Editing Kavajë (section)

=== Modern development ===

Dr. Erickson was a missionary to Albania who had offered political advice to the [[Vatra, the Pan-Albanian Federation of America|Vatra]] delegation at the [[Paris Peace Conference, 1919|Paris Peace Conference]] of 1919. The school he founded, aimed to promote the knowledge of modern scientific agriculture and provide a thorough training to young Albanians.

The girls school was inaugurated on September 20 and the boys agriculture school opened on October 10 of that same year. Cost for enrollment was 50 gold [[franga]] per month. The students could study continuously for three straight years with an option for two additional years given to those with excellent results. Classes were taught in both Albanian and English language.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gazetadielli.com/kur-erickson-hapi-shkollen-bujqesore-te-kavajes/|title=Kur Erickson hapi Shkollën Bujqësore të Kavajës}}</ref>

Funding for the project was made possible by the [[Near East Foundation]] who had commissioned New York based studio "Thompson & Churchill" in charge of the architectural design. Following the Italian fascist occupation of 1939, the school was briefly renamed ''Italian Agrarian Institute "Arnaldo Mussolini"'' in honor of [[Benito Mussolini]]'s younger brother.

[[File:Jewish Families Kavajë.png|thumb|right|270px|Jewish Families of Mandil, Azriel, Altarac, Ruchvarger and Borger in a group portrait. (Kavajë, 1 May 1942)]]
At the start of [[World War II]], approximately 600 [[Jews]] lived in the Republic of Albania. About 400 of them were German and Austrian refugees and the rest were from nearby countries like Yugoslavia and Greece. The largest number of these refugees, some 200 in total, were placed at a camp in Kavajë where they would later find shelter amongst the local population.

The citizens of Kavajë gave an invaluable contribution in the housing and sheltering of Jewish refugees during the war. The names of Mihal Lekatari, Besim Kadiu and Shyqyri Myrto are placed on the list of the [[Righteous among the Nations]] honored by [[Yad Vashem]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yadvashem.org/odot_pdf/Microsoft%20Word%20-%205725.pdf|title=SHOAH Resource Center}}</ref>

Known primarily as an agricultural region, in the early decade of the 1960s Kavajë started to emerge as an important industrial center in Albania. Following is a list of the major industrial plants that operated in the city:
* '''The Nails and Bolts Plant ''(Uzina e Gozhdë-Bulonave)''''' was inaugurated on November 28, 1963. Using Chinese technology, the plant produced nails, bolts and screws. In the later years, with its expansion, the plant started to produce wooden screws, metal wires, metal chains, rail bolts, barbed wires, etc. As of 1990 the plant employed 1,200 workers.
* '''The Paper Factory ''(Fabrika e Letrës)''''' was inaugurated on November 28, 1966. Using Chinese technology, it initially started to produce stationery paper for notebooks, books and textbooks as well as typographic paper for official documents and newspapers. This plant employed 750 workers at its peak.
[[File:SMT Kavajë.jpg|thumb|250px|left|SMT – Machine and Tractors Station]] 
* '''The Glass Factory ''(Fabrika e Qelqit)''''' was inaugurated in the late fall of 1970. Like the others, this factory also used Chinese technology. It produced glass packaging and other glass items for mass consumption. Later on, a ceramic production facility was opened. In 1975, new mirror production lines were set and attempts to produce seasoned glass gave little results. After 1985 the factory started producing items like [[pearl]]s, stone rings, etc. The Glass factory along with the ceramic facility employed 2,500 workers.
* '''The Carpet Production Plant ''(Ndërmarrja e Prodhimit të Qilimave)''''' had a separate department for the production of artistic copper. It produced mainly tapestry carpets and artistic copper items for the domestic market. This plant employed 3,000 workers.
* '''The Food Factory ''(Fabrika Ushqimore)''''' processed fresh fruits, vegetables and bread for the local population. It also produced conserved fruits and vegetables for exports. This factory employed 300 workers.