Summercamp for handicapped children that always stay at home Education in Albania is a
state-issue (as in most former communist countries). The regional
director, directly (politically) appointed bij the minister of Education,
has nearly absolute power over all primary and secondary schools.
After each change of political power, the regional directors and heads
of schools change (or are degraded) too.
Education is strict and klassikaal wit extreme attention for good
intellectual performances. With very few exceptions, the schools are
only interested in students that show a good performance.
Handicapped children are hidden. Until recently children with Downsyndrome
were even locked up in psychiatric instutions. The regime is somewhat
less strict now. In Elbasan in a rundown old house there even is a
- officially recognised - school for special education. With the help
of a Montesorri-foundation in Italy this has become a nice little
school. The children that come here are mostly mentally handicapped.
Children with fysical handicaps can't get into the building or have
to be carried inside. In the small mountainvillages around Elbasan
these children sometimes visit villageschools, but most of them stay
at home.
The teachers of the special school in Elbasan know through their contacts
in the local communities which severly handicapped children are staying
at home - often hidden for the ouside world because in some circels
having a handicapped child is a disgrace. They selected 15 of these
children, aged between 10 and 14, for a summerdaycamp for 27 days.
The camp will be held in a touristic park, where they can meet other
children from the city and vice versa . During this camp the children
not only have a "holiday" for the first time but also get
help with development in different areas. Two times a week a psychologist
visits the camp. This is the first time a summercamp like this is
organised and if it is a success, it could perhaps be done again,
for more children.
The whole summercamp of 27 days, including all meals, recreational
and other educational materials, the salaries of the teachers and
the psychologist and the transport of the children in the mornigns
and evenings costs $ 2117,--.
The teachers of the special school in Elbasan know through their contacts
in the local communities which severly handicapped children are staying
at home - often hidden for the ouside world because in some circels
having a handicapped child is a disgrace. They selected 15 of these
children, aged between 10 and 14, for a summerdaycamp for 27 days.
The camp will be held in a touristic park, where they can meet other
children from the city and vice versa . During this camp the children
not only have a "holiday" for the first time but also get
help with development in different areas. Two times a week a psychologist
visits the camp. This is the first time a summercamp like this is
organised and if it is a success, it could perhaps be done again,
for more children.