| "Det å glede en annen, det er den eneste glede". Arnulf Øverland Giro: 0537 12 88505 LINK - Nettverk for Globalt Fellesskap Bentserødveien 95 3234 Sandefjord Merk giroen "Veko"
"Mange bekker små, blir en stor å..." Oversikt over foreløbig innkomne bidrag og inntekter fra salg av Hjertefrø-hefter pr. 18. januar 2001: (N.N. = anonyme bidrag) 1/12: FNs Minifond v/Rolf Wergeland, Skien: kr. 3000.- 8/12: H.F. Trondheim 300.-, N.N. 200.- E.A. Tønsberg 100.-, 11/12: C. B., Oslo kr. 1000.-, B. Aa,. Valen kr. 150.-, K. J., Todalen 150.-, J. V, . 300.-, R.U. Klokkarstua 500.-, A.T. Kolsås, 200., E.B. Molde 200.-, S.I. Trondheim 100.- K.H. Trondheim 100.-, G.I. Svarstad 175.-, 12/12: B.B.B., Oslo kr. 5000.-, H.B., Ski 485.-, A.E., Tau 285.-, L.M.J. 200.-, K.G., Horten 200.-, T.H., Høvik 200.-, E.M.L., Molde 200.-, T.M.H., Sandnes 175.-, G.L. 100.-, R.V., Jessheim 100.-, T.M.T., Sandefjord 100.-, K.B., Oslo 85.-, S.H.K., Holmestrand 100.-, K.B., Lillehammer 100.- 13/12: I.M. Hauken, Vesterøy kr. 400.-, J.L., Lillesand 500.-, K.M., Oslo 150.-, T-E. R., Oslo 150.-, H.L.B., Eydehavn 100.-, M.S.L., Steinkjer 100.-, I. og Th. H., Kristiansand S. 300.-, R.E.S., Oslo 200.-, T.C., Sagvåg 200,- 14/12: Aa.Sch., Atrå kr. 1.000.-, K.F., Oslo 200.-, A.G., Nå 200.-, A.B., Tønsberg 200.-, N.N. 150., N.E., Sandefjord 100.-, B-E. R., Son 100.-, H.P.D., Mosjøen 100.- 15/12: R.S., Ytterøy kr. 200.-, B.H., Trondheim 150.-, L.A., Oslo 500.-, Å. A., Skjeberg 200, S.F., Kolvereid 100., G.I, Tolvsrød 85.-, R.T., Tjøme 16/12: T.S., Oslo kr. 500.-, L.F.O., Horten 285.-, B.H. 250.-, B.Å., Nesbru 200.-, M.Th., Oslo 200.-, N.N. 150.-, N.N. 100.,, A.J.N., Larvik 100.-, S.F., Oslo 100.-, K.W.M., Gibostad 250.- 19/12: G. og T.O.N., Ottestad kr. 555.-, N.N. 300.-, A.G. 300.-, O. AA-L. 200.-, J.K., Lillehammer 200.-, B.V., Vikhammer 150.-, A.S.E., Hamar 150.-, L.H., Oslo 100.-, K.J., Årdal i Ryfylke 200.-, S.T., Drammen 600.-, 20/12: S.H., Bekkestua 500.-, E.M.J., Oslo 300.-, L.H.R., Frederiksberg, Danmark 465.- 21/12: M.K., Jakobsli 100.-, K.K.M., Melhus 100.- 22/12: S.L.S. kr. 300, R.S. 185.-, A.B.H., Rong 170-, T.B., Oslo 200.-, B.B., Tønsberg 100.- 23/12: E.P., Sandefjord 100.- 27/12: K.G., Kongsberg kr. 500.-, W.C., Finnsnes 200.-, A.J. 999.-, S.S., Heggedal 300.-, O.R. 200.-, L.B.N., Oslo 100.- 28/12: B.R., Jessheim kr. 200.-, A.E.J., Oslo 200.-, L.B.V., Asker 100.-, K.R., Trondheim 100.-, Aa.B-N., Nibe, Danmark 465.-, S.H. Tingvoll 200.- 29/12: N.N. kr. 1.000.-, N.N. 150.-, S.E.S., Oslo 100.-, O.K., Sandefjord 100.- 2/1: E.P., Drammen kr. 200.-, H.B.M., Trondheim 100.-, G.M.Chr., Ringsted, Danmark: 65.-, A.S., Harstad 250.-, G.E., Straumgjerdet 300.- 3/1: K.O., Oslo kr. 200.-, I.E., 200.-, L.F., Båstø 100.-, A.M., Almunge, Sverige 465.-, M.S. Örebro, Sverige 15.- 8/1: Kvinneuniv. i Nord, Nordfold kr. 150.- 9/1: A.H., Oslo kr. 2.000.-, A-M. L., Sandefjord 300.-, T.O., Harstad 85.- 10/1: M.H., Sandefjord kr. 200.-, I.N., Tårnåsen 135.- 12/1: E. AA., Oslo kr. 182.- 15/1: E.T., kr. 200.-, N.N. 2.000.- 18/1: I. og L. J., Larvik: kr. 500., M.Chr., Oslo 100.-. L.G.R., Oslo 200.