First meeting with the mothers in law of the community

In the first months of the new year 2015, ADRA Albania staff was very ambitious to work on the relationship between the mothers in law of the community and their daughters in law. During the past two years the staff discovered t: This relation is formative for a whole family in the Roma culture. As ADRA has already been working with the daughters in law, now it wants to set a new focus on the mothers in law.

The implementation of that purpose started on the 25th of February. In the form of a “Welcoming Party” Rezarta Prence, Kristi Qendro, Marsela Gatali and Fatmira Dajlani from ADRA staff invited 30 Roma women to a friendly meeting  of one hour. They wanted to talk and discuss about their children, brides and daily life.

The first women that came was Adelina’s grandmother, she is 72 years old and despite her old age everyday she wakes up early every morning and goes to sell second hand clothes in the villages near Fushe Kruja. The other women came after her and started to discuss with each other. This was a different afternoon because usually after work they go and prepare the clothes that they might need for the next day of work. While the others were discussing, one of the women asked: “May I know the purpose of this meeting?”. ADRA staff wanted to respond to her question but in that moment Lubiana’s mother said: “None of you understands that they respected us and brought us here to spend a different afternoon then usually. All of us have to be thankful to ADRA”. ADRA staff supported Lubiana’s mother’s opinion and thanked all the women that they have welcomed them in their houses and allowed their children and brides to attend REFLECT program.  

The end of the project year 2014 in Fushe Kruja was celebrated by ADRA Albania in many ways. In order to prepare the distribution of parcels from Austria and Germany, the staff taught the kids and women of the community about the idea of giving at Christmas and about the legend of Santa Claus. The teachers were talking about their positive experiences with the spirit of Christmas and the kids told their wishes. All together they decorated a Christmas tree with balls, pictures colored by the children and self-made stars.

On the following day, ADRA and the approximately 30 children of the community in different age came together for celebrating a Christmas party in the centre. ADRA staff Rezarta Prence and Kristi Qendro asked the children about their year in school and 17 children proclaimed that they are going to school regularly. Rezarta and Kristi underlined the importance of that and motivated all the others to go to school by presenting a puppet theater. In this theater the kids could come in front to present what they have learned.

One of the children started to count the numbers from one and all the others joined - the whole room was unstoppable until they reached the number of 100!

They also sang all the songs they learned at ADRA, like “Ne femijet kemi te drejta tona”, “Jingle bells” or “Ja na erdhi viti I ri”.

The musical part didn’t stop, even after all the songs were sung. There was Albanian and English Christmas music and all the kids, ADRA staff and volunteers were dancing together. Even members of the Egyptian community were taking part.

The dancing went on until it was time to eat and all the kids were totally excited about the lemonade and cookies they got. 

On the 18^th of December the Roma children were very happy: It was the day of the “Children helping children” parcels. With help of members of the activist group, the truck with the parcels entered in the community. Step by step it passed each house and the children were following by, impatient when it will reach their home.

Every child got one packet with tooth brushes, pens and pencils, folders, toys, sweets and more. One boy who found a flute in his parcel, immediately started to play.

The parents sometimes were as excited and happy as their children and many of them thanked ADRA. 

Despite the parcel’s distribution and children’s party, ADRA Albania had organized 2 other activities with the Roma women and boys to celebrate on this New Year eve. They were gathered in two different days because is impossible to bring the women and boys together on such occasions. On 22th of December the celebration started with Roma women and girls. They danced in the sound of Albanian and Roma music, and then on 23th of December the Roma boys were welcomed to party. Differently from the women, the Roma boys stared a discussion within themselves about New Year celebration. The custom in their community is to stay with their family until 12:00 o’clock and afterward to go outside with their friends. For the majority of the boys this represents a normal habit whereas for Marseli and Ibrahim (2 Roma boys) it is not good to celebrate on this special night apart from their families. In the end the boys wished for everybody present in the activity a better and happy New Year. 

Celebration with the Roma women

Celebration with the Roma boys

International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women - The day in which the voice of all those abused, violated and discriminated women can be heard, because this is the day that speaks for their rights.

