Comment on the statistics of 2018 for individuals with Down syndrome in Albania
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“I’m a work of art too” – International Day of Persons with Disabilities
In the framework of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Albania and the Down Syndrome Albania Foundation, will open the exhibition: “I am also a work of art”, > in Strabourg, France.
Photos of children with Down syndrome, which represent world-famous art paintings, will be exhibited from 2 December 2016 to 9 January 2017, near the Agora building, Council of Europe.
The exhibition will mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3, 2016).
“I am also a work of art” is an idea realized by the Albanian photographer Soela Zani, in collaboration with the Down Syndrome Albania Foundation and costume designer Lilo Shehu.
The exhibition consists of the conversion of 18 famous paintings, such as “The Infant Samuel”, “Harriet Ann Seale”, “Master John Heathcote”, “Child with Dove”, etc., into photographs, where the characters of the paintings have been replaced by children with Down syndrome.
Buddy Walk 2016
This year too, the Down Syndrome Albania Foundation organizes the Buddy Walk® Albania activity with the theme “Come and have a friend by your side”. Buddy Walk Albania is an awareness walk in order to promote the rights and needs of individuals with Down syndrome.
The Buddy Walk® Initiative is a conception of the American National Down Syndrome Association (NDSS), and was first organized in 1995 to celebrate October, Down Syndrome Awareness Month, and to promote the acceptance and inclusion of individuals with Down Syndrome. Down. The right to organize this event in Albania belongs to the Down Syndrome Albania Foundation.
The Buddy Walk Albania awareness walk, this year started from the “Queen Geraldine” Maternity Hospital and ended at Tirana Sport Zone, Mother Teresa Square.
In this activity, were present the ambassador of the European Union for Albania, Mrs. Romana Vlahutin and Mrs. Nora Malaj, Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Education and Sports.
In her speech to the media, Ms. Romana Vlahutin, stressed that it is very important that we provide and support the right services for all children in our society, and especially for those children who have special needs. These children should be given the opportunity to explore their talents, because this will help them grow up healthier and be better citizens in the future. Great support should also be provided to their families. All these are the responsibility of the state, but not only, because our children are the responsibility of all of us, therefore change and support must come from all society.
Zj. Malaj, emphasizes that in the education system in Albania, we currently have about 50 children with Down syndrome, who attend school, and that the number of children with disabilities in education is increasing every year and more. As a result, Ms. Malaj said that the number of support teachers is also increasing, thus helping teachers, parents and the community that is part of the child’s education. Malaj, appealed to the whole community to become part of the changes that are being made in the education system, the community of parents to become part of the integration of these children and not to make differences for this category. Among others, Mrs. Malaj calls on local government, civil society and the media to become promoters of the rights and cause of individuals with Down syndrome.
Gersi Troka, participant in the International Competition of Individuals with Down Syndrome- TRISOME GAMES 2016
For the first time Albania will be presented in the International Competitions of Individuals with Down Syndrome, Trisome Games 2016, which will be held in Florence, Italy. Trisome Games are sports competitions of various sports such as swimming, athletics, judo etc. for individuals with Down Syndrome.
Albania will be represented by Gersi Troka, a 16-year-old boy from Tirana, who will take part in the swimming category. Gersi has been swimming since he was 9 years old and his will and success in this sport has made his coaches and family encourage him to participate in these competitions.
These competitions will be held from July 15 to 22 and Gersi will be one of 207 participants coming from 30 different states. Gersi will compete in these styles, butterfly, backstroke and freestyle. Participation in this activity was made possible by the Down Syndrome Albania Foundation with the support of the Ministry of Education and Sports and the Albanian Swimming Federation and Albtours D (sponsor of the Gersi ticket). This initiative was also joined by various individuals giving their contribution.
Gers’s participation in these competitions, beyond the fact that he shows his skills and success in this sport, also aims to raise public awareness here in Albania on the potential and abilities of individuals with Down Syndrome.