- 22/1: N.N. kr. 200.- 24/1: R&R. K., Torød: kr. 300.- 25/1: D.N.R., Skulestadmo: kr. 200.- 26/1: L.S., Oslo: kr. 157.- 29/1: U.K.R., Oslo: kr. 1.000.- 30/1: T.R., Nannestad: kr. 1.000.- 2/2: K.R.J., Eidkjosen: kr. 100., K.A.H., Tromsø 100.- 5/2: S.V., Arendal: kr. 300.- 8/2: S.H., Raufoss: kr. 150.- 14/2: B.B., Straumgjerdet: kr. 195.- Tilsammen kr.43.363.- I tillegg til dette kommer kr. 10.000.- fra Arne Husveg privat, leder for Norges Blindeforbund Han har også sendt appellen ut til Blindeforbundets lokallag og individuelle medlemmer via forbundets lydavis, som kommer ut i januar 2001. 2/1-2001 har Akershus Fylkeslag av Norges Blindeforbund, Lillestrøm, sendt inn kr. 10.000.- Chr. J. har tilbudt seg å betale utgiftene for utsendelsene av appellen: Kopiering kr. 540, porto kr. 1.871.30, tilsammen kr. 2.411.30. Det vil si at det innkomne sluttbeløpet i sin helhet vil gå til Veko
18/1-2001: Overført US $ 6000 til Vekos adoptivmors konto i Tirana, tilsvarende kr. 52.443.00 + gebyr kr. 75.00 = 52.518.- 8/3-2001: Overført kr. 87.300 til Vekos adoptivmors konto i Tirana, US $ 9.773.96. I alle fall er vi nå i mål med minimums-beløpet, US $ 16.000.-, og hvordan det gikk til forstår du av dette: For en måned siden, 8. februar, mottok jeg et brev fra Arne Husveg i Blindeforbundet at han, ettersom han aldri fikk tatt ferie likevel, ville spørre økonomiavdelingen om han ikke like gjerne kunne gi bort feriepengene for de 9 ukene han hadde til gode. 26. februar kom så brevet (se under i spalten til høyre), om at joda, det gikk bra, selv om det var litt "uvanlig" at folk gjør slikt. Ikke lenge etter mottok jeg hele kr. 76.607,25 til lille Veko, som nå gleder seg vilt til å få et sted å bo, og er meget lykkelig fordi hun nå er sikret videre skolegang. Det er virkelig sant: Mange bekker små, gjør en stor å... Nå er det jo slik at Veko både må ha mat, klær og skolemateriale de neste årene, så om det kommer inn noe ekstra, er jeg sikker på at det kommer vel med. Og ikke før hadde jeg overført de siste pengene, så kom det fler: Hei Tulle! TUSEN takk for den innsatsen du gjør for Veko og alle andre. Jeg har akkurat lest om Blindeforbundets mann som gir 2 ferielønninger, og jeg må bare gråte av glede over at slike mennesker finnes.Grunnen til at jeg skriver nå er etter beskjed fra Regine om at jeg burde si ifra til deg når jeg hadde satt inn på bankkonto de første loddpengene til Veko. I går på kvinnedagen hadde vi et lotteri, der det kom inn 2400,- kroner. Vi prøver med et nytt lotteri den 31. mars. God helg! Hilsen Kvinner for fred, Ytterøy v/Bjørg Gladsø Holmen E-post: [email protected] Og lotteriet 31. mars ga ytterligere kr. 2.800.-!!! Beløpene ble overført til Tirana hhv. 7. og 8. mai 2001. Dersom du og/eller din gruppe også ønsker å bidra til det lille ekstra, går det altså veldig greit å overføre pengene direkte (f.eks. via Utenlandsgiro på Postbanken/DnB) til: Rajmonda Bozo Account number: 40261035101 American Bank of Albania, Tirana, Albania Swift Code: USALALTR Innkommet etter at kampanjen ble avsluttet: 19.4.01: B.R., Jessheim: kr. 500.- 23.5.01: J.B.B., Nesbru: kr. 250,- 25.5.01: A.F., Sykkylven: kr. 500.-
