The mission of the Albanian Organization of the Order of Malta is to support people in need and marginalized ones, without prejudice of race, religion, or ability.
The “Malteser Consultation and Service Center”, is found at the headquarters of Malteser, which serves since three years as a reference point for people with disabilities, especially for children, with the presence and service of a specialized staff such as speech therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists, etc. There are 30 children who receive free service at the Centre.
Encouraged by successful experience in this field, as well as in the frame of the national month of awareness on autism, the Albanian Organization of the Order of Malta, in close cooperation with the Regional Directory of Education, organized a sensitizing activity about disability, with the participation of its volunteers and the pupils of the schools of Shkodra: “Maria Ndihmëtare”, “Branko Kadia, “Ndre Mjeda”, “3 Dhjetori”, “Ismail Qemali” and “Shpresa për të ardhmen”.
The event began with a walk, spreading awareness messages, and information leaflets in support of children with autism, Down syndrome or other disabilities.
Later, in front of the Municipality, the pupils of the school “3 Dhjetori” performed a short artistic program, which ended with the flying of balloons prepared by the school children.
This sensitizing event was attended by around 500 children of the 9-year schools, accompanied by their teachers, parents of children with different abilities, Director of the Office of Education, education inspectors and 30 volunteers of the Malteser Organization.
The event was commented by all regional televisions, having in the center messages of the volunteers and the children, and their thanks to Malteser for this helpful initiative, which was finalized in the evening hours, where the audience is high, with a special program, “Open Studio”, with the participation of school pupils, who discussed and gave their message about the activity in question.
