Official launch of the “Drop-In” Centre for street children and those working on the street.
On the eve of the International Day Against Child Exploitation, June 12th 2009, Save the Children in Albania and Save the Children in Italy in partnership with the Municipality of Tirana organized the official opening of the “Drop In” centre for street children and those working on the street.
Among those participating in the ceremony were the Vice Mayor and ancillary authorities of the Tirana Municipality, state institutions, local and international NGOs, Save the Children in Albania and Save the Children Italy staff representatives, community people, children and their families.
The event was opened by one of the centre’s cultural mediators from the Roma community.
“I am excited and happy to open this inauguration ceremony but above all for making this centre functioning possible. On behalf of the centre staff and of the children and their families who are the centre’s beneficiaries, “I thank Save the Children and the Tirana Municipality for the important common undertaking. This initiative aims provision of direct support and protection alternatives to the street children and those working on the street. We invite these children and adolescents to frequent this centre which offers what they cannot find at home or on the street, such as the recreational activities, opportunities to learn how to write and read, to enjoy music and dancing, to develop their creativity and learn about their rights” said the cultural mediator during his speech.
Greeting speeches were presented by Save the Children in Albania Programme Director, Veslemoy Naerland, and the Vice Mayor of Tirana Municipality Eduart Shalsi. During their speeches they both highlighted the importance of and their commitment for this common initiative development and its continuation.
“I am very impressed by this centre’s work up to now. It is a step toward establishment of proper child protection services and their improvement at local level and it is a model of good practice that should be further replicated and continued in the future”, expressed the Vice Mayor of Tirana Municipality.
A particular moment of the event was when one of the children, beneficiaries of this center, gave as a present, to the Vice Mayor of the Tirana Municipality and to Save the Children in Albania’s Programme Director. These were two of his artworks which he painted during the days he frequented the center. “This is to express my gratitude and appreciation for opening this center” said 17 year old Adi”
The event’s main participants made a tour round the centre’s premises and received information on the services and activities it offers. They also had the chance to participate in one of the education classes and witnessed the benefits children receive due to this centre’s learning programme developed in cooperation with the Municipality’s Elderly centre members (former teachers).
The most fabulous part of this event was the children’s show which turned the event in a real celebration for all the participants. Children, with pride and joy on their faces, performed traditional and Albanian dances, sang children songs and played various roles from the legend of Erdelezi/St George.
Most of the children who organized and participated in this performance belonged to the group of children and youngsters who have experienced or are suffering from life on the streets that are now frequenting the centre.
This “Drop In” Centre aims to ensure support for children and youth that live and work on the streets. This will be executed congruent to children’s best interest and rights recognized under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as well as through networking and establishment of cooperation with the actors working in the area of child rights protection including both governmental and nongovernmental institutions.
The centre provides an opportunity for children to ensure their rights, to primary health, hygiene and educational needs and the right to feel safe, protected and supported and will contribute to their healthy development.
The centre functions through its mobile unit that is composed of cultural mediators and social workers. They identify, monitor and update the social-economic situation of these children and their families and provide social-educative services for children of the centre.
In the future, this centre will seek to expand its services and activities that it offers, aiming to contribute in minimizing the phenomena of the number of street children working on the streets. This will be accomplished by reducing the number of children on the streets through their integration in social and educative life.