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The Martin and Mirash Ivanaj Foundation was created in New York in 1995 in the name and memory of Dr. Martin Ivanaj and Prof. Mirash Ivanaj to help the young people of Albania to advance their education in the preservation of freedom and independence for their country. The nature of the Foundation is non-political and non-religious, and its aims are strictly cultural and educational. The Ivanaj brothers, who dedicated all their lives to Albania, are still well remembered by the current generations of Albanians because they always exemplified patriotism, integrity, intellectualism, and trustworthiness. These qualities should continue to permeate Albanian life in the future -- regardless of religion, politics, gender or ethnic background.  To this end, the Foundation's purpose is to promote and encourage the culture and education of and about Albania, to encourage the education of its people about Albania's valiant history -- much of which is still undocumented, and to disseminate knowledge for the advancement of Albania in the free world. The young generations must learn from the lessons of the past and from the knowledge of the present to forge a better future for themselves and the generations to come. As the founder of this organization, I pledge not only all my time, energy, experience, and personal possessions to its expansion and support, but also the concrete gifts of the Foundation's basic assets, as well as abundant family and historical documentation about our country of origin. The Foundation does not employ regular staff or paid consultants, but relies solely on volunteers. Thanks to modern technology, we can all communicate and collaborate more easily to achieve our common goals. Thanks to this web site I am confident that Albanians around the world, and friends of Albania alike, will demonstrate their willingness to participate in this effort by volunteering their help and expertise, or by providing financial contributions to further the Foundation's aims. Drita Ivanaj |