Og her er et nytt bilde av Veko, sammen med sin adoptivmor Rajmonda, påsken 2001:
Veko in her own house
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 22:07:51 +0100
From: Evis Bozo <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Dear Tulle,
I hope you are fine. First of all let me express once more and more my gratidude for what you have done to change the life of Veko and me, too. THANK YOU! You are one of the most special people I have knew.
For many many years I always use to go every weekend taking Veko from dormitory, washing and laundry, ..etc. Thanks God and you that did reality a dream to have peace and happines for the blind girl!
Finally Veko is living in her own house. She did eighten on 14 april 2002, the legal age to live indipendently, and in June 2002 she began to live in her home. The flat is very close with me, in a very new building. Nice one, which finished only a month ago. When I mention Veko's House I never forget that this house will be NOT hers without your help, campain in internet, without your friend of Blind Associaton, ETC. (I need to write to him, but I havent any email address).
She is very happy and dont stop repeating that it is a dream. I am very happy too, even I have trying very hard to put the things together to realise this agreement. My family Maksim, Evis, and Alba given to me and Veko a good support, too.
The biggest part of the price has been covered from the summ you and Evis given to us. The rest of it about 8000 $ need to be paid through a loan from the state for a long period, does it mean that it is possible to be paid.
Step by step we are putting the furnitures and the facilities she need. Soon we will install the phone line, etc. I will do some photos of the house and send them to you by email, to show to all that had contributed for her.
May be one day you will visit Albania and will see us,
I will write you soon,
Monda | Den opprinnelige appellen: Desember 2000: Hvis du kan, støtt LINKs forsøk på å hjelpe Veko (15) Vekos mor døde da hun hadde født henne. Faren giftet seg igjen. Den nye kvinnen kastet Veko og broren hennes på peisen. Broren døde. Veko ble reddet, sterkt forbrent, - og blind. Faren overlot barnet til myndighetene, som plasserte henne på et mentalsykehus for voksne. Det var på Hoxha�s tid. Tre år gammel ble Veko funnet av barnelegen Evis Bozo. Hennes foreldre har siden tatt seg av jenta og oppdratt henne som sin egen datter. I dag er Veko 15 år. Våren 2000 avsluttet hun 8 års skolegang. I høst kom hun- på grunn av sine gode karakterer - inn på en videregående internatskole i Tirana der hun bl.a.også kan lære seg engelsk. Der er det imidlertid ingen som kan eller vil hjelpe henne. Hun blir også sterkt mobbet på grunn av sitt handikapp og utseende. Den eneste muligheten for å fullføre 4 års videregående skole, er å få seg en hybelleilighet, og en støttekontakt. LINK har sendt ut en appell til alle tidligere abonnenter om å støtte Veko økonomisk, slik at hun kan fortsette på skolen. På bildet ser du Evis med Veko på fanget.
