Children use their talents to help the needy
The story shows how our gifts, given by God, can be used for good purposes. Some people think that children are unable to undertake big initiatives because of their size. Twenty young boys and girls from a poor area of Albania will show anyone who is interested that children can do big things, just like adults! All you need is a little courage to show up and the strength to believe.
It was the daily sight of fellow teens on the streets of Tirana, playing where the cars pass, who don t’ go to school because they lack of nice clothes or money to buy school supplies, who have low self-esteem and often feel discriminated against that motivated 20 teens from Bregu i Lumit, a poor area in the Tirana suburb to act.
The group, which calls itself “the stars group”, was established by World Vision as part of the Tirana Area Development Programme (ADP) one year ago. After meetings and brainstorming, they came up with the idea to use their talents at making crafts (necklaces, bracelets and postcards) to raise funds and organize a summer camp for these children who don’t have the opportunity to enjoy something different and beautiful.
(Working and improving together)
World Vision has been working in the Bregu i Lumit area since 2007. While only a fraction of the children living in the community are formally registered in World Vision’s sponsorship programme, the organization’s reach and impact are far greater.
The children received training from World Vision on how to make crafts and postcards as well as how to sell them to the public. In order to attract more buyers, the children offered: games, dancing classes, and manicures to all those who bought more than two items.
“Our homes are so close to these children. We see every pain and trouble they struggle with each day,” says Albi, 13, one member of the group.
“They don’t go to school because they think they are not equal to the other children. Some of them don’t even have a home and stay and live on the streets, begging or offering themselves, doing any kind of sloppy and dangerous job just to earn some coins to buy a little to eat,” explains Albi , who knows many of them personally. “But, they are our friends, our neighbours. Our wish is to do our best to offer them a good time in this summer camp,” he says, helping to sell the crafts.
“We will organize as many entertainment items as we are able with the money we earn,” says Elisi, 15. “We thought to offer food [for everyone] and games for boys and dancing class and face painting for the girls. We have been trained how to do these things,” he says, confidently, filling in the vase with money from the buyers.
The children testify that this experience has changed them deeply and made them see things differently. “By staying together we have become friends and have learned a lot. [We have learned], how to work in a group, how to sell things, how to dance, and how to do crafts. Even our self-esteem has grown,” says Favjola, 13, smiling.
Although the outcomes have been positive, the process was anything but easy for these children. In the beginning, they had their own fears and worried whether they could make their dream a reality.
“These children are poor themselves and they understand their friends’ situations more than anyone else does,” says Sonila Dubra, World Vision’s sponsorship staff, who has worked with and trained the children in this initiative. “They were suspicions at the beginning because they did not believe they could learn how to do crafts and then sell them to raise funds. But, day-by-day I saw them progressing; doing better crafts and better designs on the postcards. These initiatives have helped them identify their talents and learn that although they are little and they are not rich, they can do big things if they work hard together and don’t surrender,” says Sonila.
She continues explaining that “Activities like this, when they come from children to children are more special and unique because children understand children better than [adults] can. They have similar dreams and needs. Apart from this, these children are from the same area and background and know each other well. I am sure they will spend an amazing time learning from and having fun together,” adds Sonila.
[The money jar children could get through selling]
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The summer camp will be held in August and children are planning to invite their most vulnerable neighbours. They are hoping to have 17 to 20 children come.
“After we are done with this [the summer camp], we will think about new initiatives,” says Siboran, 13.
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