AAWO would provide the needed safe place where women could combat the isolation, they experienced living in a foreign culture and become more empowered through the sharing of their experiences. The organization is named after the Sisters Qiriazi, the first Albanian women educators who dedicated their lives to the education and empowerment of Albanian women. More than 100 years ago, Sisters Qiriazi opened the first school for girls in Albania and continue to be an inspiration for the struggle to achieve full and equal rights for women. For years, AAWO has been run entirely by volunteers and its 500 dedicated members, both in terms of leadership and project implementation.