Print   

---

Related documents

Albania – 20 years of history with the Sons of Don Bosco

Albania – Don Bosco welcomes his boys

---

(ANS – Tirana) –The Salesians have been in Albania for almost 20 years. They have been working with teachers and social workers responding on a daily basis to the needs of young Albanians, helping with their development as they live according to the charism of Don Bosco.

The “Qendra (house) social Don Bosko” includes a high school, a technical school, a vocational training centre, a day centre, an oratory and youth centre and a reception centre. Each day sees about 1,000 young people coming there.

Lessons have just finished in the schools and final diplomas have been issued for 162 students. The Vocational Training Centre on the other hand, in the course of the year gave 300 certificates in the many fields it offers: Plumbing, Electrical trades, Social work, Book-keeping, (Pizzeria, Bakery, Confectionary) and Computer Studies.

With the support  of UNICEF and of the “Vodafone Albania Foundation” the professional services provided in Tirana are also reaching other parts of the country: courses in Cookery and Dress-making are being started in the Lezha district and in May at Kukesi courses in  “Business studies”  began”. Lezha and Kukesi  are among the poorest and most difficult areas in Albania, where people, are living on social assistance and youngsters have few prospects.

The Salesians are also involved in another important project, “Youth empowerment through Community Development”, sponsored by the World  Bank and organised by the local authorities in Tirana. Local Government chose the Salesian Vocational Training Centre to help young people become self-employed. The first course to be started was in computer studies, and others will follow according to the requests of the groups involved in the project.

Work was recently completed on the building of the Day Centre and the Oratory. About 90 children mainly from Gypsy families moved into the new building which provides better facilities and a setting better suited for their integration.

A reception centre for the disabled has been in use for five years. Each day, four social workers and a  physiotherapist look after 10 young people with physical and mental handicaps  aged between 14 and 25, working to improve their physical, psychological and mental condition and the quality of their social lives.

Next on the list to be opened is an elementary school. On  13 March the Ministry of Education gave approval for one and so far 14 pupils have asked to be enrolled. 

Young people are also catered for during the summer by the Centre with special Summer Youth Activities.

Published 20/06/2011