{"id":4232,"date":"2022-12-07T13:27:44","date_gmt":"2022-12-07T13:27:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/?p=4232"},"modified":"2022-12-07T13:31:55","modified_gmt":"2022-12-07T13:31:55","slug":"over-20-years-making-britain-home-citizens-uk-stand-with-our-albanian-neighbours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/over-20-years-making-britain-home-citizens-uk-stand-with-our-albanian-neighbours\/","title":{"rendered":"Over 20 years making Britain home\u201d Citizens UK stand with our Albanian neighbours"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #242424;\">\u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><i>I know my community. They want to thrive, go to universities, be professionals and succeed in their career. So, it\u2019s crucial for us now, more than ever, to come together peacefully and show others who we really are.<\/i><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #242424;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><i>\u201d &#8211; Lediana Pajaj<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/luljeta-nuzi-reflects-on-taking-a-stand-this-albanian-independence-day\/\"><span style=\"color: #024da1;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><u>Luljeta Nuzi<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">, <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/lediana-pajaj-reflects-on-how-albanian-neighbours-have-made-britain-home\/\"><span style=\"color: #024da1;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><u>Lediana Pajaj<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> and <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/flutra-shega-reflects-on-two-decades-of-albanian-leaders-organising-with-citizens-uk\/\"><span style=\"color: #024da1;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><u>Flutra Shega<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> are community leaders for <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/\"><span style=\"color: #024da1;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><u>Shpresa Programme<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">, a charity and core member of Citizens UK\u2019s founding Chapter, <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensuk.org\/chapters\/east-london\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #024da1;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><u>East London Citizens.<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> Together, they support Albanian-speaking refugees and migrants in the UK to build community and campaign for change.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">We sat down to speak with them ahead of this year\u2019s Albanian Independence Day \u2013 a moment they are marking through both celebration and action.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">For over 20 years <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AlbanianNeighbours?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#AlbanianNeighbours<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ShpresaPrograme?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@ShpresaPrograme<\/a> have been making Britain home.<\/p>\n<p>Today they take action against hate as we come together to build a more welcoming society.<\/p>\n<p>We stand with you \ud83d\udc97<br \/>\nNe mb\u00ebshtesim fqinj\u00ebt tan\u00eb shqiptar.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/20YearsOfShpresa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#20YearsOfShpresa<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/TogetherWeCan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#TogetherWeCan<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4Hy2cGGCpS\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/4Hy2cGGCpS<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Citizens UK (@CitizensUK) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CitizensUK\/status\/1596474581266493440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">November 26, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><i><b>Celebrating success<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Over two decades, Shpresa have developed thousands of leaders who have at times felt excluded from British society but now call the UK home. Shpresa has been there throughout many of Citizens UK\u2019s long-standing campaigns. From championing the <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensuk.org\/campaigns\/the-campaign-for-a-real-living-wage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #024da1;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><u>Paga e jetes\u00ebs Standarde<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> and ensuring a <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensuk.org\/about-us\/news\/blogs\/the-olympic-legacy-has-proved-to-be-bittersweet-but-still-shows-the-power-of-communities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #024da1;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><u>People\u2019s Olympic Legacy<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">, to campaigning for <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensuk.org\/campaigns\/housing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #024da1;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><u>affordable housing<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> and <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensuk.org\/campaigns\/refugees-and-migrants-welcome\/settleourstatus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #024da1;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><u>Settled Status<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> for undocumented people who have put down roots. Their tireless organising has been at the heart of seismic wins \u2013 from <\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensuk.org\/campaigns\/our-wins\/ending-child-detention\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #024da1;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><u>ending child detention laws<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> to enabling the opening of bank accounts by asylum seekers, and removing financial barriers for families to apply for their children\u2019s British Citizenship, and much more.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Today, Shpresa\u2019s leaders continue campaigning on issues including mental health, supporting vulnerable young people and introducing an Albanian language GCSE qualification. Their achievements cannot be overstated and should inspire us all.