Communities in Albania
“Every child ready to read”
DOCUMENT AUTHOR: Mrs. Suela Tirana
GOOD PRACTICE TITLE: “A caring second home”
KIND OF PRACTICE: Community life.
PLACE: Shkoder, Albania
CONTEXT, FIELD OF INTERVENTION:
The project envisages the establishment of a day centre with the aim of supporting learning and wellbeing of children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The after school centre “Every Child Ready to Read” is a day-care centre in close collaboration with Malteser Albania, organised and run in collaboration with our school and the Regional Education Department.
We strongly believe in the power of education as a means to ensure a better future for younger generations. As a result, the centre delivers on an ambitious programme to provide these children with better access to and uptake on education. This has included also children who have dropped out of school and should be reintegrated.
The staff organise once per month a round table meeting/activities with parent club, teachers, social workers and other stakeholders involved in our project. Teachers provide detailed information about children prosperity, information about non-formal activities, suggestions in purpose to be more efficiently with the work.
PERIOD:
2008 ongoing
POPULATION, PARTICIPANTS:
The number of those who take part is 30 children from families with socio-economical difficulties, 2 teachers and one social worker.
COORDINATORS:
The coordinator of this program is “Albanian Organization of the Order of Malta” in cooperation with the public school “Mati Logoreci”
METHODOLOGY (HOW THE PRACTICE WORKS):
Improving the learning process (according to the Albanian curricula) by providing a friendly and a safe environment for these children in a context that is positive and conducive to a healthier and more fulfilling life.
Our methodology is learning through non-formal education.
This program provides the children the necessary skills and knowledge in the subject they have difficulty in learning. In addition the teachers and the social workers help the children to carry out the homework in different school subjects. They work with illiterate children, either drop-out first graders or children who never actually attended school. Children are supported through socialization and informal initiatives such as sports and games animation and entertainment activities such as exhibitions, excursions, etc. Those who benefit from this project are 30 children involved and their families in need.
PARTICIPATORY PROCESS:
The creation of afterschool centre has come as a successful cooperation among Albanian Organisation of the Order of Malta and the public school “Mati Logoreci”.
The successful previous experience of Malteser kindergarten in our school has given us the possibility to learn new things and reflect to start a new initiative which will support the community.
Key activities included two preparatory classes:
a) One preparatory class, to provide children who show difficulties in certain subjects with the necessary skills and knowledge. In addition, teachers and social workers have helped children carry out their homework in different subjects.
b) The project is running since one year ago and has involved 30 children, aged between 6 and 12 years, in Shkodra. The daily centre is opened Monday to Friday, from 11.30 a.m.- 16.00 p.m.
c) Children have been supported through socialization and informal education initiatives such as sports and games, animation and recreational activities, exhibitions, excursions, summer school camps, etc.
TIME TO BE SUCCESFUL (HOW MANY TIME THE PRACTICE TAKE TO ACHIEVE THEIR OBJECTIVES):
The objectives of this project will be fulfilled during a school year; this makes it possible to evaluate the needs and possibilities during a year.
This is the most useful time and provides us with the confidence that our objectives will be successfully fulfilled by practising the activity of the project.
VALIDITY (IF THE PARTICIPANTS THINK THAT THE PRACTICE RESOLVED THE PROBLEMATIC):
This program affects directly the life of these children involving them in the social life and it promotes and develops these children.
Indirect helps families that have problems, helps parents that work long hours, helps making families more powerful.
In this way we tend to alleviate the problems these children face and promote their capacity unless the difficulties they have. It is crucial and very important government intervention with long – term policies to resolve the social economical situation of these target groups.
IMPACT:
The well designed program “Every child ready to read” gives the idea that every child is able to learn different school subjects unless the social and economical problems they face in their families. Involvement of parents in this program it is very important for a successful work.
INNOVATION:
1. Securing productive education for each child.
2. Commitment and development of the Community
3. Comprehensiveness and respect of diversity
4. Active involvement of all actors/stakeholders involved in this program
RESOURCES OR CONDITIONS NEEDED FOR THE PRACTICE:
1. Ensuring continuity of care, (ongoing program).
2. Treatment must be available, accessible, attractive, and appropriate for needs.
LIMITATIONS:
To have a successful outcome of the project depends on the cooperation and the support that the families of these children will give in continuity, as well as the support of donors and public institutions.
LEARNED LESSONS:
Living in a healthy community can socialise, and improve the behaviour of marginalised groups. The support of these children effect in strengthening families. Through non-formal activities and in a friendly environment, children can improve their skills in different subjects.
SUSTAINABILITY:
Positive results achieved during the first year of the project, good collaboration with Regional Education Department, Parents club, Teachers and Donors make us enthusiast for continuity of this project fort the next academic year.
REPLICABILITY:
The project has been proven to work in other communitarian school and it can often be replicated to other communities or regions in the same country or abroad.
CONCLUSION:
In 2017-2018 the program “Every child ready to read” has been attended by 30 children, which have displayed improvements in their skills subjects and homework.
CONTACT (PRACTICES AUTHOR AND ORGANIZATION):
Suela Tirana School Director
School Mati Logoreci Shkoder 4001, Albania
Tel. 0688517684
E-mail: mati.logoreci@yahoo.com