The Words of the Rexhepi Family
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The Words of the Rexhepi Family |
Tirana, Albania -- Youth from throughout Albania and other parts of Europe assembled in Tirana on August 20 for a six-day Religious Youth Service Project.
During their time together, youth from the variety of ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds of the Balkans will work together to:
Create flower gardens and plant trees in public parks. There is a severe lack of greenery in public places.
Stage plays about the importance of serving, cultivating character, and developing leadership skills in order to create a culture of peace. With the participation of students from the School of Art at the University of Albania, performances will convey the message of people of all faiths serving together for peace.
Engage in interfaith dialogue. The youth participants represent the diverse countries from the Balkans, a region known for ancient enmities, who will meet one another, travel, work, and perform together. In the process, they will learn about building a culture of peace beyond past enmities. Non-Balkan participants will help give a broader view of the world and the value of cooperation.
Bring homemade cakes and cookies from their regions to share with children in orphanages. This symbolizes the unity of tastes, colors, and cultural features learned from their mothers in the global village. (This activity is supported by the Mother Teresa Cultural Foundation, headed by Dr. Liri Berisha, wife of Prime Minister Sali Berisha.)
The project aims to promote interfaith harmony as a key factor to building lasting peace, give young people from different faiths opportunities to share together and serve to the larger community; engage Ambassadors for Peace in projects that can benefit the nation, and give the news media a positive example of young people working together beyond religious, ethnic, cultural, and national boundaries. There will also be opportunities for dialogue on the core values of interfaith cooperation and strengthening marriage and family.
Historically Albania has had a history of the co-existence of religions (Catholic and Orthodox Christianity, Judaism, and Islam), and a multi-ethnic society (Albanians, Greeks, Slavs, Jews, etc.) Albania has never attacked other nations, nor has it cooperated with its neighbors to conquer others. Thus, Albania has served as a geographic and cultural communication bridge between its neighbors.
PROGRAM
Day 1: Monday, August 20
Welcoming guests
Registration
18:00 Orientation
Video presentation of RYS
Introduction of RYS by S. Rexhepi, UPF Secretary General
Welcoming remarks by Mr. Kastriot Ramollari, RYS project coordinator
Mrs. Tomiko Duggan, advisor to UPF-Albania
Day 2: Tuesday, August 21 Education DAY
06.45 Wake up
07.00-07.45 Exercise and meditation
Reading from religious scriptures (15 minutes)
Physical exercises
08.00-09.00 Breakfast and cleaning area
09.00-10.15 Session 1 -- Introduce each person and team division
10:15-10:30 Break
10.30-11.15 Session 2 -- Readings from World Religions about Interfaith, Mr. Ali Laçej
11.15-11:30 Questions and answers
11.30-12.00 Break
12:00-12:45 Session 3 – Inter-religious Harmony in Albania, by Mr. Kastriot Ramollari, Academy of Arts, University of Tirana
13.00-14.00 Lunch
14.00-16.00 Sports and afternoon break
16.00-17.00 Session 4 – Five UPF Principles of Peace by Bajram Ibraj and S.Rexhepi
Value and Importance of the Family and Marriage
17:00-18:00 Roundtable discussion moderated by S. Rexhepi
18.30-19.30 Dinner and cleaning areas
19.30-21.00 Origami teaching
21.00-21.30 Reflections
22.00 Bed time
Day 3: Wednesday, August 22 SERVICE DAY
06.30 Wake up
07.00-07.45 Exercise and meditation
Reading from religious scriptures (15 minutes)
Physical exercises
08.00-09.00 Breakfast and clean areas
09.00-10.00 Visit to Mother Teresa Cultural Foundation
10:00-13:00 Visit to the Center for for Women and Children and beginning service
13.00-14.00 Bag lunch
14.00-16.00 Service at the Center for Women and Children in Kombinat
16.00-17.00 Return
17.00-18.30 Break and personal time for cleaning and arranging things
19.00-20.30 Dinner and clean areas
20.30-21.30 Team discussion and reflections
22.00 Bed time
Day 4: Thursday, August 23 SERVICE AND EDUCATION
06.30 Wake up
07.00- 07.45 Exercise and meditation
Reading from religious scriptures (15 minutes)
Physical exercises
08.00-09.00 Breakfast and clean areas
09:00 Departure to working site 09:30-12:30 Service at the ground in Municipality no. 6 (planting)
12:30-13:30 Lunch break
14:00-17:00 Second part of service (option B: Siri Kodra school)
17:30-18:00 Back to the training center
18:00-18:30 Cleaning and personal time
18:30-19:30 Dinner
19:30-20:00 Reflection time
20:00-22:00 Movie
Day 5: Friday, August 24 SERVICE AND EDUCATION 2
06.30 Wake up
07.00-07.45 Exercise and meditation
Reading from religious scriptures (15 minutes)
Physical exercises
08.00-08.45 Breakfast and clean areas
09.00 Departure to Tirana for the first session at the Peace Embassy
09:30-11.30 Roundtable discussion on Marriage and Family with panel members Mrs. Saemira Pino, Mrs. Eglantina Gjermeni, and Lavdie Ruci
12.00-13.00 Departure and lunch
13.00-17.00 Service day 2 at the Siri Kodra school
17.00-18.30 Return and clean up
18.30-19:30 Dinner
19:30-21:00 Team time (sharing and cultural evening preparation)
21.00-21.30 Reflections
22.00 Bed time
Day 6: Saturday, August 25 EDUCATION AND FINAL NIGHT
06.30 Wake up
07.00-07.45 Exercise and meditation
Reading from religious scriptures (15 minutes)
Physical exercises
08.00-08.45 Breakfast and clean areas
09.00-10:30 Abrahamic religious leaders lead services
10.30-10.45 Break
11.00-12.30 Invited guest speakers (3 congressmen)
12:30-13:30 Lunch
14.00-18.00 Recreation
18:00-19:00 Personal time
19.00-20.00 Dinner and cleaning
20.00-21.00 Closing Ceremony and appointment of Ambassadors for Peace
21.00-22:00 Entertainment
22:00 Bed time
Day 7: Sunday, August 26
07.30 Wake up
07.30-08.30 Breakfast and cleaning
08.30-10:00 Reflections and group photos
10:00 Departures