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Albanian Christian leaders trained on working with children with disabilities

27 Apr 2007 12:16:24 GMT
Source: World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe office (MEERO)

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Denisa Gaxhaj 12 years old is one of the beneficiaries of “Different but Equal” project in Elbasan ADP 1 going to school.
World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org

Church leaders from all denominations in World Vision's Area Development Program (ADP) in Central Albania, have attended two day training on working and helping children with disabilities integrate into mainstream society.

The training also served as an awareness-raising tool to mobilise communities to help and fight for the rights of children with disabilities.

'In the last years there has been a growing number of parents of children with disability attending our churches. We need to learn how to help these parents and how to work with their children,' said Festim Qelemeni, pastor of United by Christ church in Elbasan.

said Zela Koka, the Program Coordinator of MEDPAK, an organisation working with parents for the rights of children with disabilities.

According to World Health Organization data, seven percent of the Albanian population is recorded to have a disability. Elbasan is one of the areas with the highest number of children with disabilities in the country, due to high levels of water and air pollution. According to MEDPAK, children represent 40 percent of people with disabilities in Elbasan. However, the numbers could be significantly higher as most parents never allow their children with disabilities to get out of the house due to feelings of shame and embarrassment.

'Not only are children with disability destined to a life of confinement but many of them suffer from malnutrition also, because parents don't know how to take care of them or do not have the financial resources to do so,' said Zyrah Bedalli, Education Officer at World Vision Albania, Elbasan ADP 1.

Children with disabilities are severely discriminated against in school as well. In many cases either they are not accepted to go to school or they are treated with contempt by teachers and their peers.

Thanks to the Different but Equal project some 350 children with disabilities in the six communes of Elbasan ADP I, have benefited from medical assistance, equipment, and education.

'World Vision works alongside the church, communities and partner organisations in the area of social justice to help bring about positive change and a better life for children. We believe that development begins in the hearts and the minds of people,' explained Jason Evans, the National Director of World Vision Albania.

[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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Last updated:Fri Apr 27 16:10:51 2007