On 25th of November 2014, REFLECT team had organized an activity with the Roma women and girls which was focused on the topic of gender violence. 13 women and girls from the Roma community of Fushe-Kruja took part in the discussion that highlighted the right that a woman has within the society where she lives. To make this activity more impressive, a video made by ADRA Albania treating the phenomenon of Domestic Violence was presented to them. While discussing some of the women said: “Our men usually use force against us because they are stronger and think that this is their right”, “We don’t accept the idea to be abused but what can we do” said another woman. The activity was concluded with a march from the ADRA centre to the Roma community where all the women and children became part of by sharing the same message. During this march the women were holding a banner written by them: “Stop Violence”, while the children had in their hands smaller banners where was written “I love you mum”.

On 27th of November 2014 realized a training with the Roma boys focused on the topic of Gender violence in the framework of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence (25 November – 10 December 2012). 10 Roma boys shared their ideas about Gender Violence and during the discussion one of them said “In reality the young generation does not violate their women. This phenomenon is more present among the old men and women in the Roma community”. 
The activity was concluded with an awareness campaign inside the Roma community, where the Roma boys shared different messages like: “Teach your Sons to Respect Women and Real Men don’t Hit Women”. The idea of realizing an awareness campaign came from the boys who spread this message to all the men in the community”

Children’s Week – Celebrating Children’s Rights

20 November marks 25 years since the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the world made a commitment to all its children saying that: “We would do everything in our power to promote and protect their rights”. This Convention is offered and still offers a vision of the world where all children survive and develop to their full potential without discrimination, and are protected, respected and encouraged to participate in decisions that affect their lives. 22 years passed after ratification of Children’s Rights in Albanian legislation. During these years, Albania has made progress in improving the situation of children, yet this area represents many challenges. Every day hundreds of children face exploitation, abuse, violence, neglect and are being exposed to potential risks. To promote children's rights ADRA Albania organized and participated into several activities that had on focus the CHILDREN.

On 17 November 2014, ADRA staff organized an awareness camping with 40 children in the public school “Bakushe Visha” about “Children’s Rights”. During this activity the children pointed out their ideas about their rights and obligations.                                                                                    On 18 of November, ADRA staff participated in two different activities that were organized by UNICEF and Children's Human Rights Centre of Albania – CRCA.  UNICEF invited ADRA Albania in a plenary session led by Ilir Meta (Chairman of the Parliament of the Republic of Albania) in the Albanian parliament, where the youth made their questions and got answers about the future plans for education and child protection programs. The other activity was organized in Tirana International Hotel, were Children's Human Rights Centre of Albania introduced the latest scientific research:                                                          “ALBANIA - Case based surveillance study on violence against children”.                                                                                                              19 November is the World Day for Prevention of Abuse and Violence against Children and ADRA Albania organized an awareness activity in ADRA community centre, focused in the topic of “Children’s Abuse and Rights”. ADRA staff decided to raise the awareness of the Roma and non Roma women that children have rights that adults should respect them. This activity aimed to create a discussion between the Roma and non-Roma mothers regarding their children’s needs and rights. In the end of the discussion all the mothers stood together for one saying: “Love your child because it is your own life”.
On the same day, three Roma children from Fushe Kruja participated in the activity that was organized by the Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth in collaboration with the Agency for Protection of Children Right. In this activity the children discussed with the Minister of Social Welfare and Youth, the Deputy Minister of Education and Sport and with some representatives of the Albanian parliament about the new budget that the government will approve for addressing the children’s issue. Some of the questions that the children asked were:  We have the right to play but in our community we don’t have a safety environment, could you create a secure place where children can play safety, in our school we don’t have a psychologist or social worker...etc.

20 November was the International Children’s day and ADRA Albanian decided to join the march that was organized from Children's Human Rights Centre of Albania - CRCA for the protection of Children’s Right. In different schools many NGOs and politicians celebrated this day with the children but ADRA staff together with two Roma children and different representatives from the Civil Society decided to march in the main boulevard of Tirana for the protection of Children’s Right under the slogan: “ADRA is walking with the children for their future: RESPECT CHILDREN’S RIGHTS”. Even the Roma children had their own slogan : “We have the right to play but we don’t have were to play, we have the right to speak but no one is listening us, we have many rights but you should make sure that these rights are respected”.