Funds raised by the Presidential Ball
The President and Founder and Head of the Foundation “DOWN SYNDROME ALBANIA”, Emanuela Zaimi makes public the funds raised by the Presidential Ball, organized at the end of last year and thanks the businesses and individuals who contributed. On December 18, 2015, at the Albanian Presidential Balloon 2015, organized by the Institution of the President of the Republic of Albania, in the Palace of Brigades, business representatives and invited personalities were informed and raised awareness about the cause of children and individuals with Down syndrome . On February 2, 2016, the last contribution expected within the Presidential Ball was poured at the account of the “Down Syndrome Albania” Foundation. The total amount collected from this ball is 2,666,850 Lekë and 23,284 euros. Funds were raised in the form of donations, from the sale of paintings by 18-year-old painter Down Syndrome from Bulqiza, Irma Nika (special guest at the Ball with Emmanuel Joseph Bishop, violinist with Down Syndrome from the United States who played in violin together with the RTSH orchestra at the ball, to greet the audience), from the sale of photos of the exhibition “I am also a work of art”, a project of photographer Soela Zani, stylist Lilo Shehu and the Foundation “Down Syndrome Albania” (DSA) . Donors of the Presidential Ball 2015 ranked according to the highest donated value and the alphabetical order within the same value: “Behgjet Pacolli” Foundation Mr. Samir Mane, Albchrome sh.p.k. (Balfin Group) Alpha Bank Albania Zj. Armina Mevlani, Delirium Shop Mr. Behar Male, Tirana International Development Mr. Myftar Lymeshi NBG Bank Societe Generale Bank Mr. Fiqiri Ismaili, Agro Blend sh.p.k Mr. Fran Frrokaj, Mayor of Lezha Mr. Armand Peza, Geraldina Sposa Mrs. Enada At’Nikolla, stylist Zj. Mirlinda Metaj Tafa, Stylist Mrs. Diana Dervishi SGS Company Mr. Aleks Millo, Millocolor sh.p.k. Mr. Arben Malaj Mr. Tonin Alia, Ardeno Zj. Alma Spathara Zj. Anila Godo, Head of Hematology Service, Pediatrics QSUT As a result of the Presidential Ball, two monthly donors have been added to the Foundation with a 1-year contract. They are Trimed sh.p.k. and Agikons sh.pk. , whose value at the end of 2016 will be 900,000 ALL. The total contribution calculated by the Presidential Ball including new monthly donors and calculated in value in euros, is 48,761 euros. Thanks to the Presidential Ball and other monthly donors of DSA: Intercom Data Service, Hako sh.pk, Selcom and the fund of the Board of Good Lottery Issues for the project “Support me, develop me, lead me to an independent and inclusive life “, The Foundation will be able to provide free of charge during 2016, therapeutic services for children with Down syndrome, at its Center for Achievement and Development and to follow with periodic visits to the family, other children in the districts. The founder and director of the Foundation, Mrs. Emanuela Zaimi (also the parent of a 4.5-year-old boy with Down syndrome), on behalf of the DSA Board of Directors, other parents and DSA staff, cordially thanks the President of the Republic, SH.T.Z. Bujar Nishani and the First Lady Odeta Nishani for the initiative taken for concrete support, and every business and individual who gave his valuable contribution to this ball. We bow before their human values ​​and the sensitivity shown! “Down Syndrome Albania” Foundation (DSA), was established in 2013. Its Services Center for Children with Down Syndrome, Center for Achievement and Development, was established thanks to the financing and the best material contribution of: Raiffeisen Bank, Telekom Albania, TIKA (Turkish international Cooperation and Development Agency), American Hospital, Neptune, Universe Reklama and Pas + P Marketing. Down Syndrome Albania Foundation is a member of EDSA (European Down Syndrome Association) and DSI (Down Syndrome International). March 21 is World Down Syndrome Day and October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month.
