /Qiriazi/ women’s institute.

Sevasti Qiriazi compiled her autobiographical reflections in a work titled “The Struggle for the Emancipation of the Daughters of the Albanian Language“.

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