“If the door of HOP had not given me the opportunity to become part of it, my life would have been so terrible that I am afraid even to think about it, and I never want to go back to it again. Because now my life has begun a new journey so beautiful that I could never have imagined it, not even in my boldest dreams. I will be forever grateful to this Project that gave me the opportunity to discover life… dreams… possibilities”. Çelik Sharka.
Çelik grew up in extreme poverty in rural Albania, in a village called Hysgjokaj, surrounded by fields covered in plastic growing tunnels, in a house made of mud and straw. Both his parents have learning disabilities and mental health difficulties, his younger brother too. Çelik spent much of his young years trying to earn some income for the family by shepherding in the hills around his home village. He carried a burden of responsibility and had no time for plans or dreams for his own life; his family’s immediate survival was constantly in doubt, and he had to act.
Çelik attended a church in the nearby town of Lushnjë, and it was the pastor of this church that alerted our partner organisation, A2B, to Çelik’s plight. By the time our team met him though, disaster had struck, the family home had been mostly destroyed when a spark from an electrical appliance set it on fire. The family were living in the one useable room that was left.
That first meeting with Çelik revealed just how exhausted and burdened the young man was. He had been sleeping on the ground since the fire, which had taken from the family most of their meagre possessions, furniture and household items. Nobody in the village seemed interested in helping this family, despite their well known needs, but Çelik could not even raise a smile on meeting some strangers who actually appeared to care. But a plan was made; Çelik would join the House of Opportunity in Elbasan, and A2B and Lushnjë Church would help meet the needs of his family.
Time to build something new.
After joining the House of Opportunity in spring 2024, Çelik was able to share his dreams for the first time. He wanted to become a car mechanic. Now he had a plan; attend vocational high school, find work and eventually open his own workshop to support his family. When the House team promised Çelik step-by-step support to achieve his dream, he smiled for the first time and then burst into tears of joy.
There were other opportunities too: Having a home with proper living conditions; a bed and mattress of his own; access to a bathroom and hygiene facilities; use of a washing machine; learning how to cook; receiving care, love, and support.
As Çelik was enrolling for vocational school, A2B and the church in Lushnjë were helping his family access disability support from social services (not easy to facilitate in Albania). In 2025 Çelik started practical training in a local car workshop and began building his professional skillset. He also got a job to help provide for his family. That spring, the church and volunteers from Lushnjë, Elbasan and overseas rebuilt and refurnished Çelik’s family home.
Çelik’s life is now completely unrecognisable. He is confident at home in the House of Opportunity, whether cooking, cleaning or managing his personal budget. He works with young people who are joining the programme; encouraging them and teaching them the life skills he has recently acquired. He works hard at school; he is one of the best students in his class, and his behaviour and attitude are often remarked on by his teachers, who regularly express their respect for the young people from the House of Opportunity Programme who attend the school. He is active at the local church. He is working part-time in a private car repair business as a mechanic. Çelik has two basic dreams for his future career. Provide for his family. Service A2B’s vehicles for free!
Çelik’s story is one of total transformation. From the most extreme poverty, weighed down by the overwhelming burden of ensuring his family’s survival, to a future that he can call his own, that gives him the ability to look after his parents and brother, and build a new life for himself.
If you would like to help transform the lives of more young people like Çelik, please consider making a donation today!
