The teacher of locked children

The teacher of locked children

Gjakmarrja is part of the kanun, a medieval law that regulated life in Albania for many years. According to this code, anyone committing a murder had to pay, and the family of the person killed could regain his honor by killing any member of the family of the murderer. With the fall of the communist regime this old tradition is back in vogue. Because of ignorance and fear, the whole family under threat never leaves the house anymore. Liljana Luani, a primary school teacher in Shkoder, for many years he went every week to give lessons to the children locked up at home for Gjakmarrija, convinced that education is the only way to counter this ancient tradition. In addition, in 2015, it has finally managed to open a center to help women, where he teaches a work for the women involved in Gjakmarrja, offering them the opportunity to leave the house and take home a different perspective to end the culture of revenge.

by contributor Alessandro Rampazzo

Gjakmarrja is part of the kanun, a medieval law that regulated life in Albania for many years. According to this code, anyone committing a murder had to pay, and the family of the person killed could regain his honor by killing any member of the family of the murderer. With the fall of the communist regime this old tradition is back in vogue. Because of ignorance and fear, the whole family under threat never leaves the house anymore. Liljana Luani, a primary school teacher in Shkoder, for many years he went every week to give lessons to the children locked up at home for Gjakmarrija, convinced that education is the only way to counter this ancient tradition. In addition, in 2015, it has finally managed to open a center to help women, where he teaches a work for the women involved in Gjakmarrja, offering them the opportunity to leave the house and take home a different perspective to end the culture of revenge.

Liljana strongly believes in the value of education to end the violence of gjakmarrja. Visiting constantly families involved in Gjakmarrja Liljana realized that also the condition of the women is very hard. She started then to think how to take out of the house for few hours a day. Liljana is really moved when she see "her children" progresses The relation between the teacher and the children is very tight as she's one of the few outside person they see regularly When in families Liljana takes her time to spend few words with parents as she always try to check on their condition too. Liljana is not the only teacher in Albania doing this kind of work as apparently this project is a national attempt to end the gjakmarrja. It must be said that the money Liljana receive for her work are really not enough for what she does. She in fact, having no car or driving license, is forced to move with taxis or busses and the expense are bigger than the income. Coming to houses of families involved in gjakmarrja is also a way to check their health condition and possibly to talk with their mother. Women in fact are really affected in gjakmarrja as the resposibilty of running the family all of a sudden becomes their only business. Liljana is a teacher in the primary school Pashko Vasa in Shkoder, north of Albania Liljana is one of the few people that constantly visits families involved in Gjakmarrja, together with some NGOs. The relationship between the teacher and the children is very tight as she's one of the few outside person they see regularly Coming to houses of families involved in gjakmarrja is also a way to check their health condition and possibly to talk with their mother. Women in fact are really affected in gjakmarrja as the resposibilty of running the family all of a sudden becomes their only business. Liljana is a teacher in the primary school Pashko Vasa in Shkoder, north of Albania women going back home after the daily activity at the workshop The relation between the teacher and the children is very tight as she's one of the few outside person they see regularly Liljana, to reach "her families" is forced to take a taxi or a bus as she doesn't have any driving license. These costs are all on her as the money received for the government are not enough. activities in the workshops are meant not only to teach a job to women but also to take them to a different environment than the familiar one as to put women in communication one with the other and stimulating talks about their condition. She's convinced that this kind of activity will benefit the whole family too. Liljana is a teacher in the primary school Pashko Vasa in Shkoder, north of Albania Liljana believes that giving education to children they will be able one day to not repurpose the behavior of their parents or relatives The condition of children in families involved in Gjakmarrja becomes if possible more difficult when they become teenager. Like all other guys they would like to go out and spend times with guys of their own age.