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Day of Peace Observed by Helping Orphans in Albania
Written by UPF - Albania
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Tirana, Albania - On the International Day of Peace, September 21, UPF-Albania organized a beautiful event at the Tirana International Hotel in Tirana attended by 120 people. The newly appointed Minister of Education, Ambassador for Peace Mrs. Lindita Nikolla, was the keynote speaker of the event.
It has become a tradition for youth to dedicate one month during the summer to raise funds to support orphan children. Each year the Family Federation for World Peace, in cooperation with UPF and the National Institute of the Integration of Albanian Orphans, provides educational materials and tools to 100 orphan students who have difficulties securing such items for their school year.
The event was moderated by Mr. Gani Rroshi, President of the Family Federation, who welcomed everybody and thanked all the youth who raised funds throughout the country and the owner of the hotel, who offered the use of the hall free of charge after learning that the event was to help orphans.
Mrs. Lavdie Ruci, Chairman of UPF’s National Peace Council, greeted the participants and explained the meaning of International Day of Peace. She mentioned that on such a meaningful day declared by UN, everyone should be reminded to work harder for peace and invest more in peace education, which is a core principle of UPF.
The next speaker was Mr. Bajram Ibraj, the Chairman of the Presiding Council of UPF-Albania, who quoted UPF Founder Father Sun Myung Moon: “There are two things we should leave to our descendants when we die; one is tradition and the other is education. A nation is doomed to fail if he doesn’t educate its people. Because of education people gain wisdom to live. Education helps us understand the principles on which the world functions.”
Afterwards, Mr. Ilir Cumani, the Director of the National Institute for the Integration of Albanian Orphans, thanked the volunteers who raised funds and asked that governmental institutions and civil society pay more attention to this fragile category of society. Mr. Cumani and the NGO of Mothers with Orphan Children designated 60 children, including six children of policemen who had been killed, to receive the school supplies and in cooperation with National Committee of Reconciliation selected 40 isolated children from the Shkodra province who cannot go to school because they are targeted victims of blood feuds across generations.
He also thanked the Minister of Education, Mrs. Lindita Nikolla, expressing hope that as a UPF Ambassador for Peace she will set a model of good leadership and governance.
In her keynote address, Hon. Nikolla expressed special appreciation to the organizers of this meaningful event and especially to the youth who, during their summer holidays, had decided to become part of this special humanitarian initiative to help orphan children. She mentioned that such models are very much needed for the youth of Albania. She promised to do everything she can so that the government and the Ministry she leads will ensure that every child in Albania will not lack education, and especially the orphans and children targeted in blood feuds, mostly in northern Albania.
Lastly, Mrs. Liljana Luana, who teaches the 40 isolated children in the Shkodra province, tearfully called upon the government, society, and caring citizens to do everything possible so that children can be educated and not lack the basic rights.
At the end, the Minister of Education and leaders of partner organizations delivered the packages of school supplies to the 60 orphans in attendance; the other 40 packages will be delivered to the Shkodra region on September 24.
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