Cultural and sportive activities and Workshop
organised in “Shkolla e Re” and “Naum Veqilharxhi” schools in Korca
15-16 April 2015

Following AOb Project implementation, joint cultural and sportive activities and the two days Workshop were organised in “Shkolla e Re” and “Naum Veqilharxhi”schools in Korca, on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 April 2016.

These two days activities started with massive cultural and sportive activities organised on Friday, 15 April 2016, in the premises of “Naum Veqilharxhi” school.
More than 80 pupils, mainly from those dropped out or at risk to drop out and being integrated in school, as well as their classmates from both schools, took part in many artistic, cultural and sportive activities, including singing, dancing, recitations, paintings, volleyball, football, athletic and so on.

Almost all teachers and many pupils from both schools, as well as parents and some other people from the community, as well as the Chairmen of FSASH, Xhafer Dobrushi, and headmasters of both schools, Romeo Rrapo, (“Shkolla e Re”) and Xhemlin Koleci, (“Naum Veqilharxhi”), also attended the cultural and sportive activities.

Teachers, members of Monitoring Groups of Project implementation, and many other teachers, especially those from physical education and music, as Mamica Mano, Elisa Frroku, Pandeli Orgocka, Xhoxhi Nakollovski, Klodi Burda from “Naum Veqilharxhi” school, and Dashamir Nameti, Arben Bace, Gjergji Burda and Mira Bako, from “Shkolla e Re”, were the organisers of these activities.

Most of activities, especially the sportive ones, were organised in form of competitions between schools and different classes. Special commissions followed by near results and identified the winners, who were announced at the end of activities. “Shkolla e Re” was identified as the best team for Voleyball girls, athletics, dancing and recitations, while “Naum Veqilharxhi” school team was identified as the best team for Football, singing, painting, handicrafts etc.

Some pupils from those returned in school after the work done in the framework of this Project implementation, as well as many others from those at risk to drop out from school, who are now integrated normally in school, like Kristi Islami, Frensi Latka Bajram Xheladinaj, Denada Hasaj, Denisa Denas, Andrea Kodra, Oliver Andoni, Ilia Naco, Franko Kapllani, Loreta Nasto, were among the best performers in sportive activities, while Oksana Ceci, Johana Thaka, Irisa Petro, Kristiana Nakollovski, Eleni Papagjini, Klea Kacani, Athina Lloshi, Dhimirtula Krekasi, Ekaterini Bashllari etc,  were among the best performers in cultural and artistic activities.

Really interesting were the moments when there were made known figures about child labour in national level, as well as results achieved  in the framework of this Project implementation, through pupils showing pieces of papers, (labels), during the artistic program of “Naum Veqilharxhi” school.

A Power Point presentation, with figures, pictures, interviews etc, regarding this Project implementation, was presented during the artistic program of “Naum Veqilharxhi” school.

Special attention drew also the exposition with artistic works and handicrafts, realiesd by pupils of “Naum Veqilharxhi” school, where there was a combination of artistic productions with other useful handicrafts.

Following those massive and interesting activities, was organised the Workshop with participation of teachers, pupils and parents, mainly from Monitoring Groups’ members.

The Chairmen of FSASH, Xhafer Dobrushi, as well as headmasters of both schools, Romeo Rrapo, (“Shkolla e Re”) and Xhemlin Koleci, (“Naum Veqilharxhi”) also took part in all sessions of the Workshop.

The Workshop program, last edition of FSASH and SPASH Magazine, “Tribuna Sindikale”, the Brochure “Elimination of Child Labour, an Important Trade Union Issue”, published in the framework of FSASH-SPASH Projects implementation, a special Brochure on Collective Agreement in power since 16 December 2016, as well as other publications, like SCREAM Modules, the Manual on Non Formal Education etc, where some of the materials of Workshop file provided for each participant.

The Workshop was organised in three different sessions.

