TIRANA, Oct. 1st – October is the month for Down syndrome awareness. In its context, the Down Syndrome Albania (DSA) Foundation, which is the only medical centre treating Down syndrome patients in Albania, organized the fifth Buddy Walk event in Tirana, a march aiming to promote acceptance and support for individuals with Down syndrome towards an independent and inclusive lifestyle in their respective communities. Although the event is of a peaceful nature, Albanian participators and activists also used it as an excuse to protest concerning the missing rights of Down syndrome patients in the country.
The Buddy Walk was first organized in 1995, by the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) in the US, which has also officially accredited the event in Albania. It kicked off, during its inaugural year, with 17 events that took place across the country, while a fund-raising component to raise money for local and national programs was added in 1999. Through the years, the event won regional and international recognition, as well as the support of celebrities and business entrepreneurs, leading to the launch of an official website, the creation of a logo, and the participation of more than 180,000 walkers in 49 states and 5 countries abroad, during the 190 events that took place in 2003, raising more than $2.5 million. Ever since, partners have joined the cause and public service announcements have been held, ranking the event in the top 30 fundraising events nationwide.
This year in Tirana, the Buddy Walk event began at the maternity hospital “Mbretà«resha Geraldinà«” at 11 am, where a crowd of Down syndrome patients’ family members, as well as civil society activists, were invited to walk hand-in-hand with Down syndrome patients and march towards the recently opened Toptani Centre, where a number of entertainers and singers merrily concluded the event. An entire media awareness campaign will also support the DSA Foundation during October, themed: “We all need a chance to show our abilities.”
Indeed, Down syndrome awareness in a necessity in Albanian society, as sufferers of the syndrome do not receive the medical and social attention they need. The mother of a Down syndrome patient, participating in the Buddy Walk event, told the Voice of America that she has gone through a lot of discrimination in registering her son in kindergarten and providing him the medical attention he needs, as no state administration organ other than the Foundation assists in raising her child. Through cooperation with private businesses, the DSA Foundation comes to aid more than 635 Albanian families. However, the limitations of the Foundation are obvious: its medical centre can maximally aid only 38 children, while 6 others are on a waiting list. In addition, the funds ensured from private firms and businesses are meant to expire in 6 months, leaving the DSA unsupported in its mission.
Separate events, part of the awareness campaign, will be held by the DSA Foundation during October. On the 25th of October an awareness concert of a world-wide known tenor will be held at the National Opera and Ballet Theatre, a photography exhibition by Turk, Down syndrome patient, Robert Cem Osborn, will be showcased at the ZETA Gallery on the 26th of October, and a round-table discussion, themed “All-inclusive education is still an untouchable reality for the Albanian educational system” , will take place on the 27th of October. A more analytical event program can be found on the DSA official webpage.
