We’re
staying in a Christian Guest House in the middle of the Capital city, Tirana.
This part of the trip is like visiting any Southern European Capital. We ate supper
at a pavement restaurant last night and had breakfast in a bright modern dining
room – delicious ‘Greek’ salad last night, excellent coffee this morning (I’m very
happy about the coffee…). Tonight, we’re going for a walk before dinner to
sightsee – we’ve already seen the huge Catholic and Orthodox Cathedrals, the
markets round the corner – selling a mindboggling range of cheese, fish,
vegetables and crafts, the pretty squares and parks, the sprawling blocks of
flats. It’s a fascinating, bustling, sunny, active city.
This morning
we went to New Day Centre (NDC) in Bathore. John (Global Care’s CEO) told us how much
everything has changed in the 17 years of Global Care Albania. Bathore is a suburb
of Tirana, with apartment blocks, shops, tarmac roads, schools and health
centres, running water and electricity - where once there was no infrastructure.
NDC is a bright, peaceful place, right on the outskirts of Bathore. Behind the
buildings a nearby glorious range of high mountains dominates the view. We were
given a guided tour, meeting the staff who provide a homework club, day care/kindergarten
and youth group. In each room we were
greeted with smiles.
We met children who
attend day care - younger children from vulnerable families. 2 of the children were
having physiotherapy, and 4 boys with autism were in a group therapy session.
We were told
that some of the children are at risk of being involved in criminal activities
or sexual exploitation – NDC aims to lay a foundation that will offer these
children hope for their futures. Children are orphans, or come from families
with little or no employment opportunities. Often the parents themselves have
had no education and can see little point in school. For children with
disabilities life is particularly hard. Children arrive at the centre with
little self-worth – we were particularly struck by the aim to give children
dignity.
We visited
some homes too. Suddenly it all made sense. At NDC we met 4- year-old *Isaac and
his sister *Sally. They belong to the Roma community living in Bathore. Isaac is blind in his right eye as a result of
an untreated condition. Thanks to Global Care and NDC, he receives treatment
for his left eye and the team hope and pray the vision in this eye will be
saved. We drove down a narrow bumpy track with shacks at intervals on either
side of the road. There were some dodgy looking electricity wires wiggling
towards some of the dwellings. We arrived at Isaacs house (we had to walk the
last bit) and met his Mother *Rose. As well as the 2 children at NDC, Rose’s 8-year-old
daughter is now at a state school, thanks to receiving early education at NDC. Rose has 4 children, the youngest is 18 months
old. Rose told us that they took Isaac to the doctor but couldn’t afford
treatment for his right eye. Her husband managed to get a day’s work 4 days ago
– mixing concrete for a construction job. Sometime Rose works sewing shoes at
home – she’s paid 10p for each pair of shoes, which can take 20mins to an hour
to complete. We agreed this was an example of modern slavery. They live in a
simple brick structure which they usually share with a relative – but he’s in
prison. There is one room for all 6 of them to sleep in – but when it rains it
leaks. Their living room is basically a three-walled shelter. They get water
from a nearby lake – but their drinking water comes from a neighbour who has a
well. The children don’t have food at
home – they get breakfast and lunch at NDC, the rest of the family had a bag of
spaghetti and some sugar to eat today. The family get a small monthly amount
from the state because of where they live, but because they’re unregistered,
the children haven’t had vaccinations. When Rose gave birth last time, she left
the hospital as soon as she’d delivered – and before they realised she couldn’t
pay.
For most of
the community this lifestyle means living from day to day – if their hope is to
survive until tomorrow, what’s the point in education for the children? Rose and
her husband are quite amazing. They understand that the only way to break the
cycle of poverty is for the children to be educated, to get jobs and to support
the family – or even live independently. NDC has a van to transport children to
Day Care. Before the van, because Rose’s husband didn’t work, he used to bring
the children to NDC – a not inconsiderable distance.
We didn’t
get much time to digest all this before we were introduced to the home of a
family with 7 children. The parents and some of the children have intellectual
disabilities. One of the daughters is a prostitute, the boys are in and out of
prison. The house? An outdoor yard which was mostly a rubbish tip with a couple
of sofas in the corner. The sleeping area was 2 concrete shelters with a selection
of filthy mattresses.
What worries
me more than anything is that although it was unbelievably shocking, I didn’t
feel anything. I’ve realised I need this trip to remind me of the depths of
horror of some human living conditions – to jolt me out of my complacency that
I’m ‘doing my bit’. Who am I kidding? Its all very well looking at beautiful environments
and regenerated cities – but I’ve got to stop closing my eyes to the bits that
aren’t visible.
Tomorrow we’re
working on plans for more facilities for children with autism, and I’m going to
hear more stories and meet young people who started life at NDC and are now
have healthy, working adults. I’m so
impressed by the team here, their determination to give hope to children whose
situation appears hopeless. Tomorrow I’m
going to open my heart as well as my ears; hear the pain behind the stories, the
anguish of the parents – and not be afraid to feel the suffering.
*Names changed to protect identity
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