An Albanian teenager that was trafficked to the UK has lost a battle to continue living in the country following an unsuccessful appeal to the High Court.

18-year-old Samet reported that he was beaten and abused before being made to beg on the streets of Albania at age 11. He was then sold into slavery and trafficked to the UK when he was just 15 years old.

Three years later, he now lives with a foster father John Stokes, attends college, and plans to become a carpenter. He was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder following his traumatic childhood but has become “part of the family” with  John and his foster brothers, Ali and Dave.

Stokes set up a petition to try and stop the Home Office from deporting him.

“Our family greatly fears for his safety and health if he is sent away,” the petition states.

“Deprived of education for many years, Samet grasped the opportunity of school and then college where his efforts are described as outstanding in all areas. He dreams of being a carpenter and the sort of ordinary life most of us take for granted were always clouded by the daily fear that he could be rejected by the nation that’s given him hope for the first time.”

Exit journalist Alice Taylor interviews John about the fight for Samet's right to a happy life and future.

The Vjosa River in Albania has been subject to a long campaign to get it designated as a National Party in order to protect it from hydropower plants proposed by the Albanian government. Just as victory or at least partial success was in sight, the campaign and residents along its banks were dealt another blow. Oil company Shell is exploring along the banks of the river in the Permet area of the country. If they find oil, they will be able to exploit the region at the expense of local residents, for 25 years. In this interview with Alice Taylor, Ulrich talks about the importance of pushing for National Park designation and how Albania should seize the opportunity to lead the way in the protection of valuable natural assets.

Elidor Mehilli is an associate professor of history and public policy at Hunter College at the City University of New York, a Cornell and Princeton alumni, a bulk of his work has focussed on authoritarian regimes, dictatorships, and the economic and cultural impact of the Cold War. He is also the author of the award-winning book, From Stalin to Mao: Albania and the Socialist World. In this episode, he talks to Exit journalist Alice Taylor about the destruction of much of Old Tirana including the National Theatre, Qemal Stafa Stadium, and most recently, the Queen Geraldine Maternity Hospital.

The Vjosa River is Europe's last wild river. Stretching over 270 kilometres, it flows untamed and free and includes beautiful canyons, lush and fertile countryside, and a plethora of communities that have lived in harmony with it for millennia. But it's under threat from the proposed construction of a number of hydropower plants. Patagonia has called on the Albanian government to put aside "opportunistic greed" and to create the Vjosa National Park, protecting this valuable stretch of river and the environment that surrounds it. CEO of Patagonia, Ryan Gellert joins Exit journalist Alice Taylor to discuss why this valuable ecosystem must be preserved.

Albania was subjected to a brutal communist regime that spanned almost 50 years. During this time, thousands were executed and murdered, and many more were imprisoned in prison camps, forced work camps, and detention centers. Some 30% of the population was persecuted by the regime. Some 30 years later, around 6000 people are still missing and their bodies have never been returned to their families. Furthermore, the Albanian institutions have been slow to act on finding the missing, and excavation orders have been stuck with prosecutors for three years (and counting). The International Commission on Missing Persons Western Balkans Program, headed by Matthew Holiday recently published a report on the situation in Albania and included calls for progress and action from the authorities. Exit Journalist Alice Taylor interviewed him on his work, the situation in Albania, and whether there is hope for the family of the missing.

Poem:  For our children

- The Names, Agim Vinca, Albanian Poet, 1987

Albanian rivers, communities, and precious habitats are under threat due to the ongoing and future construction of hydropower plants. Amid corruption, harassment, and a barely functioning legal system, some people are fighting back. Catherine Bohne and Ashley Parsons are not Albanian but driven by a deep love and affinity for the country, they have dedicated themselves towards fighting to preserve Albania's last remaining, truly wild and wonderful places.

Exit journalist Alice Taylor shares a virtual coffee with prominent journalist and outspoken political critic, Adrian Krasta. Topics on the table include traditions in North Albania, Celtic tribes, amoral familism, British coffee, and of course a big dose of politics.

Arjeta Puca spent most of her life in Turkey but she returned to Albania four years ago with a dream of setting up her own business. Fast forward to today and she owns a successful company with branches in Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Albania, and supplies various government ministries and departments with specialist vehicles such as ambulances. We discuss her meteoric rise, women boxers, the patriarchy, female electricians, and more!

Exit journalist Alice Taylor interviews Ade Clewlow MBE, former army officer, journalist, photographer, and author of the book 'Under a Feathered Sky: the Untold Story of NATO's Role in Newly Independent Kosovo'. The conversation delves into hospitality, raki, the complexities of Kosovo's struggle for independence and recognition, and the influence of foreign entities.