Historien om Veko kom til meg fra Evis Bozo, en kvinnelige albansk lege som arbeider på OSSE-kontoret i Petrinje, Kroatia. Mange tidl. abonnenter av bladet LINK (nedlagt ved inngangen til år 2000 etter 17 år) vil huske den serbiske dommeren Radovan Jovic, som ble kidnappet av Kroatias hemmelige politi i 1995 på vei hjem fra et stort internasjonalt fredsmøte i Tuzla i Bosnia. Mange støttet dengang LINK med penger, slik at det ble mulig å arbeide for å få ham ut av fengselet, der han i ett år feilaktig satt anklaget for �spionasje�. Han har siden vært evig takknemlig overfor alle som hjalp ham! Etter at han ble satt fri, lærte Radovan seg utrolig hurtig engelsk, og fikk jobb i det regionale OSSE-kontoret. Da han fikk høre om Veko og hennes skjebne, foreslo han at Evis Bozo skulle skrive til LINK for om mulig å få hjelp. Evis, som besøkte mentalsykehuset sammen med en britisk lege, fant Veko. De tok den da 3 år gamle jenta med til England, der hun gjennomgikk en plastisk operasjon. Da de kom tilbake til landsbyen i sør-Albania, tok Evis� foreldre jenta til seg, oppdro henne som sin egen datter og ga henne skolegang. I dag er Veko 15 år, og ettersom det har vist seg at hun er meget intelligent, kom hun høsten 2000 inn på en videregående skole i Albanias hovedstad Tirana. Evis foreldre, som nå er gamle og fattige, makter ikke lenger å ta vare på henne. Og langt mindre å bidra til hennes videre skolegang i det ny-kapitalistiske Albania. Hun blir pga. sitt handikapp og utseende også sterkt mobbet på den nye skolen. Det hun trenger for å kunne fortsette, er en egen liten hybelleilighet, - og en støttekontakt som kan bo sammen med henne, følge henne til og fra skolen, og i det hele tatt overta de gamle adoptivforeldrenes rolle. Får hun det, og kan lære seg engelsk, noe som er hennes store ønske, kan hun om noen år komme inn p� en internasjonal blindeskole i England, som allerede har tilbudt henne plass. Da jeg i høst mottok denne appellen, kontaktet jeg Norges Blindeforbund. Sterkt rørt av historien tilbød forbundets formann, Arne Husveg seg straks å støtte jenta med kr. 10.000 av egen lomme, - dersom jeg og andre også kunne bidra med noe. Blindeforbundet selv støtter nemlig kun kollektive prosjekter i andre land. Husveg vil imidlertid sende appellen videre via forbundets Lydavis nå før jul for å se om enkeltpersoner og/eller et eller flere lokallag kan tenke seg å bidra. Jeg kontaktet også Rolf Wergeland, som i mange år bidro med økonomisk støtte til LINK gjennom sitt "FNs Minifond". Han lovet på stående fot å bidra med kr. 3.000, samt å ta en evt. søknad opp med Mini-fondets styre. Forleden fikk jeg også en ny e-mail fra Evis, som selv har klart å spare 1500 US dollar for å hjelpe Veko. Men det trengs mer for å kjøpe en hybelleilighet i Tirana, iflg. Evis et sted mellom $ 16.000 og 22.000. Men bare det å få råd til å betale en støttekontakt, vil hjelpe Veko, - i alle fall på kort sikt. Nå vil noen kanskje spørre hvorfor hun ikke bare kan leie en hybelleilighet. Svaret er at ingen vil leie ut til en blind, handikappet person. Og skulle det mot formodning finnes noen, så ville de kanskje ikke bare mobbe henne, slik de gjør det på skolen, men også utnytte henne på ulike måter. Alle bidrag - store som små - er velkomne! Vennligst benytt girokontoen over til venstre, evt. telegiro.
Inntektene fra salg av Links Hjertefrø-hefter g�r til å støtte kvinner og barn i Ukraina (ca. $400 i år). Kjøper du Hjertefrø i desember, vil inntektene gå til Veko. Hjertefrø-hefter: Mange fine godord ålegge ved julebrev og/eller -gaver. * Hjertefrø for fred * Hjertefrø for naturen * Hjertefrø for ånd og sjel * Hjertefrø for inspirasjon og pågangsmot * Hjertefrø for kvinner og barn Pris: 6 blandede Hjertefrø-hefter: kr. 100.- inkl. porto Husk tydelig navn og adresse!