March against Breast Cancer

For the sixth consecutive year, many citizens and civil society activists have marched on the main boulevard "Dëshmorët e Kombit” against breast cancer, a disease that every year is affecting hundred of females. The Breast Cancer Awareness month across the World, helps to increase the attention and the early prevention of this disease since it is the most common spread cancer among women worldwide.

Differently from the other years in this march were present not only people from the government, such as the Minister of Health, American Ambassador and actors from the Civil Society but even 30 Roma women from Fushë Kruja community. These Roma women joined the initiative and marched against breast cancer by wearing pink T-shirts, hats and ribbons. While marching the Roma women and girls were expressing themselves determined to be part of this event and to give their help for this cause. Myzena Muhaxhiri, one of the women who is part of REFLECT project said: “During this month I have heard a lot about breast cancer disease and I wanted to join this march to sensitize all the people about the risk that it has”. 

The march

The deputy minister of education, Roma women and ADRA staff

 

The speeches at Taiwani after the march

The minister of health, delivering his speech to the audience

All the Roma women together

The Anniversary of the Community Centre of Fushë-Kruja

On 28^th of October 2014, ADRA Albania had successfully celebrated the anniversary of the Community Centre of Fushë-Kruja. The ceremony was opened with a small show performed by the Roma children who also expressed their appreciation to the guests who could came on this day.

The ceremony continued with the speeches of Mrs. Beatrice C. Kastrati, ADRA Albania Country Director, who welcomed distinguished officials including Mrs. Enkeleda Lopari, Consulate of Vice Minister of Social Welfare and Youth, Mr. Met Delia, representative of Fushë-Kruja Municipality, Mrs. Majlinda Xhafa, Director of the Public school “Migjeni”, Mr. Skënder Veliu Leader of AMARODROM – Union of Roma in Albania (NGO) and Mr. Florenc Qosja from ADA-Austrian Development Cooperation.

During her speech Mrs. Kastrati mentioned the cooperation that ADRA had with other important stakeholders during these two years of projects’ implementation. Such stakeholders are UNDP, YWCA, ACA, UNCEF, Municipality, Education Department, and Institute of Public Health. During her speech she emphasized that this is the day of the Roma people thus the community will present itself with the products that have been prepared by the Roma women and children.

In her address Mrs. Enkeleda Lopari (Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth) expressed words of appreciation for the project that ADRA Albania is implementing by saying “I am happy that the Roma have the opportunity to access in these programs that will help them in the process of integration.” Mr. Delia from Fushë-Kruja Municipality estimated the collaboration with ADRA Albania as a story of success. Mrs. Majlinda Xhafa, Director of the Public school thanked ADRA Albania for the hard work made with the Roma parents in order to raise their awareness about the importance of education. In her speech she said that only with ADRA collaboration the Public school had achieved to register and integrate the Roma children in the formal education. Whereas, Mr. Florenc Qosja form ADA pointed out that REFLECT project sets a good example for the process of integration of the Roma in the mainstream society.

Before the closure of the ceremony Mrs. Kastrati assessed with certificates of gratitude all the project beneficiaries and invited the guests inside the community centre where were exposed some of the bests handicrafts and pictures made by the Roma women and children. 

 

Anniversary of the community center of Fushë-Kruja

  INVITATION

ADRA Albania (Adventist Development and Relief Agency) with the kind support of ADA (Austrian Development Agency), ADRA Austria and ADRA Germany, has the great pleasure to invite you to the anniversary of the Community Centre of Fushë-Kruja.

 On Tuesday, 28 October 2014,

Time: 09.00-14.00,

Street “Kastrioti”

Fushë-Krujë/Albania

Through “REFLECT – Literacy and Social Skills Training for Roma Women, Men and Children” project ADRA Albania has provided a space for the Roma community where participants learn about issues related to early marriages, health, nutrition, and education, social and economical problems. So far the project achieved:

1.    The integration of Roma children from the segregated school to the public one;

2.    Development of literacy, social and professional skills among the Roma parents;

3.    Decreased the number of early marriages;

4.    Roma boys and girls enrolled and registered in professional courses;

On 28 October 2014 you will have the opportunity to celebrate with us at the community centre. Different partners of the project and representatives of local and central institutions are also invited to take part in this event.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for any further information and to confirm your participation at either by e-mail through info@adra.al or by mobile phone 066 20 92 841.

Sincerely,

Beatrice C. Kastrati, Country Director