Amara’s Smile
Upon approaching the single-story house, where the first flowers have begun to bloom and nature is coming alive, what captures your attention most is Amariliz's smile, affectionately known as Amara. Her smile appears to be as sweet, warm, and hopeful as spring itself. With a lengthy and affectionate hug, the eight-year-old warmly greets her weekly visitor, psychologist Moza, and with a friendly gaze and gleaming eyes, she extends a welcoming reception to us as well.
Amara resides in a rural village in Prrenjas alongside her two younger sisters and her parents. The eyes of Amara, her sisters, and her mother now sparkle with hope, but the initial period was challenging for the eight-year-old's parents as she was born with an extra chromosome.
"When Amara was born, I was 23 years old. Discovering that my daughter had Down Syndrome saddened me deeply. While I had heard of it before, I had never encountered such a child. It turned out that the first child with Down Syndrome I would meet was the one I was going to give birth to. It was not an easy journey," shares Kelvina, Amara's mother. The initial years were immensely challenging. Until the age of five, Amara never had access to integrated services—a right that should be ensured for every child to lead a fulfilling life. Kelvina mentions that during the first five years, she personally took care of her daughter, despite having little information about Down Syndrome.
"Amara began walking at the age of 3. Until she turned five, she didn't receive any services except for the care I provided; there was no alternative, and I had to summon strength to find a solution. I delved into reading about Down Syndrome, learning how to care for my daughter. I realised Amara was incredibly special, and my love for her deepened. Four years ago, everything took a positive turn when Amara became part of World Vision Albania's mobile service. It was an enormeous relief and an extraordinary support for our daughter," shares Kelvina. Although she studied to become an elementary school teacher, the 33-year-old has never practiced her profession. She explains that her focus has been on caring for Amara and her two younger daughters, having become a mother at a young age. The family relies on the income earned by her husband, who works abroad in Greece and holds a regular residence permit.
Amara is an exceptionally charming girl who thoroughly enjoys hugs. Her happiest moments are during her developmental therapy. Since June 2022, she has been consistently receiving integrated services at home through the "Community Centre for Disability Services" project. This initiative, funded by the European Union and executed by World Vision Albania in collaboration with the municipality of Prrenjas, extends integrated services to Amara and 179 other children and youths with disabilities in the municipality.
Every day, Amara attends kindergarten with her sister Azalea. She shares that she likes playing with her friends and acquiring new knowledge. The coming year starts a new chapter for Amara as she prepares to sit at school desks for the very first time.
"Amara is an incredibly cooperative, delightful, and intelligent girl. She has a thorough knowledge of colors, geometric shapes, fruits, and animals. Proficient in assembling both simple and intricate puzzles, she can also write the letters A and M, associating them with different words. She actively participates in various games with her peers," shares Moza, her therapist, highlighting Amara's remarkable progress.
Klevisa's aspiration for her daughter is that Amara becomes independent and leads a fulfilling life. Achieving this requires the creation of a supportive and inclusive environment where children with Down Syndrome feel embraced. Amara radiates love, and as a society, we should reciprocate with attention, care, opportunities, and the love she truly deserves.
By Alfons Cupaj, PR and Communications Officer, World Vision Albania