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.