Noen utdrag av høstens korrespondanse mellom barne- legen Evis Bozo og LINK 10 Aug 2000: To: [email protected] Dear Tulle, Thank you so much for your dedicated time and care. I do understand how hard it is to obtain funds and I also realise that the projects for single individuals are harder than collective ones. So, let's hope and wish for the best. I spoke to my mother and father and they agree to give their permission to put Veko's story on line. Nowadays, information has to "fly" in different ways and I believe that the widest distribution possible might bring about some good results. (...) Yours Evis [email protected]
6 Oct: Dear Tulle, Firstly , let me apologize for the delay in writing this time. I have personally being moving around the Balkans a lot and now I have got a new job in Kosovo. Is is interesting and exciting as you can imagine. Thank you for sending the web page with all the wonderful work you are doing. It is impressive. Coming to Veko's story now! Your email comes at the right time as my parents and I are very concerned about Veko, especially now when she is going through a very difficult time. Since the last time I wrote, the news is that she completed the eight form first level of education school, (the School for Visually Impaired Children). As you may know, this is the only specialised facility for blind people in Albania. Veko has now been accepted to a Foreign Languages School which she has started two weeks ago in Tirana. The school teaches normal children aged 14-18 and there are no special provisions for children like Veko. However, given that the main focus of the teaching is on foregin languages, we are hoping that the audio and lab facilities will assist her in gaining the best of knowledge. This school is the most suitable for Veko in the Albanian conditions and setting. However, the main problem remains housing and attending to her needs. The school is a boarding school but Veko has started to feel discriminated and bullied by the normal children who live in the dormitories. There is noone to take her around to classes or to the eating cantine. My mother is in the process of negotiating to have her live in the boarding school for blind and go to the other school every morning, but so far to no avail. We still think that buying a small flat in Tirana would be the solution, with some caretaker who will look after her and take her to and from school. Every little contribution is appreciated, and we will open a bank account where you may want to transfer the money. As for the second solution suggested of sending her to the British School, I see that your fellow mentions "children with good capabilities" as a pre-condition for entrance to the school. I wonder how capable Veko will be to meet those demands; her communication skills in English are still very weak and the solution of sending her to England may prove to be costly at the end. However, given the latest picture now, you may want to see for yourself what is in her best interest; we think the best solution at present seems to be the small flat and attending the school in Tirana. Thank you again so much for your continued interest. This email address is my mother's one and I still continue to have my hotmail address. Hoping to be in touch soon, Kindest Regards, Evis
Nov. 11: Dear Tulle, (...) I am writing once again since the situation with her is not very easy at present. As I told you she has been about to start the secondary level of education in a School of Foreign Languages in Tirana, but her accommodation remains a huge problem. Unfortunately, despite the school being a boarding school, they do not accept the responsibility of looking after her given her physical handicap. So we are back to sqaure one with her admitted to the school, but no place to live. My mother is making other efforts too to pursue the path of raising money for a small flat in Tirana and that is something that would provide some form of security for her. So with the help of a carer, she can go to school and live in Tirana. We have raised so far around 1500 USD and it is only the beginning, so every little would help. (...) Many thanks and take care Evis
