Therefore last July 9-14, we visited Slovenia, Albania and Montenegro and were updated on the YMCA realities within those countries . It is always an experience to be there! And to learn. This time, for example, we got to know that in Balkan Roma language the word ‘liria’ means "freedom" and that this word is one of most important for them – the essence of their philosophy of life, their contribution to setting universal human values…
In beautiful Ljubljana, the capital of sLOVEnia (the only country in the world where ‘love’ is the part of its name) we met Ana, the leader of initiative group of YMCA in Slovenia. She fell in love with YMCA being the volunteer in YMCA Bitola, FYRoMacedonia. Now with her friends she is planning to establish a YMCA to empower Slovenian young people and women, to work for the unemployed and Roma. She has many ideas… Good luck Ana, YMCA family will help you!
In Albania, a country with increasing developments, we met with Fatmir and Sebina, YMCA key-leaders in Shkodra. They invited us to visit the Roma community with whom YMCA works.
Disadvantaged district has the name ‘Liria’, the same denomination as the programme for children run by YMCA and local Roma leaders. One of them told us there: Education and art makes our kids free – and we understood how wise this Roma-woman was as her words and work impressed us more than hundreds of sometimes artificial declarations and resolutions.
The YMCA in Shkodra is opening now the ‘John Murray Community Centre’ for Roma children – with the first programme for kids with asthma. John Murray from the Buffalo YMCA in the USA who was supporting YMCA work in Shkodra passed away the last year but people there still remember and love him…
Next day in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro we met Michal, NGS of YMCA Montenegro who told us about their charity work, a new project about empowerment of disadvantaged women, about their help for the victims of floods in Bosnia and Serbia, and victims of the conflict in Ukraine. We were proud listening to him! He introduced us to Oliwiera, a YMCA leader and initiator of ‘Olivia Foundation’ (www.oliviafoundation.com). She also works with the Roma discovering their hidden artistic talents. Why? – because, she says, education and art are the best way to build a better world and common understanding of people of different gender, age, race, religion, ethnicity and social backgrounds.
If you want to learn more about the YMCA work in the Balkans and support these outstanding developments, contact our office.
Believe us – it is worth! And remember one Roma word: liria!
