Recipe to happiness: Love and Commitment
Love and commitment are very important to Gledisa. At the age of 3, she was diagnosed with autism and the Down syndrome. But, thanks to her mother’s and her teacher's commitment, the 16-year-old has just finished the 9-year school and is now ready to pursue her goals in life. The greatest desire she has is to cook for her beloved ones—her brother, mother and father, who must often go and work abroad to provide for his family.
"I would like to work and contribute more for my family so that my husband doesn't feel obliged to go abroad. I would like him to be with his children because his presence is important. However, we can't afford this due to our financial difficulties. I must stay at home, because Gledisa needs special care," says the teenager's mother.
For Gledisa, the joy of cooking started when she was still little and helped her mother prepare her recipes. She enjoys learning new recipes on YouTube. But the girl couldn't pursue her passion due to her family's financial difficulties. "Gledisa is a pupil that every teacher would love to have in her class. She has a lot of love to give and I'm proud I will describe her to other generations as an example of inspiration for her determination and the great desire she has for a better future," says her teacher, Mrs. Gania. The girl's mother, Donika, says the teacher has been a great help for her daughter. According to her, she has insisted that the girl should continue school and spend time with her friends.
At first, it was hard for Gledisa's family to admit that their daughter needed special care. On the other hand, they spend all their money on their basic needs. It was impossible to offer her specialized therapies and enrol her for cooking classes. Gledisa's family is among the 700 families which have been supported by the "Inclusive Response to COVID-19 for Disabled Children and their Families in Albania programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by the World Vision Albania in partnership with civil society organisations.
Among others, Gledisa has also been given a set of cooking tools so that she can be one step closer to making her dream come true. The aim of this project is to improve integrated services for children with disabilities, but also to help families overcome their difficulties, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic.