Sisters ensure a warm welcome for Shkodër’s children

“SISTER Lulë, who leads the Franciscan Sisters community that runs the children’s centre, called me one day to say: ‘Father, we are very worried. We don’t know if we can continue. If we don’t receive help, we may have to close the centre.’ Their finances were becoming impossible, the bathrooms needed replacing as did the heating system.

“Then, Missio Scotland contacted me and asked if they could help with some projects in Albania. Immediately, I thought of the sisters. When I told Sister Lulë that friends in Scotland wanted to support them, she was overjoyed. With what might seem like a modest gift, the sisters will be able to continue their work. And that means that so many children will continue to have a safe place to learn, play and grow.”

Fr Agustin Margjoni—the Superior of the Vincentians in Albania and National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies there—recounted this poignant tale to myself and my colleague Andrea during our visit to the Balkan country. It’s a project close to his own heart, because his own nieces and nephews attended the centre after his brother died in 2012. His words served as a stark reminder of the financial tightrope that many missionaries throughout the world walk in trying to serve those in need and also of the importance of supporting Missio Scotland so we can support them.

Challenges and care

The challenges faced by the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Infant Jesus in providing a safe and loving space for children, in the centre of Shkodër, are not solely financial. They are societal and deep-rooted.

In Albania, one in five children live in poverty, while 30 per cent are at risk of poverty. Around 43 per cent of households struggle to provide enough food for their families. 54,000 children (7.7 per cent) from the ages of 5-17 are in work, toiling in difficult conditions in the countryside or in factories. Youth unemployment stands at around 26 per cent. Some 50 per cent of children have experienced psychological or physical aggression, while 26 per cent of children between the ages of 11-15 have reported being physically abused. Around 90 per cent of families cannot afford healthcare and psychological services are lacking. Illiteracy and lack of education are problems that disproportionately affect the country’s Roma community, while emigration and separation can have long-lasting effects on children there too.

The Franciscans almost inhabit a city within a city in Shkodër. Alongside their famous church there is the Franciscan Monastery—from which those in need can receive a hot, daily meal—and the Franciscan Sisters’ House, which doubles as the children’s centre and provides an oasis of peace in the midst of the busy city. Sr Lulë Mecaj is the Mother Superior of the Franciscan Sisters charged with running the centre and, in speaking to Missio Scotland, she gave an insight into the children who come through their doors and the work undertaken by them to provide love and care to the children.

“We welcome children from the age of three up to 15,” Sr Lulë said. “We give them a warm meal and a space to play and learn. We are assisted by many young people who grew up here and now give back. They help us with activities and they are an important part of our community. 

“Many of the children who come here are from families who struggle financially. Not every child is poor, but many come from difficult circumstances. That said, we welcome children regardless of their situation, because it is important that children grow together, learn from each other and share their experiences. 

“Our sisters work with the children, but we also employ two teachers who help the children with their schoolwork. Many of the children who come to us have fallen behind in terms of their education. Often it is not because they cannot learn, but rather at home there is nobody who has enough time, or sometimes the ability, to help them.

“When children do not receive education, very often they face a much harder life. But when a child studies, when they grow intellectually and personally, they understand the world better. They can make their own choices. They can become the main character in their own life.”

Giving back

One such girl, who is determined to do just that, is 16-year-old Klerisa Toma. A former child of the centre herself, she now attends as an animator, in the spirit of ‘giving back’ as previously mentioned by Sr Lulë. Even in a few short visits, it was evident that not only is she fantastic with the children, but she is also caring, thoughtful and intelligent.

“I really enjoy being with the children,” Klerisa said “They bring me happiness and I think it's a really great thing to do, to look after all these children. I love this place and I get on well with the kids.

“A centre like this is very important for the children because some of them are left behind and encouraged not to continue with their education but rather to find work.”

Even though still pretty much a child herself, it was noticeable that when she spoke about the children her eyes lit up. However, her talents will be sadly not be used in the field of education as she feels teachers are ‘under-appreciated’ in Albania—perhaps a nod to the fact that many feel teachers are not suitably recompensed for the vital work they are undertaking. Instead, she has her heart set on studying abroad and becoming an architect, which would be a real positive for the world of architecture, but a real loss to Albania.

“Albania would be a better place if there was less corruption,” she said by way of explanation. “People my age are trying to bring down the prime minister because he's done a lot of bad things. My parents almost lost their jobs because of his laws. However, if Albania becomes a better place, I would like to come back here to study and live.”

Joy and hope

Klerisa’s words speak to the contrast that exists at the heart of Albania and its people. Here is a young lady, rightly proud of her beautiful country, who realises that she must leave to achieve her dreams. It’s something that Sr Lulë is cognisant of as she and her fellow sisters work to help the children in their care follow their dreams too.

“One of the most difficult things for us is that we work with children for many years, but later many of them leave Albania,” Sr Lulë lamented. “The situation here means that many people feel they have no choice but to go abroad. However, at the same time, there is happiness too. We see young people who grew up here now living all over the world. They have families. They have work. They have built good lives. That gives us joy. But we also feel sadness because their gifts and talents are not helping Albania. My hope is for a new Albania—one where young people can stay, work together and build their future here.

“So, there is joy in our work, but there is sadness too. Both things exist at the same time, but the children trust us and open their hearts to us, and our greatest joy is seeing the children grow, seeing them move forward, seeing them make friends and seeing them want to learn.”

And that joy is evident in the faces of the children who attend the centre. Of course, there were some children too whose sadness was etched on their faces, but almost as quickly as we noticed this, the sisters would be over tending to them with a kind word, a big hug or whatever it took to bring a smile to their faces and ensure that that big happy family they are intent on cultivating, flourishes. One of the children at the centre, a 10-year-old girl named Daniela, could testify to that.

“I love coming to the centre,” she said. “We have so much fun here and the sisters are fantastic, they are super fun and they make very good food. I love their food.”

Timely intervention

Sr Lulë chuckled in the background as Daniela sung her praises, but she took an altogether more serious tone when she explained the difficulties that the centre has faced, Missio Scotland’s timely intervention and her hopes for its future.

“One of the biggest challenges we have faced here at the centre is the heating system,” Sr Lulë said. “The building needs investment, but there has never been enough funding available to do everything that is needed, so Missio Scotland supporting the installation of a new heating system is a gift from God.

“During the winter months, the cold creates many problems. The rooms where the children study become very difficult to use, and because of the damp and cold we have also had problems with mould. Fewer children come to the centre because the conditions are too difficult.

"A new heating system will allow us to welcome the children throughout the whole year. They will be able to avail of a warm, safe place where they can study, learn and feel at home.

“I am very grateful to Missio Scotland for helping the children here. So, on behalf of all the children who come to this centre, I just want to say thank you.”

She continued: “Over the next few years, our dream is to finish improving the whole centre. When we have a better space, we can care for the children better. We can provide proper classrooms, tables, chairs, books and materials suitable for their ages. We would love to offer more opportunities—art classes, creative activities, music, painting and digital art.

“Through these things, children can discover their talents and hopefully, one day, they will share those talents with others. My wish is that the children who receive help here will grow up to become people who help others too—just as others have helped them.”

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