At the Young Women’s Christian Association in one of Tirana’s suburban communities where Roma are heavily concentrated, a series of workshops raise awareness among women and children about the dangers of trafficking.

These workshops provide detailed information about trafficking, anti-trafficking laws and human rights. Since the series began in May 2005, four women have been trained as peer-educators to then train others to disseminate information and establish a non-formal structure against trafficking of women and children, to take over after the YWCA project ends in July 2006.

Efforts are also being made to raise the women’s self-esteem by organizing social events after the workshops where the women celebrate Roma culture, its food, traditional clothes and jewelry as well as songs and dances. Indeed, the rousing rhythms of gypsy music have greatly influenced European musical traditions. But despite this contribution and centuries living among Europeans, the Roma continue to face poverty and discrimination more than most other minority communities on the continent.

In Albania, with an estimated population of 120,000, many Roma lack access to basic healthcare, adequate housing, employment and education. Albania’s Roma women and children are also more often trafficked than the general population. The YWCA Roma project receives crucial financial support from The Albanian Initiative: Coordinated Action Against Human Trafficking (CAAHT) project, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Implemented by Creative Associates International, Inc. CAAHT’s mission is to strengthen the ability and coordinate the efforts of Albanian community leaders, NGOs and government entities to improve programs that decrease trafficking in human beings, improve and expand services which assist and reintegrate the victims and reduce re-trafficking. To date, CAAHT has disbursed 22 grants totaling more than $2 million to local NGOs addressing trafficking issues. The CAAHT program focuses on Albania because it is a country of origin for trafficking. In the past year, CAAHT grants have reached 47,272 people through prevention programs. They have also provided 270 women and children protection and reintegration assistance. Another 12,936 women and children have received assistance from a combination of stakeholders.

The distinction is significant because the perception that trafficked victims are the same as prostitutes earns them little empathy from the community, since it is believed that they are freely engaging in a business transaction. Through discussions with the women and the viewing of videotaped testimonies from girls who have been trafficked, the YWCA is having an impact.

At one of the workshops, Meleqe Rrenja, also a peer-educator and mother of five, shared the story of a girl from her community who had been trafficked. “This girl came from Italy drugged, with her arms burned and lost her voice. She was forced to prostitute. When she came to Tirana, I helped her because I have been working with Roma women and girls who are included in the YWCA project. Using my relations with YWCA and other organizations I helped her. Now, she has a life and is married,” said Rrenja.

The YWCA’s Roma children’s component, so far, has worked with 300 children ages 3 to 14. Through story telling methods, games, painting and singing children learn about the dangers of trafficking. Because schools are situated far from the community and mistreatment by teachers and non-Roma children, among other reasons, many Roma children do not attend school. As a result, many leave school to spend their days begging in the streets where they are vulnerable to the ploys of traffickers. So, the YWCA also teaches them that their risks of being exploited increases greatly when they opt to beg on the streets rather than attend school. “We also invited a Roma teacher to tell them the beautiful things children do and learn at school. She invited them to visit the school any time they wanted to. Their mothers were also present and some of the children asked them if they could take them to the school,” said Godaj.

- July 2006