form its own board, constitution and make decisions locally about its governance, structure, programs an how to best serve the local community. Formal status will also allow YMCA Shkoder to apply for funds/grants in their own right without having to pass everything through the National office in Tirana. Even though we are creating an organization in Shkoder, the paperwork must be filed at the court in Tirana. Fatmir and Artan (volunteer director and board member respectively) have been working hard and travelling to the capital frequently to keep the process on track. Yesterday we heard that we have been ‘provisionally approved’ for registration though there were a couple of questions raised. These questions have been answered and we are awaiting the final verdict. Fingers crossed.
Recently I visited the school for Roma children and the Roma community to see the 'encampment' and to visit a family that benefited from one of the sewing machines. The YMCA is at work in both the school and the Roma camp and through donations from St. Albans Baptist Church in England has been able to provide four women with sewing machines in order to mend/make clothes for the community.
There is a challenge facing the operation of the school - many parents are not sending their children due to the need for money/food, via begging, outweighing the need to
sit in a classroom. Fatmir and I have discussed a possible solution being for the YMCA to provide school lunches for the children - when the Y has provided a 'day out' and provided lunch attendance has been very high (130 versus the fifty usual attendees) and this has led to increased attendance in school for the next few days until the children/parents realise there is not more food and go back to begging. In a perfect world the 'food' component would be part of a much larger program tackling the issue of child abuse/behavioural issues and would include a school counselor, social workers (for children and to educate the parents on the need/importance for their child to attend school) and recreational activities. However, this of course takes money and donors that have the ability to fund such a program are not so easy to find. However, we will continue to make contacts and see what doors may open for the YMCA to address this important need.
The lady with the sewing machine was very happy to have received it - she lives in a two room house with 15 other people, one of whom has sold her blood every two months for the last 35 years to make money - and has put it to good use making dresses for family/community. I suggested to Fatmir that it could be worth looking into developing this idea further and having the women make clothes for sale - to the Shkoder community and for distribution/sale at international Y events - with revenues being returned to the Roma community. Hopefully this can be explored further.
Visiting the 'encampment' was a sobering experience. There is a one-room cinder block building on the right as you go into the camp. The 'direct
or' of the camp lives in this one room. His room was being used for youth/community activities (chess, dominoes, etc.) until recently. The Y had helped him put a door and windows in his 'home' in exchange for the use of his room for X number of months. That timeframe has now passed and he wants €75 per month for use of the space. The other major issue facing the community there is the lack of potable water. There is a hand pump, but this water cannot be drunk. €300/$500 will pay for the drilling of a well and an electric pump which will supply this area and greater Roma community with potable water. Hopefully funds can be secured for this project in the near future.Additional
ly, there is interest on the part of both the YMCA and a local school to operate a day camp this summer. The school is the oldest in Shkoder and is the only 'mainstream' school in the city that accepts Roma children - they have 6 enrolled. The concept is for the YMCA to operate the camp at the school and serve 40-50 children for an 8-10 week period. The idea is in its infancy, but it is hoped they will be able to offer a program containing both recreational. Without the camp a bleak picture is painted: children home alone, or playing football in the street next to speeding vehicles as there is virtually no recreational space for activities to take place in the city. Once again, lack of financial resources - on the part of the parents, the YMCA and the school (teachers often use their own money to buy supplies) - is the main hurdle to overcome.Tune in regularly for updates on these on other YMCA issues/events.
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