A Blueprint for Community Transformation
Lessons in Sustainable Development and Community Building
July 19th, 2024 | Rebekah Teuscher
A Vision for Lasting Change: Challenges and Opportunities in Devoll
When people come together with a shared vision for transformation in their community, a proven result is change that lasts. But what happens when people are more interested in moving away from their community than staying to transform it? What does it look like to work towards community transformation in a region where many people move away in search of better opportunities, and those who stay feel left behind and forgotten?
Gezim’s Journey: From Cross-Cultural Ministry to Local Transformation
These are some of the challenges Gezim, Catalyst for One Collective in Devoll, Albania, is working to address. Outside of agriculture, there are few employment prospects in the region, leading to many people traveling - and moving - to neighboring countries in search of more job opportunities. This trend, combined with Albania being under a strict totalitarian government until recent decades, has led to a communal lack of vision for the situation to improve in many villages. Although this perspective is common, it’s not the only way of looking at things.
Gezim grew up in one of the villages of Devoll, and came to know and follow Jesus as a teenager. When he moved to the Middle East to pursue cross-cultural ministry, he also discovered a passion for holistic, community-centered change, and a growing desire to implement this approach in his local community. After spending some time learning from the ministry he observed in the Middle East, he and his wife Leanne returned to Devoll in a very countercultural move.
Building Community Through Church Partnerships and Youth Engagement
Now, over the past few years, the majority of Gezim’s work with One Collective is in partnership with a local church in Devoll. The church has been a pillar in the region for 30 years, and has a clear heart for the community. Leanne, Gezim’s wife, notes that, ”everybody at the church is in contact with people in need - which has led to a deep awareness of what the needs and resources are in the community.”
“Everything we do is in partnership with the local church here - they really get the approach to holistic ministry in a way that is rare.”
One of the areas of partnership with the church includes working with youth in the surrounding villages. Says Leanne, “there’s not a lot of activities or parks for kids here - so it communicates a lot of care, both to the parents and kids, when we plan and initiate activities for them.” Spending time with youth has also paved the way for deeper relationships with whole families, as parents see the intentionality and care given to their children.
People who live here often feel like they’re left behind - many others have moved and they feel like the ‘unlucky ones’ that are still here. So anything we do that can communicate we care, and they aren’t forgotten, makes a huge difference.”
Bridging the Gap: Advocating for Families and Fostering Relationships with Local Authorities
In addition to building relationships with individual families, Gezim has also fostered relationships with local government officials, allowing him to better advocate on behalf of the same families struggling to navigate the system and various requirements. In a cultural context where relationships are everything, Gezim has seen the opportunity to act as a relational bridge between those who go unnoticed and those in power.
For example, when he met a local family navigating significant challenges, including registering their kids for school and not receiving help from school administrators, Gezim was able to come alongside the family and get them the assistance they needed. Leanne shares, “Because Gezim is someone who’s known and respected, the family was given more attention since they were with him. He has the gift of being able to apply the right amount of pressure while still being friendly to those in positions of authority.”
Collaborative Efforts: Partnering with Organizations for Holistic Development
Finally, with a desire to see true collaboration take place, Gezim and Leanne also work alongside other organizations pursuing similar work in the region. For example, their church recently partnered with another organization to host an education seminar for Albanian teachers. At the end of the event, a number of teachers from Devoll - all women - expressed a desire to start a professional development group to keep growing and learning together. As they got to know each other, it led to deeper conversations about life and faith, and over time many of the women in the group made the decision to follow Jesus after hearing from local believers who were fellow teachers!
As a result, not only is this group now a place to gather, grow, and find support and encouragement, but it has also turned into a time to study Scripture together, with other teachers invited regularly.
“This group has been a huge source of community for these women, and it’s a special time to gather together and talk about deeper things. It’s amazing to see all the ladies that were once new to the group become regulars and embark on their own journeys of following Jesus, in addition to growing professionally.”
Looking Ahead: A Vision for Hope and Potential
As Gezim continues to cast a vision for others to view their villages through the lens of potential and hope, more and more ideas for the community to improve have continued emerging. Plans are being drafted for an empty outdoor field to be converted into a park and gathering place for community members. Gezim is working with locals to develop ideas for businesses that will contribute to the local economy and offer more job opportunities so people can stay in the region and implement their skills. Finally, conversations are being held to seek additional ways the church can support under-resourced local families, particularly in relation to their children’s education.
Your Involvement Matters
Through your involvement with One Collective, this is the sort of meaningful work you contribute to. When people in a community don’t share a vision of hope for the future of their community, this can lead to feelings of hopelessness and isolation. Gezim’s decision to return to his home community has been a vital part of regenerating a vision for change and bringing people together around a shared hope for the future of their villages. Thank you for being part of the ongoing story of development in Devoll and around the world.
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