In many parts of Albania, it is not uncommon to see children begging on the streets or digging through dumpsters. Impoverished adults, desperate for basic needs, choose this for their children as a way to find food or bring in a pittance of income. Instead of learning how to read and write, these boys and girls are exposed to a dangerous environment where they’re vulnerable to abuse and trafficking.
With your support, Children’s Hunger Fund partners with the Evangelical Church of Pogradec. The church is responding to need of street children. “We decided to create these day centers,” a church leader explained, “where the kids can come and they can feel loved.”
Because of you, every child who comes to the day center can receive a hot meal and a shower as well as having their clothes washed. Each child is given a box for their belongings, and this small space—which seems like such a little thing—is a treasure for a child who has never had anything to call their own.
In an effort to bring an end to the cycle of poverty, children who come to the day centers are required to attend school. Additional tutoring is available for them at the day centers, to help them catch up in school. For the first time, these children are seeing a future where begging is no longer their only option.
Thank you for making a difference for Albanian children. Most importantly, you’ve allowed them to hear about Jesus. Every child who comes to the day centers learns that they are a precious child of God, and they can take that good news back to their families, many of whom receive the Food Paks you provide.
Along with the day centers for street children, the church also manages safe houses for boys and girls who need additional protection from abuse, a medical clinic, a Meals on Wheels program, and an elderly care center. “Every time we see a need,” a church leader shared, “we see it as an opportunity that God has given.”
