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Bathore is a recently established area on the outskirts of Tirane. The first residents arrived in 1993 when numerous poor families from North Albania, lacking even the basic necessities such as daily bread, migrated to Bathore with the unrealistic hope of finding a better quality of life. Here the housing is illegal and built without the necessary permits. The local council has not provided the basic amenities such as roads, sewers, refuse collection and a water supply. Consequently hygiene standards are low leading to risk of disease. Families in Bathore are predominantly Catholic. Most families have three or four young children. Most parents have no secure job and are unable to provide for their children. The project lasts for eight months but the materials will be used for many years to come. The intention is to organise two meetings a week, which will take place in the Catholic Church Formation Centre. About 60 children aged between 7 and 13 will attend the meetings for which bibles, catechisms and stationery items are needed. The Catholic Church has been in Bathore since 1995. The first missionaries built a small church, necessary for both liturgical celebrations and as a central meeting point for believers. Here faith is perceived as a vital tradition to be passed down through generations. Many locals have expressed the desire to be baptized. There is an urgent need for the guidance and formation of believers within the community. The Dominican Sisters of the Blessed Imelda have been in Bathore for about a year, working to promote Christian as well as personal, social and health education. The Sisters try to protect the children from various social problems including drug and alcohol addiction, petty crime and exploitation. During initial visits to the homes, the Sisters discovered that the majority of children had received no form of religious education and many were not yet baptised. Many parents made the specific request for spiritual formation for their children. The formation of individuals who already attend catechism classes and wish to become catechists themselves, is also in progress. The cost of the project is approximately $A2,500 for 60 bibles, 60 catechisms, one wide-screen projector and stationery items. One family who has been helped by the project is the Leka Coka family. The family is very poor and lives in a wooden hut without running water or electricity. Although the father works his income is barely enough to sustain the family. Before the project began the children spent most of their time playing in the street and fighting. The mother often asked for moral and material support. She was depressed and worried about the future of her children. Through the realisation of the project the children have started coming to church regularly and also attend various meetings and take part in social activities. They have matured in their ability to interact with others, in their sense of responsibility and their awareness of cleanliness. Each of the four children, Doradon, Irena, Daniel and David, is part of a group of altar servers. Their mother is delighted with their progress and says she has found a new sense of happiness. |
