“Atë Pjetër Meshkalla” is a high school placed in Shkodra City-Albania and is part of Gesuiti Educazione Network.  For centuries the Jesuits in Shkoder have distinguished themselves for their educational and cultural activities.  The words written on the emblem of the School, “For God, for our Homeland and for Progress”, along with the eagle which is the Country’s symbol, explain its main goals; the phrase “Work – Science – Discipline” explains its style of education.

From the special invitation of MAGIS Foundation at the end of the last year, our School had the opportunity to participate in the Word Day of Prayer for Children 2022.

On November 17-18, delegates from across  the world gathered in Rome for an interfaith symposium and interfaith service as part of the annual World Day of Prayer and Action for Children 2022, convened by Arigatou International and co-hosted by the Pontifical Gregorian University in collaboration with over 18 global organizations, including UNICEF, UNHCR, World Vision International, Religions for Peace, and others to address the unprecedented rise in the global displacement of children.

This event was focused the first day on advocating for every child’s dignity and holistic well-being and the second day knowing the launch of tool to advocate for children’s rights and well-being.

The event has established also the “wear my shoes” award to recognize outstanding practices during 2021 and 2022 at the grass roots level wich focus on protecting the rights and well being of children who are “on the move” wich includes refugees, migrants and internally displaced children.

For 4 years, our school is working a lot about safeguarding policy especially on prevention of juvenile abuse, reporting abuse to juveniles, implementation of concrete procedures in case of abusing with juveniles.  And being part of this big event was a reflection of these big problems over the world in front of our cultural and context of children in Albania.

The problems facing the children of Albania are not fundamentally different from those to be found in the majority of European countries, but they are exacerbated by the country’s chaotic transition to democracy.  Being an enclosed country, our society its learned to maintain their problems inside of themselves and inside the family.  For this, it is our responsibility to talk about children’s rights against violence and abuse.

The topic that was made to reflect is the part “children on the move” because of several socio-economic reasons.  For that it is our responsibility also to make our families and our children reflect about our earth, country and our identity with the faith for a better future for our children.  It is our time to reinforce the faith and hope for the future.

Another important topic was about Pathways to Healing for Survivors of Child Abuse, Neglect and Violence.  This a wound that still accompanies our society and strong persons today share their difficult histories but within these darkness they found the courage to faith, love and hope.

I am a school psychologist and in everyday life I listen to children with several emotional disturbances from different socio-economic problems but I am grateful to work in a place where  the voice of a child is heard not only from the office of psychological service but also from the pastoral team of our school for spiritual need.

This important event was like a reward for all my work on children’s rights but also advocating for their rights and pray with heart for abused children.

In the name of our school, we thank MAGIS Foundation for their invitation to look forward and protect the children.