Nov. 16: Dear Evis! Today I received the following letter from mr. Husveg, which I will translate to you underneath. I faxed him your latest mail telling him that I would try and make a small effort for Veko myself before Christmas, by sending an appeal to the former subscribers of my magazine LINK. I can�t promise anything though. Only hope for the best. I hope that Veko in the meantime doesn�t give up. Miracles DO sometimes happen, you know, especially if one has some patience! Could you please tell me why Veko is not accepted? Is it "only" because of her being blind? Or does she have other handicaps? Maybe she was badly burnt in her face, and that might be the reason? (...) If it�s possible, it would be very nice to get a picture of Veko to use in my appeal. If you have one, perhaps you could transfer it to my by mail? And please, say hallo to her, if you can, and tell her that we are thinking of her all the time, while we are hoping for the above miracle to happen! With best regards from Tulle Enclosed: Letter from Arne Husveg, Norwegian Association for the Blind, Oslo (sendt henne i engelsk oversettelse): Oslo, 15. november 2000 Kjære Tulle Elster, Takk for ditt brev av 13. november 2000. Nå synes jeg det begynner å bli mer plan over prosjektet. Jeg har til nå vært engstelig for å sette i gang en innsamling som bare delvis ville dekke behovet for økonomiske midler til anskaffelse av et bosted for Veko. Halvfinansierte prosjekter er ofte verre en ingen. Nå føler jeg imidlertid at vi gjennom flere kanaler kan bringe til veie den summen som trengs. Mine kr. 10 000 som personlig støtte står selvfølgelig ved lag. Jeg skal gå ut på lydavisene våre med en appell. Er vi heldige får vi ett eller flere fylkeslag til å støtte oss. Dessverre reiser jeg til Melbourne, Australia, i morgen tidlig for å delta i generalforsamlingen i Verdens Blindeunionen. Jeg er ikke tilbake før 28. november. Da skal jeg foreta meg noe med hensyn til lydavisene. Dessverre vil dette bety at vår støtte først vil bli klar en gang i januar neste år. Bedre sent enn aldri. For Norges Blindeforbunds avdeling for internasjonalt arbeid Arne Husveg, leder
Nov. 16: Dearest Tulle, It is so nice to get your encouraging message. In fact, I was meaning to write to you to tell more about my job in Kosovo and what is happening here. But let me first of all say that I do admire you for all the hard and exceptional work you are carrying out with so many needy people. It must take a lot of your energies and at times you need a "refill" but I am sure you also draw your own satisfaction from that. (...) I am very grateful for having grown up in a loving and compassionate family, which again continues to do what they can to help people like Veko. Let me tell you only one aspect: when my parents formally applied to look after Veko as carers, the School for Blind and its director accused them as wanting to take her organs or using her for some sinister purposes. Of course, these allegations were so stupid as they were discarded immediately by checking Veko's body and finding it perfectly in order. In addition, she loves my parents and she has survived thanks to the love and affection she received during these years. Anyhow, back to the present day: the reason she has not been accepted to the boarding part of the school (the dormitory) is because of the excuse that she is blind and noone can look after her. Of course, the real reason is these people want as little hussle as possible and she is not good looking. I have asked my mother to send you a picture or more than one because I don't have a scanner here. She has now started classes and my parents are keeping her at our house until we find a solution. Of course, this has to be temporary but it is not a problem until she receives her own place. I hope I mentioned to you that the living cost for her would be covered by her pension and a second pension she should receive from teh state and for which my mother is fighting hard. The letter you forwarded to me from the President of the Association is also very encouraging. Of course, we will be patient and give some time to the project and you or anyone who would like to come and see her in Albania would be mostly welcomed and could be our guest. Sometimes it helps to see the person and see where the efforts are going. But I will let it to you to decide! As for my work in Kosovo, I can certainly say I feel privileged to be here at this time. I am working in the Prosecutor's Office in Mitrovica which is the divided city as you may well know. I assist him as a legal officer with the various cases under the umbrella of the United Nations Administration in Kosovo, which runs the court system among other things. I have a special interest in juvenile justice and here in the post conflict situation, children and juveniles do suffer more than others because adults tend to forget their needs. (...) Thanks once again for all your efforts and I would love to meet you at some point in Tirana or Kosovo. With all my gratitude, I send you my best regards. Take Care Evis
