28 August 2025 | Tirana, Albania [Sarah Henke]
Churches in Tirana and Korçë welcomed children aged 6 to 12 this July and August for Summer Camps organised with the support of the Adventist Development and Reliefief Agency (ADRA) in Albania and local volunteers. The camp programmes combined games, stories, and music with faith-based learning, planting seeds of hope in young hearts.
Five Weeks in Tirana
In July, Tirana hosted the ADRA Albania Summer Camp, which ran for five weeks. According to Vojsava Firi, project manager at ADRA Albania, teamwork was essential, “ADRA, in partnership with the Adventist Church and the volunteers who came from Brazil, made this Summer Camp possible. The children were very happy and, according to the parents, the project was a success.”
Activities included stories, music, games, and interactive sessions designed not only to entertain but also to teach and inspire. For Natiéli Schäffer, Albanian Mission Children’s Ministries Director, the value was clear, “Many of these children may never step into a church, but here, through games, stories, and songs, a little seed of Jesus’ love can be planted in their hearts.”
Volunteers from the Adventist Conference of Paulistana and South Paraná, as well as the Brazilian Adventist University, Engenheiro Coelho campus (Centro Universitário Adventista de São Paulo or UNASP-EC) dedicated their time and energy to make the experience memorable. Caroline de Brito, a One Year in Mission and Service (OYIMS) volunteer, commented on their impact, “In Albania there is not a large Adventist presence, so when we receive volunteers, they not only make the programme happen but also serve as an example for the Albanians who are beginning to develop this project.”
The camp took place at the ADRA Albania site, which is being transformed into a Centre of Influence. As ADRA Albania Director, Altin Rexhepi, explained, “This is part of the vision we share with the Adventist Church: to transform the entire ADRA property into a Centre of Influence.”
Outreach in Korçë
In Korçë, the Adventist Church organised a one-week Summer Camp for around 25 children from a nearby neighbourhood each day. None came from Adventist families, and many heard about Jesus for the first time through the camp activities.
The camp included music, Bible stories, crafts, games, healthy meals, and water games, made possible with the support of church members. Edlira Zissi, a volunteer, reflected, “Being with the children makes us feel young again! And above all, it’s wonderful to be used by God to work with them.”
For some years the church has also run a Sunday children’s programme, led by Fatjon File and his wife, Anxhela Rakollari. File explained how the summer camp helps children to explore faith in practical ways. “For many, this is their first encounter with Jesus. Some have been coming longer, and now new children will join as well! It’s such a blessing to work with kids, because through them we can do beautiful things for God.”
Together, the Tirana and Korçë camps highlight the growing impact of simple, community-driven initiatives in Albania. Through games, stories, and care, children are not only entertained but also introduced to lasting values of hope, friendship, and faith.
[Photos: courtesy of Sarah Henke].