The hashtag #AMCDSA campaign
AMC supports Down Syndrome Albania with every post, comment, photo, check-in etc … on all social networks by adding the HASHTAG #AMCDSA
The newest campaign aimed at raising awareness and raising funds for DSA is the hashtag #AMCDSA! This campaign designed by Connext for AMC and DSA aims to raise awareness of the needs of children with Down syndrome to receive appropriate services in early childhood, services according to the bio-psycho-social model, and raise the necessary funds to offered these services free of charge at the DSA center that was inaugurated on June 2! The greater the number of uses of the hashtag #AMCDSA in your posts on all social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, Foursquare, etc. the greater will be the amount that AMC will donate to the DSA. You do not spend anything just become part of a noble campaign and give your virtual contribution which will then be turned into real by AMC for DSA. Careful! This campaign has no official profile or page on facebook or other social media. Profiles and pages that have been opened on Facebook in abusive form as a result of the success of the campaign, distribute information that has nothing to do with the purpose of our campaign. So please do not like them but report them! Thank you!
March 21, World Down Syndrome Day
Down Syndrome Albania Foundation, on March 21, the World Down Syndrome Day, signed a memorandum of understanding with public and private health institutions.
Dear media representatives, Dear journalists, As you may be aware today is March 21, World Down Syndrome Day. In the framework of this day with a focus on “Health and well-being of people with Down syndrome”, a focus dictated by Down Syndrome International for March 21, 2014, Down Syndrome Albania Foundation (DSA), the first and only of its kind in country, announces that it has reached important memorandum of understanding with 2 maternity hospitals in Tirana (“Koco Glozheni” and “Queen Geraldine” as well as with the two largest private hospitals in the country: American Hospital and Hygeia Hospital. These agreements will be signed tomorrow, in the scientific conference “Health and Welfare: Care and Equality for all” that the centers with a focus on Down syndrome in Albania, Down Syndrome Kosovo Organization and Down Syndrome Albania Foundation organize, at Hotel Rogner, Vienna Hall , from 09:30 – 17:00 In this conference has confirmed his participation and the Minister of Health, Mr. Ilir Beqaj who will give his speech at 10:00 Our foundation looks at cooperation with institutions health as one of the main forms for the implementation of policies for social support, education, in the field of human rights, health and education of people with Down syndrome and their families. Based on the Convention on Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, we consider very important the agreements and cooperation with institutions and other stakeholders to contribute to the promotion and support of the legitimate right of access, inclusion. and integration of people with Down syndrome. Through the Memorandum of Understanding between DSA and the two maternity hospitals in Tirana, through a continuous cooperation and communication the parties agree to support the new parents of children with Down syndrome, who will seek to know more about the new life that awaits them and the needs that their child has to help him / her develop his / her potential in order to enable an independent and inclusive life. Also in the context of supporting people with Down syndrome in Albania, and their families, DSA managed to sign a 3-year agreement with the two main private hospitals in the country, according to which persons with Down syndrome, being provided with an individual membership card at DSA and presenting it to these hospitals, will be able to benefit from a visit / consultation with a doctor free of charge as well as a 30% discount on all other diagnostic examinations. Agreements with these two private health institutions, DSA signed to offer a “service of choice and added value”, but also within one of its goals, that of starting the registration of people with Down syndrome living in Albania . This is the main reason why the person with Down syndrome must appear together with his family members to register in our database and get (FREE) the personalized card to benefit from the generosity of the American hospital and Hygeia, who we want to ‘we thank them publicly. We find it appropriate here to inform you that in parallel with our work to raise awareness, advocate for the cause of people with Down syndrome, we are also working to open a “Center for therapeutic services and training for life” for children and people with Down syndrome. Thanking you for your work and support in promoting our work, for the news to go to every home where a person with Down syndrome lives, we wish you good work! Respectfully, Emanuela Pepkola Zaimi Founder of Down Syndrome Albania