During the First Session, the Chairman of FSASH, Xhafer Dobrushi, was focused on advanced training and explanations on:
International standards and national legislation on prevention and elimination of child labour, including ILO Conventions, 138 and 182, elements of Child Labour Monitoring System, good practices and lessons learned from FSASH and SPASH commitment to prevent and eliminate child labour in Albania.

Discussions from participants followed these explanations, also making some proposals, on the need to further improve the Albanian legislation and especially regarding the implementation of existing legislation, as well as further improvement of rules and regulations from the Ministry of Education, especially regarding pupils returned in school, after have been dropped out for long time, in order to give them possibility to pass the classes when they have good performance, independently by the number of lessons hours’ missing they have.

During the Second Session, the training specialist, Istref Haxhillari, made an advanced presentation on: SCREAM package - “Supporting Children’s Rights through Education, Arts and Media”, being focused especially on how can teachers and education trade union members, raise awareness of teachers and children against child labour and how teachers can use SCREAM Modules in their daily work, as well as on Non-Formal Education Manual, teaching methodology and so on.

Explanations were accompanied with concrete exercises, especially regarding some of SCREAM modules with interactive participation of teachers, parents and pupils present in the Workshop.

In the Third Session, the Coordinator of Project implementation, Stavri Liko, made a wide presentation on practical Guidelines about teachers trade unions engagement in child labour prevention and elimination and lessons learned from FSASH/SPASH commitment to prevent and eliminate child labour in these schools and wider, in Albania.

A special part of this presentation was focused on the Resolution 4.2 of the 7th EI Congress, held in Ottawa, in July 2015, on Accelerated Action Against Child Labour…, mentioning also the special role and contribution of AOb in preparing and approving this Resolution.

The following Session of the Workshop was focused on concrete situation of Project implementation, work done, results achieved, working methods used, conclusions and duties for the future and so on.
This was the most important Session regarding this Project implementation.

Heads of Monitoring Groups, Mimoza Beqirllari, (“Shkolla e Re”) and Enkelejda Cenolli (“Naum Veqilharxhi”), held detailed reports on the work done, problems faced, progress made and duties to make possible the realisation of Project objectives.
They mentioned the work done and results achieved, but at the same time, they were focused on some difficulties they have encountered, especially under the situation of poverty and financial difficulties of some families, as well as the problem of emigration wave which has affected Albanian families as well.

Teachers Olsa Rehova, Anila Shehu, Elvira Rushi, Eljoza Spaholli, in “Shkolla e Re”, and Esmeralda Ryka, Eva Cenolli, Eleni Kocaqi, Eda Dulo, in “Naum Veqilharxhi” school, spoke on behalf of their respective Monitoring Groups, reporting on the work done and results achieved, analysing one by one each pupils subject of Project implementation, being focused especially to those pupils who they are still working with to be returned to school.

After that, it was an open discussions Session, where other teachers, parents and pupils who took the floor, expressed their opinions, especially what can be improved in Project implementation activities, based on concrete experience they are gaining in the process of Project implementation, also mentioning the results achieved and expected Project objectives realisation.

Based on the figures mentioned during this session, the actual situation regarding the  realisation of Project objectives is as follows:

In “Shkolla e Re”, out of 12 pupils dropped out from school, most of them working, 7 of them are turned back in school, meanwhile out of 43 pupils at risk to drop out from school, 35 of them are attending the school regularly and other 3 have made progress in attending the school.

In “Naum Veqilharxhi” school, out of 13 pupils dropped out from school, most of them working, 6 of them are turned back in school, while out of 38 pupils at risk to drop out, 34 of them are attending the school regularly, being considered out of risk to drop out and other 2 have made progress in attending the school.

The work is continuing with all pupils still missing lessons hours per day or days per week.
After discussions and proposals, an Action Plan was approved, planning detailed elements of concrete and effective individual work with each of the pupils still dropped out or at risk to drop out, aiming to bring them back in school as soon as possible.

Headmasters of both schools, as well as teachers, pupils and parents appreciated this support from AOb, mentioning the improvements done and results achieved in the framework of this Project implementation and promising the continuation of their work to make possible this Project objectives realisation.