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #242424;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><i>J<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><i>ust showing how much we care and by trying to do our very best, by working with our neighbours and other organisations&#8230;hopefully the message will come clear, that this is our home too.\u201d &#8211; Flutra Shega<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><i><b>Taking a stand<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #242424;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Even when issues weren\u2019t the top priority for Shpresa&#8217;s communities, they organised to build a more just society for all. This is just one reason why increasingly<\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.express.co.uk\/news\/uk\/1697074\/albanian-gangs-migrant-crisis-uk-crimes-cleverly\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #024da1;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><u> dehumanising language<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #242424;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> in the media and by politicians in recent weeks has felt especially painful for Albanian people, with the already hostile and racist UK debate on migration needlessly turning on yet another community.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #242424;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This Albanian Independence Day, Shpresa and other Citizens UK member institutions are taking action to make a stand against this hateful rhetoric. Hear from leaders in their own words on why solidarity with our Albanian neighbours matters now more than ever.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #242424;\">\u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><i>Now is the time where you can help Shpresa. Just by sharing your positive experiences with the Albanian community, that could be the biggest support. When we have social media campaigns, please share your story, share your journey and be with us in spirit.\u201d &#8211; Luljeta Nuzi<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-4236\" src=\"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2022-12-07-at-13.31.15.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2022-12-07-at-13.31.15.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2022-12-07-at-13.31.15-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2022-12-07-at-13.31.15-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2022-12-07-at-13.31.15-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2022-12-07-at-13.31.15-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2022-12-07-at-13.31.15-16x12.jpeg 16w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>3X Links to blog pages:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensuk.org\/about-us\/news\/leader-profiles\/luljeta-nuzi-reflects-on-taking-a-stand-this-albanian-independence-day\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>LULJETA NUZI REFLECTS ON TAKING A STAND THIS ALBANIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensuk.org\/about-us\/news\/leader-profiles\/lediana-pajaj-reflects-on-how-albanian-leaders-are-making-britain-home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>LEDIANA PAJAJ REFLECTS ON HOW ALBANIAN LEADERS ARE MAKING BRITAIN HOME<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensuk.org\/about-us\/news\/leader-profiles\/flutra-shega-reflects-on-two-decades-of-Albanian-leaders-organising-with-Citizens-UK\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>FLUTRA SHEGA REFLECTS ON TWO DECADES OF ALBANIAN LEADERS ORGANISING WITH CITIZENS UK<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #242424;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Get involved with Shpresa Programme<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #242424;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"> -&gt; Learn more here: <\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/\"><span style=\"color: #0563c1;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><u>Shpresa Programme &#8211; Inspiring Hope &amp; Change<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #242424;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Support Shpresa<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #242424;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"> -&gt; #WalkWithLuli is a fundraising campaign set up to support Shpresa following the devastating news of Luljeta\u2019s terminal illness. Money raised will build on her incredible legacy by securing the dream of a home for the Albanian community. -&gt; Please donate here: <\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.justgiving.com\/campaign\/walkwithluli?fbclid=IwAR2p-aeo5LgkYvZUcSH_MPdqXGtNXtuO77Z-HEW5rLXgH9Wk-kOdGF29U2M\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0563c1;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><u>Walk with Luli &#8211; JustGiving<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #242424;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Share your support online<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #242424;\"><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"> -&gt; If you and your institution stand with our Albanian neighbours, be a part of fighting back against harmful rhetoric by posting on social media in solidarity. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">We stand with our Albanian neighbours.\u201d (English) <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Ne mb\u00ebshtesim fqinj\u00ebt tan\u00eb shqiptar.\u201d (Albanian) <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">#AlbanianNeighbours <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Open Sans, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">#20YearsofShpresa <\/span><\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cI know my community. They want to thrive, go to universities, be professionals and succeed in their career. So, it\u2019s crucial for us now, more than ever, to come together [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4235,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4232"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4232\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4485,"href":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4232\/revisions\/4485"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4235"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4232"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4232"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shpresaprogramme.org\/sq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}