Dec. 13: Dear Tulle, (...) Thank you so much for your effort: of course in Veko�s case every little helps and we can only try with the optimism that something good will come out. We are really grateful for all you are doing. At present, my mother has set up one bank account in the Albanian American Bank. The bank account is in my mother�s name because it would be very difficult in practical terms to have the account in Veko�s name, since you need the person to appear physically for each transaction in our current banking system. The commissions on this bank are 10 USD for every payment you make, despite the amount of the payment, so it would be beneficial to wait for a bigger sum rather then sending smaller sums, as we would lose 10 USD each time. There are no other hidden commissions or fees because we have now tried the system for a number of years. This bank is thought of as one of the most trustworthy in Albania, where the bank system is of course not among the safest. The board of trustees of this bank has a number of people of good reputation and this is the bank where most of the international organizations and other groups keep their money. I am sending you the details for transfer below: Rajmonda Bozo Account number: 40261035101 American Bank of Albania, Tirana, Albania Swift Code: USALALTR The following are USD Corresponding banks which might help your bank do the transfer via one of them: American Express Bank Ltd, New York Account number: 737312 Or Citibank NA, New York Account number 36143257 Or Chase Manhattan Bank, New York, Account number 400921545 Talking about your trip to Tirana, you have an open invitation and would be mostly welcomed any time now and in the future. You never know what comes next and I am sure you will come and visit this part of the world again. Please thank your husband very much on behalf of myself and my parents for all the hard work he put in the internet page, payment of letters and beyond. It is absolutely bighearted and we would like to repay you with the same kindness. Let�s hope Veko�s story is a success and that we meet very soon. All the best and take care Evis
Jan. 6 - 2001
Dear Tulle,
First of all let me start by wishing you a Very Happy New Year and all the best with the excellent work that you do in reaching needy people throughout the world, as well as happiness and strength in your private life.
I spent some time with my parents and I apologise for not being in touch earlier but electricity shortages and private events had kept me away from the internet for quite some time. I am getting ready to go back to Kosovo now but am still spending the last days of my winter break with my parents at home. Veko is also with us, being proud of herself through recent good results at school and really glad to be more accepted now than at the beginning in the new school. She is growing into such a good teenager, of course in huge need of emotional support which she gets through us to a certain extent. Some times it is heartbreaking to see that she misses so much various pleasures of a "normal" childhood. She was telling my dad the other night how her friends at school were all telling plans of new year's eve and of their parents' promises of gifts. Then she could not quite understand why all the other children were complaining about electricity shortages and the fact they could not see their favourite movies on TV. I think she lost sight before she was able to remember the pleasure of electricity and (not so much of some TV shows). However, her happiest time is usually at the end of the year when there is a Pop Song Contest - the biggest musical event of the year in Tirana where my parents take her every year. My mother is going to scan some of the last pictures and send them to
you from work.
We are all impressed with the great results achieved so far. Needless to say, we cannot thank you enough for initiating this wonderful campaign and also a big thank you to all the contributors. I just want to let them now that this is a cause worth supporting and which radically change Veko's life.
I will leave it here for tonight and will write to you soon again, from Kosovo this time.
Lots of love
Evis
Title: Leave a Light On
Dearest Tulle,
Our apreciation is the biggest you can imagine. You are giving to us more hope, more
optimism and more love for the life. Your letters are present and your lovely encouragement
words very special for Veko and me. We are stronger with friends like you. Please give our million thanks to all the persons that have supported VEKO in this important campaign.
Welcome to Albania, you are my guest.
We wish to all and to you personaly the best wishes for The New Year 2001!
- Rajmonda
Oslo, 8. februar 2001
Kjære Tulle,
Jeg tror jeg har gode nyheter. Det ser ut til at jeg har greid å ordne en pen slump for Veko.
Jeg får aldri tid til å ta min ferie. Jeg har imidlertid rett til å ta ut ferien i penger dersom jeg ikke kan avvirke den på vanlig måte. Nå satt jeg med 9 ukers ferie til gode. Jeg har meddelt generalsekretæren i Blindeforbundet og lederen for lønningsavdelingen at jeg ønsker å gi pengene for de 9 ukene til Veko. Jeg har bedt om at de godtar en ordning der jeg frasier meg lønnen mens Blindeforbundet på sin side gir en gave til Veko. På den måten kan hele beløpet uten fratrekk av skatt gå til formålet.
Hvis alt går som det skal, vil beløpet komme inn på den vanlige kontoen med det første.
