Ian's blog
YMCA Plans
As for the YMCA in Shkoder: It was founded in 2001 and has been actively serving the local community since. The main program is serving the Roma (gypsy) community that lives predominantly on the outskirts of town across the one lane bridge traversing the Buna River, on the edge of Lake Shkoder. In this part of town, the poverty is desperate. Water is hand-pumped, children in various states of clothing play games in the street or rummage through mounds of trash at the side of the road in the hope of finding something of value. Value is of course relative. I have seen children, wide-grinned with delight to find a plastic ‘scooter', and carry it home, despite the fact it is cracked, has no wheels and to you and I would be utterly worthless.
The move to Shkoder
I have now moved to Shkoder, a medium sized, attractive city in the northern Albania. It is considered the cultural capital of Albania and boasts the largest Mosque in the country and the biggest Catholic Church in the Balkans. In a region of such ethnic intolerance, Shkoder (Albania in general) could provide a lesson in living together respectfully. Shkoder is also one of the rare cities in the world that have both lakeside and mountain climates side-by-side: The city sits on Lake Shkoder, the largest lake in the Balkans, and is overlooked by the western end of the Accursed Mountains.
An Englishman in Albania
Where to start? I arrived in Albania, to work for YMCA Europe, 4 months ago. I have been frustrated, excited, challenged, perplexed, and stuck out like a sore thumb during that time. Life here can be summed up in two words: Not boring.
