Marking Universal Children’s Day with meaning in Albania
On the Universal Children’s Day, Nov.20, more than 35 children and youth from different villages and cities across Albania turned this day into a day for discussion about their rights with the government for the first time. The consultation was in the form of an open dialog platform between children and four ministers; the Minister of the Social Welfare and Youth, Mr. ErjonVeliaj; the Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Lindita Nikolla; the Minister of Health, Mr. Ilir Beqaj, and the General Secretary of the Minister of Interior of Albania, Mr.Genc Gjonçaj, as well as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth, Mrs. Bardhylka Kospiri. During their time together, the children and youth had a roundtable discussion with the ministers using the questions they prepared ahead of time to remind the Ministers about their rights and needs.
The children came with different questions and concerns regarding problems they themselves and many other teens struggle with; such as the early marriage of young girls; the problems children face after they leave the institutions; issues regarding child labour, child abuse, violence, health problems; the need to have education for all, and problems of getting free text books for vulnerable families.
“There are many issues that we want to bring to you today,” said Dorentina, 15, a girl currently living in institutional care. “There are a number of our rights and facilities that we know do exist in theory but unfortunately myself and other orphans don’t enjoy,” she said, looking at the Ministers for their response.
Eight children with different abilities from Elbasan area development programme, between the ages of 8 and 12, brought some of the photos they took while participating in a photo advocacy project last year. They placed the photos around the room where they met with the ministers to help them to be able to better visualize their needs, thoughts and rights.
“I have taken a beautiful photograph with a beautiful caption for it and this photo is for you,” said Françeska, 9, one of the children with different abilities, as she gave her photograph to Mr.Veliaj. In the caption for the photo, she had written, “We have the right to be different”.
“I am here to raisethe problem of early marriage of girls my age,” said Sidorela, 13, a Roma child from Tirana. Economic difficulties forced Sidorela to drop out of school. “Girls should pursue their education instead of getting married,” she pointed out, adding: “We need your help to overcome social and economic problems and live the life as it should be.”
After listening carefully to their problems and concerns, Mr. Veliaj thanked the children for coming and said, “I believe that by working together step-by-step, we will meet your needs. Today is the first time we are holding a discussion like this and I want it to be followed by other ones,” he said. “We are here for you, so please remind us every time, for we are chosen to help you to live a happy life,” he ended.
Inspired by the photo and its caption: “the shadow of everyone is the same”, Mrs. Lindita Nikolli, the Minister of Education and sports said: “we not only have the same shadow, we also all have the same heart,” while Looking at Altin, 11, who gave her the photograph.
Mrs. Nikolla added, “we will hang these beautiful pictures you gave us in our office walls to always remember your faces, needs, and concerns [and] to work hard and fulfil them,” she said.
“I believe that health, social, protection, education and cultural systems would be better if they are designed around the voices of the vulnerable children,” said Ridiona Stana, World Vision’s Child Protection manager. “I once read a saying, ‘when we design something that functions for the most vulnerable, we often make it better for everyone’,” she added.
Mrs. Bardhylka Kospiri, Vice Minister of Social Welfare and Youth, who is herself a person with a disability, promised the children to open new doors and better opportunities for them. “It is so good that these concerns came by your mouths. It is our duty to provide work opportunities that respond to your needs,” she ended.
At the end of the meeting what made all children feel enthusiastic was the commitment of the Ministers present to take action and report on progress of the issues raised by children by June 1, 2014 andby setting asystemof accountability with children.
Ends—