“We want to learn” – children are equipped for school and encouraged for the future

*All names except the coordinator’s have been changed

A child’s dream, his mother’s struggles

Six-year-old Zef joyfully hugged his new backpack filled with school supplies.

“It’s the best gift I’ve ever had,” Zef said. “Now I can be ready for school. And one day, I want to be a doctor so I can help people.”

Zef and his family live in poverty in Durrës, Albania. After leaving an abusive relationship, his mother is doing everything she can to raise her children on a small income.

“It wasn’t easy to start again, but I did it for my children. They deserve peace and a future,” she said.

Zef’s mother works full-time as a cleaner in a tailoring factory, but it’s difficult to afford school supplies for all her children on the limited income she receives.

“There are times I had to choose between food and school supplies,” she said.

Zef and his brother sit with their new backpacks.

Education worth every step

All six children, four boys and two girls, aged six to 17, are in school. The older children, Genta and Gjyle, attend vocational and general high school. The younger ones are in primary school. Every day, they walk long distances to reach their schools, rain or shine, because there is no money for transport.

“It’s not easy, especially when it’s cold or wet, but we go because we want to learn. We want to have a different life,” said Gjyle, 16.

The family's living conditions are difficult. There’s little space, no dedicated study area, and their budget barely covers everyday needs. For a long time, even simple school supplies were out of reach.

A simple gift, a brighter future

That’s why the Mission’s Back to School campaign meant so much. Each child received a backpack filled with essential supplies – notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons.

“The moment Zef opened his backpack, you could see something change in his eyes,” said Arian, the Mission family coordinator. “And it wasn’t just him. All the children received their school supplies this year. It’s the start of something better for them.”

For the first time, every child in the family had what they needed for school.

“Now, with this help, I feel less alone. I feel like someone cares about us,” Zef’s mother said.

Today, Zef walks to school with confidence, knowing he has everything he needs. “I love my backpack. It means I can go to school like everyone else,” he said with a shy smile.

Zef walks to school with his brother.

Arian said, “This is a family that is trying hard to get out of poverty, to leave their problems behind, and to focus on the future in hopes of a better life. With their faith in God, I am confident that this family will move forward and one day leave these dark days behind."

Your support gives children the tools they need to learn, grow and dream. Help us support more children like Zef to look to the future with hope. Make a donation today.