WORKSHOP AND OTHER ACTIVITIES

ORGANISED IN LEVANI, FIER,

ON 28 AND 29 MAY 2010

An important Workshop was organised in Levani, Fier, in the framework of pilot Project on Child Labour Free Zones, followed by artistic and sportive activities with massive participation of Roma pupils, especially from those returned in school, after concrete work of teachers, pupils and other stakeholders.

The workshop was organised in three different sessions.

The coordinator of the Project, Stavri Liko, spoke about the idea of child labour free zones and the importance of pilot project in Levani, not only for Fieri district, but also for Albania and wider. He also was focused on the Hague Conference, the Roadmap and the contribution of Dutch government and FNV Mondiaal to promote and support child labour prevention and elimination world wide and in Albania also. Impressive discussions were held by some pupils retuned and reintegrated in school, like Rovena Dule, Amarildo Muharremi, Xhekson Selimi, Rexhina Selimi, and their parents, like Ali Dule, Lirim Selimi, Marsela Selimi and so on.

Second session, was the most important one, organised with participation of 30 participants, teachers and pupils, members of working groups, parents, representatives of Roma Association, local government, educational directorate etc.
After a presentation from the Headmaster of the school, Gazmira Bizhgaj, on the work done, results achieved and further duties to be followed, a concrete discussion was made, on the actual situation regarding school dropout and child labour elimination, being focused to each of those 20 pupils dropped out from school and other 94 at risk to drop out, almost all of them from Roma community.

Teachers Marsela Hebeja, Erida Rexha, Lindita Mehmeti, Margarita Cobo, Lirime Mata, Natasha Zeqaj, Anila Bylyshi, Irena Jano explained the actual situation speaking about all of them one by one.
The conclusion was that the situation is being improved. Out of 20 pupils dropped out from the school, 14 of them are turned and integrated in the school. The work is continuing with other 6 pupils, who still have problems and are not in the school yet.
Improvements are made especially regarding those 94 pupils at risk to drop out from school. 56 of them are totally integrated in the school and are considered now out of risk to drop out from school, 22 of them have made progress, but still have absences in the school and other 16 continue to be absent for some days a week and some of them even for a week or more, also having health problems.

It was agreed, also through a concrete action plan approved during this session, 
that teachers committed in the working groups will coordinate better with Roma Association and local community, in order to continue the concrete work with them and their parents aiming to bring them back in school as soon as possible.

Third session, was dedicated to the collaboration among all the stakeholders, including teachers, pupils, parents, education directorate, local government, Roma Association, employers, other branch trade unions aiming to keep all children in school and eliminate child labour.

A presentation from the inspector of Fieri District Educational Directorate, Mihal Krimce, was followed by concrete discussions of  representatives of these subjects, Uljana Shahaj, from local government, Mirela Emiri, from the regional educational directorate, Refit Dule, from Fieri Roma Association, identifying some concrete directions of their specific work and joint actions in the future.

There were also discussed problems like solving the problem of a new kindergarten in the Roma zone of Levani village, proposing also to see the possibility of including 2-3 classes of elementary school for Roma children there. Both Dobrushi and Kruja took the responsibility to discuss the problem in the Ministry of Education, seeking an eventual solution for the next school year.

Various artistic and sportive activities were organised on Saturday with participation of pupils from those pupils dropped out or at risk to drop out and being integrated in school, as well as many other pupils, their classmates. Winners were announced at the end of these activities, also awarding symbolic prizes for teams and individuals.

Many thanks were expressed, during discussions, to the FNV Mondiaal for this concrete support, making possible all of these activities and results.