Celebrating differences and similarities on the International Day of the Roma

On the international Day of the Roma, World Vision in Albania partnered with other organizations in the area of Korça to host a special awareness initiative, complete with traditional dancing and songs from this community. Many children and their parents of Roma gathered together to show each other and those around them that they have their own values, rights and culture.

They showed and demonstrated their differences through dancing and songs in front parents, children, teachers, local media, members of the Egyptian minority, organizations and representative of the Regional Education Directory of Korça.

They spoke loud and in unison to raise the awareness in the society that they deserve to be more integrated into the social and cultural life. “We deserve attention, integrity among others in the society,” they said together in one voice. After this, there was even the friendly time were many Roma children, together with their parents and with the help of teachers, cooked their traditional dishes, danced, sang and read poems in front of others.

"Today my mom saw me for the first time reading a poem! That made me feel so happy I cannot describe in words,” said Amarildo Kostreci, 8, a Roma child of Korça.

Mrs. Mevlude Isallari, the sub-director of the “Naim Frashëri” school, shared an awareness message, in front of the guests and Roma community. “It’s important that all of us collaborate and show that together we can do more for Roma children: for their voices to be raised and their talents to be channeled. They are like us; let’s help them feel this way,” she said.   

This was only the first initiative World Vision of Korça hosted for this community as it has only been a few months since the organization started working with Roma of Korça city through the child Sponsorship Programme.

“We aim to do more initiatives like this, to do more [to] strengthen our relationships with this community and help these children live the life they deserve,” said Stela Viso, World Vision’s Korça development facilitator.

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