Bahrain, February 3–6, 2020
“Inspiration Economy in Times of Crisis” was the first international scientific conference organized by the Inspiration Economy Society (IES) in collaboration with the International Inspiration Economy Project (IIEP), held from February 3–6, 2020, in Bahrain.
This conference focused on finding ways to inspire our shared economy and to create a distinct impact through a deeper understanding of opportunities that arise as a result of societal and community challenges. One of its main objectives was the exchange and development of knowledge that brings solutions based on a sustainable economy, regardless of the crises or challenges we face.
The dimensions and topics of the conference, such as:
-Development initiatives and the creation of an influential economy,
-Approaches to discovering opportunities for creating an influential economy in times of challenges,
-Examination of socio-economic issues and the building of an influential economy,
-Creating an influential economy across different generations, were deliberately designed to take into account all global, social, and technical variables.
Among the participants in this conference was the Executive Director of IETT, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ramiz Zekaj, who presented on the topic: “The Role of Philanthropy and Volunteering in Bringing Change and Its Impact on Albanian Society.”
His presentation included a summary of the history of charity in Albania, from the era of Ottoman waqfs to its institutionalization during King Zog’s reign, the prohibition of charity under communism and the forced volunteering during that period, the revival of charity and volunteering efforts promoted from abroad through foundations and humanitarian organizations, and the state’s growing awareness of the importance of youth volunteerism during governments from 2005 to the present, including the drafting of the youth strategy and the adoption of the law on volunteering.
Prof. Zekaj also chaired the fourth session of the conference, where topics of interest were discussed, such as:
-Socio-economy and its impact,
-Crisis analysis and their legislative treatment,
-The transformation needed in Central Asian communities in the field of influential economy.
The Inspiration Economy Scientific Conference (IESC 2020) highlighted social gaps in the concept and methodologies for creating impact and influential economies, especially during a time of growing global polarizations. Furthermore, the conference assisted participants in exploring new approaches to addressing the harmful effects of the capitalist economy and globalization, which have distanced all social groups from the real understanding of quality of life.
