Nevjon, the model teacher of the Korça youth

Nevjon, the beloved teacher of the Libonik youth in Korça, begins his story: “Volunteering is an added value in my life. It has made me more social and I have offered my help wherever I can, especially to young people who need to have role models.” 

For two years now, teacher Nevjon has been the leader of the youth club in the “Muharrem Veizi” school in Libonik where he teaches. Every time he enters the school he is surrounded by children and young people who eagerly wait to meet with him and discuss “IMPACT” Club topics. He is always with the children, everywhere, even when he holds meetings with the Student Government, or when he engages with the children during fairs or various activities.

Today, on International Volunteer Day, Nevjon shared his story. His desire to help others began in childhood.

“My first beginnings as a volunteer were in elementary school, but then I did not realize the significance of doing volunteer work. I would always participate in various activities carried out by the school. This continued through university, and that is when I understood what it means to be a volunteer, to do something voluntarily, without being forced or receiving a reward, but simply participating and contributing of your own free will,” Nevjon says.

He speaks about the motivations, desires, reasons, and motives that pushed him from an early age: to always be active and take on volunteer work simply for the good of the community he serves.

“I had a normal, calm and happy childhood where cooperation and relationships with friends were very good, where group work lay at the basis of everything, as we helped each other. I too had a guiding role model. He was my high-school form teacher. Our relationship rested on cooperation. He was an inspiration to me, so that I can become as cooperative as possible while working with children and be an example to be followed in the future,” he says.

“As a teacher, I would like to share with you my motto: Teaching is not an occupation, but a mission.” He further explains that it is precisely this expression where he finds the courage and motivation to become active with young people, so that they in turn can be as active as possible, while providing them with practical solutions to problems that the community may face.

Today, Nevjon is satisfied with the initiatives he has undertaken with the “IMPACT” youth group and he lists some moments of success. Even during the pandemic, he, as the leader of the “IMPACT” group has taken the initiative to help families in need. “We managed to find the immediate support of students, parents and teachers and in a very short time we managed to collect plenty of food and clothes which we distributed to families in need to help them meet the most urgent needs during the lock down caused from the Covid-19 pandemic,” Nevjon says.

Later on, when restrictions eased, teacher Nevjon and the most active students, in cooperation with World Vision, also donated books.

The last five years have been fruitful. “I first engaged as a volunteer with World Vision in September 2017,” he says. “That year I was the coordinator of the Student Government and that is when the first collaborations started. The cooperation has further strengthened with the creation of “IMPACT” groups. It has been a great cooperation.”

He loves that children are in the middle of everything. “Thanks to this cooperation, I have been able to expand the social network with people who share the same interests. Thanks to the cooperation and various trainings conducted by World Vision, I have managed to use my skills in a more innovative way. What I appreciate at World Vision is that child protection is at the center of their work and that all children should be treated equally,” says Nevjon.

The “IMPACT” youth group working with Nevjon consider him to be their greatest support.

“The professor has influenced me a lot in terms of love for knowledge and learn more not only in his classes but also in other classes. He has been a great support for all of us," says Mateo, 17.

In the end, Nevjon chose to share a message for all those who wish to make a difference in the community where they live but do not know where to start:

“For me, volunteering is more than work. It is a feeling, solidarity, compassion and commitment. When you do volunteer work you feel better, more humane and a worthier citizen. Humanism means to be human, to feel for the other, to help him. I would suggest volunteering to everyone because not only will they get to know themselves better, but also others by expanding their social network.

Let us be the first to make a difference in the community and be a role model for others. Do good, as it costs less than doing bad!” says Nevjon.

Nevjon is one of the 23 leaders of the 13 “IMPACT” youth clubs with which World Vision works in Korça. The Youth Program in Korça continues to work with 150 young people from 13 different areas. Nevjon and 2,200 young people and leaders throughout Albania are trying to improve the life of the community where they live through socio-economic change by being active citizens.