Roma & children with special needs ask Albanian President to support education for all
Denisa Kalemi, 13, a Roma girl from a World Vision literacy program in Vlore Area Development Programme (ADP), handed copies of the petitions to the President on behalf of the group, which included four other children from World Vision projects. Despite her trembling hands, Denisa firmly stepped forward and said, “We also have something to say to you Mr. President.
“These are our requests for all Roma children of Novosela and for all the children with disabilities of Elbasan that do not attend school. We are asking you today to send our friends to school,” said Denisa.
...Many (Roma) do not regularly attend school and the majority are practically illiterate Albania is home to more than 44,000 children with disabilities, according to the Centre on Protection of Children’s Rights in Albania. Many have never received an education because of the discriminatory policies and inaccessible school environments.
Most Roma children live in impoverished and difficult social conditions. Many do not regularly attend school and the majority are practically illiterate.
We are asking you today to send our friends to school President Moisiu responded enthusiastically, ”I promise that I will do everything to send many of your friends to school. You have the right to a good education; you have the right to attend school, to receive knowledge in order to better serve this country as adults. Every politician should keep this in mind.
“Thank you, for celebrating your festivity with me. I am happy to have around me children from different ethnicities and different opportunities. All children are equal and have the same rights. Politicians are always busy with big things, but we should see you and realise that everything should serve you, because you are the future of this country,” said the President in conversation with the children.
Denisa was thrilled. “This is the happiest day of my life. I never thought in my life I would ever stand close to the President. I could not sleep all night and woke up early in the morning. I will tell all of my friends about this.”
Almost 41 percent of Albanian’s population is under 18. Children are not considered active citizens and most do not have the opportunity to voice their rights and concerns.
Nicholas Gummere, National Director of World Vision Albania, called the meeting “a good example of how World Vision can help give children a voice. It is neat to see the way children can be given hope and the possibility that their voices will change something for them and their friends.”
Children are not considered active citizens and most do not have the opportunity to voice their rights and concerns As well, 10 children with disabilities from the two ADPs in Elbasan celebrated the day with students of the largest private school in Albania, the Wilson School in Tirana. Seventy primary and secondary students from Wilson participated. The event was co-sponsored with World Vision by the American Chamber of Commerce.
Parents of the Wilson students - most of them Albanian business people - donated presents for the 313 children with disabilities who are part of the Assistance for Children with disabilities project within Elbasan “Partners for Hope” ADP.
“It is the first time I have celebrated anything like this. I have never received a present on this occasion and I am so happy about this,” said eight-year-old Denada Kercyku, a girl with a mental disability.
Denada recited a poem about how much she loves her teacher from whom she is learning to read and write. Maringlen Duja, 9, who is has a physical disability, recited a poem about equality and the rights of children with special needs.
“This is a great thing here today. It is not like we are saving their lives, but the important is to make these children happy and to promote equal conditions. We can do this more often,” said an Albanian businesswoman and mother.
Ten Roma children from Vlore ADP also celebrated with 200 Tirana children at an artificial lake in an event co-sponsored by World Vision, the Municipality of Tirana and an Albanian NGO, the Centre for the Rights of Children in Albania. The children watched concerts, puppet shows and a circus and did drawings and handicrafts.
World Vision advertised the event with posters that said, “Let\'s Celebrate together, we are all equal."
Photo: John Schenk (World Vision)