New Community Center for children in need in Gjirokastra

On 26 of October, the new Community Center for children in need was inaugurated in Gjirokastra. The center was rehabilitated and furnished in the framework of “Inclusive Practice and Services for Care and Development of Children from Early Childhood to Basic Education” project, funded by Bvlgari and implemented by Save the Children and Roma Active Albania in partnership with the Municipality of Gjirokastra.

This centre will provide services to children and families in need, focusing on Roma and Egyptian community. It will offer recreational activities and interactive plays for children aged 0-3 years old in a specially designed and dedicated environment as well as educational and developmental activities for children aged 0-6 years old and provision of didactic materials, books and educational toys for early childhood development. The center will also serve as a learning environment for parents to access information and to increase capacity on child rearing, health and nutrition, child protection and holistic development of their children.  

Through this intervention Save the Children will work closely with the parent community (0-3 years old) to be a better support to the development and care of their children at an early stage to facilitate access to educational, health, protection, social services and to ensure the transfer of children from kindergarten to first grade as well as the transformation of public education facilities (kindergarten, school) into a comprehensive environment for all children.

Main participants during the inauguration of the center were the Mayor of  Gjirokastra, Director of the Social Protection Service of Gjirokastra, Bvlgari employees, Save the Children in Albania Country Director, Director of Roma Active Albania, representatives of central and local social services, field specialists, parents, children and media.