After the devastating earthquake that struck Albania on 26 November 2019, Cultural Heritage without Borders Albania launched a recovery project for one of the Roman-era towers of Durrës city walls. Tower C had partially collapsed, exposing three phases of historical development: the turn of the 5th to the 6th century C. E., the 13th century, and the 17th century. Destruction of this valuable heritage site at the centre of the largest port city in Albania prompted considerable reaction from the citizens of Durrës and the recovery process is being kept under tight scrutiny by both the local and the professional community. The site is visited by scores of locals every day, each with a different opinion of what to do and whether or not to reconstruct. This chapter explores aspects of stakeholder inclusion, drawing on our experience engaging and empowering professionals and local communities through conservation processes. The site is being used to bring together senior and ancillary craftspeople, professors and students, and senior and young professionals, so that the conservation process can serve continuous intergenerational learning and exchange. Training and engagement with the real challenges involved in any new conservation provides them an exceptional opportunity to learn about cultural heritage and their selves. Working together means challenging and hopefully overcoming differences and animosities.
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