Help Albanian Roma Youth Succeed in School

Dear Friends,

The pupils at the Amaro Tan school are on summer break right now. Their hometown is full of visitors from other parts of Albania, enjoying a vacation on the shores of Lake Ohrid. Many Amaro Tan students are getting ready for summer camp, which starts August 7 at Nehemiah Gateway’s Buçimas campus by the lake. Summer camp extends Amaro Tan’s support of at-risk Roma children beyond the classroom. Instead of begging or collecting trash, the children get to do what other children their age do in August—play and be outside in nature, in a supervised and developmentally appropriate setting.

The first year of after school tutoring went well. On a June visit to Albania, I was able to talk with some of the students who are taking part in the after-school program. They were eager to share their English skills—one of them even spoke with my colleague, Stefanie, in German! It was truly inspiring to meet these children, who are so bright and full of hope despite the challenges they face. School director Marin Piqoni reports that the program went well in the first year, and that staff will continue to refine and develop after-school classes to best meet the needs of the pupils. We thank you for your support.

Contribute to our new fundraising campaign, which supports Nehemiah Gateway’s humanitarian work for the poor in Albania, here.

With gratitude,

Sarah Pita