Beste hilsen
Arne (Arne Husveg er leder for Norsk Blindeforbunds internasjonale avdeling)
Oslo, 26. februar 2001 Til Arne Husveg HJELP TIL VEKO Jeg viser til ditt brev av 9. februar d.�., der du opplyser at du gir avkall p� opparbeidet ferie/l�nn for opparbeidet ferie under forutsetning av at tilsvarende bel�p gis som gave fra Norges Blindeforbund som hjelp til en blind jente i Albania. Det er ikke vanlig at Norges Blindeforbund gj�r slikt, men s� var det da heller ingen vanlig historie som ble fortalt om Veko. I betraktning av at det her dreier seg om penger du n�r som helst kunne ha gjort krav p�, har jeg derfor funnet � kunne im�tekomme anmodningen din. L�nnsavdelingen har regnet ut at opparbeidet, ikke uttatt ferie for ditt vedkommende svarer til en utbetaling p� kr. 76.607,25. �konomiavdelingen anmodes gjennom kopi av dette brevet om � overf�re kr. 76.607,25 til konto nr. 0805.211.6598 v/Tulle Elster, Benser�dvn. 95, 3234 Sandefjord, og merke overf�ringen "Veko". Det er naturlig at kostnaden regnskapsmessig belastes internasjonal avdeling, slik tilfellet ville v�rt om utbetalingen hadde g�tt som l�nn til deg. Jeg kommer dessuten for ordens skyld til � informere sentralstyret om forholdet, ettersom det dreier seg om en betydelig kostnad som, til tross for at den har ligget i kortene, ikke er budsjettert. For egen del vil jeg gi uttrykk for min beundring over den gener�siteten du utviser. Saken bekrefter likevel det jeg alltid har visst: At du har stor omsorg for enkeltmennesker. Med vennlig hilsen for NORGES BLINDEFORBUND Gunnar Haugsveen generalsekret�r
Wed, 07 Mar 2001
From: "Evis Bozo" <[email protected]>
Dear all,
I am sorry I am not mentioning the name of each one of you in person, as much as I wished to do so. Hovever, I am sure you will accept my most whole hearted thanks as if I knew you by name.
This is Evis, the Albanian young lawyer who is Veko's friend and sister (as she is now part of our family). You have seen the wonderful results that your generous contributions brought about and as a result of such joined effort, Veko will be able to have her own place to live. Veko is going to write to you a letter herself, but in the meantime I could not wait to say
thank you myself. Your contribution is no doubt going to tremendously improve the quality of
her life, to the extent of changing it thoroughly and give her much more than a shelter. This has made the difference between uncertainty and security, street and belonging. Veko will still have a battle to fight in life but she is going to have her own bed to go back to in the evening. When I look at Veko, I often think of these words "the challenge of a normal life!" And this is what we are all trying to help Veko achieve. You will always be in our minds and hearts and I hope your goodness is repaid in the same way.
With all my gratitude and love
Evis Bozo
Subject: Letter from Veko
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001
From: "Evis Bozo" <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Dearest Tulle,
(...) My mother has posted today a letter that Veko wrote in Braille for you but she wrote it in Albanian since she did not feel very comfortable to write it in English, so I am translating the contents of the letter (for when it arrives). Please thank all those that contributed to make this happen and tell them that Veko is learning hard and is attending the first year of English in a school of foreign languages.
"Dear Tulle,
I am very happy that you and your friends are providing me a home. I like the school very much and especially because it teaches me a means that will allow communication with many people not only in Albania but also abroad. Of course, I need to work hard for this. I thought at the beginning that leaving the school for blind meant the end of good days for me, but I understand now that having good friends gives me hope for other good days in the future and help to progress. I hope one day to be able to say thank you in person.
With love Veko"
Back to the house! My mother and Veko are looking at options very close to where my parents live since there are two advantages: it is close to the center and a good residential area with access to many useful places among which market, center of town, library; and secondly it is close to my mum and dad. Now there are a number of new good constructions that are going up and if my mother obtains a lower price for a small flat from the builders (if they want to make some good in their life!), then she will have a new flat. This is subject to whether they agree to accept. Otherwise, my mother is looking into other existing building options. We think this process of selecting will not last for long and we will let you know as the case progresses.
Lots of love for now and see you soon (...)
Evis |