Korean youth visit Albania, with them they bring light, hope and help
Accompanied by four World Vision Korea staff and tow sponsor child, 11 energized and passionate young girls from South Korea, representatives of the “Happy Friends” group – a Youth Program in that country, made a five day visit to Albania between Oct. 30 and Nov. 2, 2012.
The purpose of the trip was to exchange experiences. The youth from Korea met with the majority of the 300 youth from Dibra Area Development Program (ADP). Driven by the volunteer spirit of both counties, 37 young people, from Korea and Albania, worked together over the course of five days to restore a home in very bad conditions in one of the poorest villages covered by this ADP.
They also painted the walls of a kindergarten built just one year ago as an initiative of the Dirba ADP youth working with community members as there was no kindergarten in this country at all for years. Thanks to the donations that the Happy Friends were able to bring with them, the youth volunteers also furnished the inside of the school with tables and carpets, in addition to working with local craftsmen to fix the floor. As a result of this initiative, more than 50 little children are now enjoying a great time in a safe and beautiful kindergarten classroom.
(Happy Friends painting the walls of kindergarten with flowers and movie characters)
In the beginning, the Korean youth introduced themselves to the youth from the community by performing modern and rhythmic Korean dances. The youth, from Korea and Albania, also spent time sharing about their cultures and the struggles and challenges each of them face daily. Near the end, they developed some common goals for the future as well as visited the newest area where World Vision has begun working in Dibra ADP, an area called Bulqiza.
“I’m surprised by the way these youth are so enthusiastic and inspired and how they have grown to about 300 members so fast,” said Shin Hye Lee, a Youth Officer from World Vision Korea’s marketing team. “I believe God’s hand is reaching down in this place and these young boys and girls will do more and more for their country, if they continue to work so hard and receive the right education to do so,” she added.
“We are the same people, although with different physical features,” said Geon Hee,16, one of the Korean youth, as her eyes were shining, looking around at the hundreds of youth sitting together right in front of her. “Let’s keep on living by the same principles,” she said. “One heart for another one-- and helping as many people in need as we can. [I] love you all!” she finished.
Both youth groups marched into the heart of the need to help to restore the kindergarten and a house in Catush village. The home was built 60 years ago and then destroyed by bombing during the civil war in Albania in 1997. Working together with selected builders from the community, the youth helped to improve the appearance and function of the home. Builders worked on rebuilding the inside of the home as well as restoring the home grounds outside.
(Happy Friends helping in the Moisi's house doing the dishes)
The family that lived in the home, the Shimçani family, consists of a mother who has suffered from mental illness for the last 10 years; a father who is physically unable to work due to missing most of one arm, and five children between the ages of 7 to 17.
“I’m very happy my home is becoming beautiful and similar the homes of my friend’s” said Megi, 7, the youngest and the only female child of Shimçani family, as she smiles brightly, maybe for the first time in her short life.
(Megi, 7, and her brother receiving brand new clothes from World Vision South Korea)
“Maybe I’m dreaming because I never thought I would see the day when I would live in a “a normal home” before I grew up,” added her older brother, Moisi, 17, who worked hard along with the other youth to restore his family’s home.
The youth also painted the inside and outside walls of a local kindergarten, while local workmen fixed the rough floor and stopped the penetration of the humidity inside. Before, the little children did not have desks, chairs or even a carpet to help them fight through the cold winters in the area.
“I see that conditions here are better now, even better than in my own home,” said Kejla Kosiçi, 5, from Majtarra Village, one of the students, when she saw her improved classroom.
“I loved this experience and the great will [that the youth from Korea] offered by sharing of this remarkable experience with us,” said Ulvi Tahiri, 19, one of the local Albanian youth members. “We really need great examples like this one to keep on doing good things like we did together these past couple days for our community,” she ended.
“The joy young Korean girls experienced as they worked together touched me deeply, said Ana Mehmeti, another youth member youth of Dibra, as she watched the participants from Korea perform their traditional dances on their last day in Dibra. “We will adopt this experience in our lives as we are now united to them in our long journey to bring hope to many people here,” added Ana.
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