“Sorry teacher, I did not put in money to buy the present. My father is sick; we are very poor. These two last days we had only bread and onion…”
Hyjrie Haklaj, 12 years old, pupil of the 7th grade in the School “Musine Kokalari” in Kombinat, in an envelope filled on both sides with “Happy, Happy Teacher’s Day”, has put in a letter and a notebook handmade, the present of Teacher's Day for teacher Vitore Marku. And the letter, in parallel of trouble was full of flowers and verses: "Teacher Vitore as angel /as sea/ takes greetings from me" or "When you cook the rooster, be careful don't burn it, and when you bite it, remember your student" The teacher, Vitore Marku, touched, considering it the best present of her life gave the letter to the editorial office of Gazeta Shqiptare with the proposal that a sensitising campaign be made for economic aid to the family of Hyrije. With a sincere preoccupation, the newspaper the next day addressed to the readers stressing that there are many other children like Hyrije in Albania, deep in extreme poverty and troubles, but let we try to give an example to help her a little. There was reaction from physicians, young people and pensioners, collecting a sum of 22 thousand leks. The first were the doctors Pellumb Pipero, and Kamber Alikaj, with 5000 Lek , then the pensioner Hektor Kokalari. The same with Gentian Lika and his friends, Enkel, Dhimitri, Bujar, Ardian, Erkelej, Qemal, and Pirro. A pensioner mother writes a letter of thanks and sends 1000 leks, asking to remain anonymous. With regret we consisted that the contribution was given only by the common people, mostly pensioners, or youngsters like Gentian and his friends. The Nationwide Reconciliation Committee called on many businessmen, sending photocopies of the article and the full address of the pupil, but this article touched none. Hyjria comes from the far off Tropoja with the dream to join the friends in a more beautiful school and life. With the hungry stomach she swallows attentively every word of her teachers convinced that one day she will construct her life with dignity, for herself and for her parents. In this article we want to sensitise even a little all them who are able to support and the international opinion to be more sensible and attentive to this reality. The children are totally innocent related to the Albanians history. That girl and many other children suffer from the lack of the responsibility of those leading our political adventure. Her letter is an indication of the great world of the suffering children, of their personality, wisdom and dignity. This is an appeal for all of us, for community, for those governing, for those who prolong and recycle the crises, for those who have the money but can never be a parent. It needs no comment. |
