In Albania, Changing Lives Through Education

The sixth graders listen with rapt attention as Pauli recounts his school days. The topic is courage—specifically, the courage to say no. When it’s time for questions, the children‘s hands shoot up. They are fully engaged and enjoy the guessing game that follows. The character education sessions at Nehemia School are clearly well-received. Some teachers wish that something like this had been available when they were in school.

Pauli’s real name is Gian Paul Ardüser. He and his wife, Andrea (Andy), have worked with NG in Albania for many years. The couple is particularly concerned about the children and want to prepare them well for life‘s challenges. In a society where the law of the jungle often prevails, children must learn early on to choose a better path. That is why Andy and Pauli provide values education to students at our two schools: Nehemia School and Amaro Tan.

However, the fact that these are Christian values is not necessarily the main focus. Arnold Geiger, NG‘s founder, explains: “We must not forget Albania’s history. Although the communist era ended 35 years ago, the consequences of that brutal autocratic regime are far from forgotten. If we tried to impose our Christian values on people, it wouldn’t go over well at all! “ It’s much better if people see how these values can positively change their lives and surroundings. This will spark their curiosity.”

The values lessons not only cover the values that NG champions—such as forgiveness, honesty, or compassion. Pauli and Andy keep their eyes and ears open for all the issues that currently affect the children’s lives, such as bullying, truthfulness, the importance of making decisions, or courage.

How do you teach values?

Andy and Gian Paul know that values are not learned through lectures alone. Instead, they bring the lessons to life through stories, games, role-playing, and discussions that encourage students to think about real situations they face every day.

How do you respond when someone is being bullied? What do you do when friends pressure you to make the wrong choice? How do you rebuild trust after hurting someone? The classroom quickly becomes interactive. Hands go up, ideas are exchanged, and students are challenged to think about the choices they make and the kind of people they want to become.

They create an environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, expressing concerns, and discussing issues that matter to them. Rather than simply learning about values, the children are encouraged to practice them in their relationships, decisions, and everyday lives.

Do the training sessions have a real-world impact?

"We've been teaching these classes for three years now," says Andy. "Even though we only meet each class a few times a year, we can clearly see trust developing."

That trust often becomes visible outside the classroom. Recently, a student approached Andy and Gian Paul during recess and asked for help dealing with fears and recurring nightmares. The fact that students seek them out with personal struggles shows the strong relationships that have developed through these sessions.

One student mentioned to their teacher:

"My life has changed! I can now trust myself and better understand the people around me, even in difficult situations."

Perhaps one of the clearest examples of the students putting these values into practice was a social initiative they started themselves a few years ago. Inspired by lessons about compassion and responsibility, students organized a collection of food and clothing for families in great need and personally helped distribute the donations.

Teachers have noticed the difference as well. Students engage actively in discussions, ask thoughtful questions, and show a growing willingness to reflect on their choices and behavior. One teacher summed it up simply:

"I wish someone had taught me these things when I was a child."

The Motivation

When asked what drives them to do this work, Andy says, “We were taught values in our church communities as children, much the same way as we teach them now. These values helped us in life and made our lives worth living. Where would I be today if people hadn‘t invested in me?“

Gian Paul adds: „We‘ve been teaching values to children for many years through children‘s and youth ministry. Many of those children are now leaders at Nehemiah Gateway, and they’re doing a great job. Clearly, something stuck. That’s why we’ll continue doing this for as long as we can to help shape the next generation of leaders.” Seeing the impact these lessons have had on the children gives us hope that the seeds being planted today will continue to influence lives for many years to come.