News

Special Thanks to Ms. Patty Rukaj and Ms. Sonila Preka, experienced guidance counselors, who will serve as a members of the AAEA scholarship committee.

This team will work to establish a criteria for AAEA scholarships along with creating a Memorial Scholarship program. This committee will evaluate perspective application and make recommendation and advise the board on the awarding of scholarships.

Any experienced Guidance Counselor interested in serving on this committee may submit a letter of interest at [email protected].

Anyone interested in setting up a memorial scholarship program may contact us at [email protected]

AAEA is committed to providing a forum for educators to share ideas, best practices and knowledge. Please become involved to promote education and lifelong learning to effectively and positively impact the lives of students, families and Albanian communities. Here are a few ways you can help:

• Make sure you get on the AAEA mailing list so you can stay up-to-date on happenings and volunteer opportunities. You can do this by spreading the word to family and friends and by visiting to our website and joining our mailing list or by emailing [email protected].
• Think about ways you might like to get involved with the association. We have volunteer opportunities to fit every interest and skill set. Whether fundraising, computer/technical skills, writing/communication/public relations, support for academic programs, and identifying service and educational opportunities for students, families and educators.
• Have something interesting to share. AAEA   encourages the submission of articles for our newsletter. The discussion should be accessible to an audience across disciplines and promote conversation across fields and practices. The article should be no more than 700 words.

Please know there is no minimum commitment required. No effort is too small.

As Albanian-American educators our greatest strength comes from a heritage of spirit, commitment and the belief in the transformative power of education to make the world a better place. We look forward to your involvement. Contact us via phone at (914) 265-4815, email [email protected] or visit us on the web.

On November 28, the Albanian Club and Dance Team at St. Barnabas High School and Elementary Schools celebrated Albanian Independence Day. The celebration began with a very informative presentation by members of the club that emphasized the importance of Independence Day for the Albanian culture, the history of Albania and what led to its independence.

Following the presentation, the Albanian Club welcomed guest speaker, Mrs. Jacqueline Kapaj-Vieira ’82, who spoke about her extraordinary experience at Saint Barnabas High School as a student.

To conclude the celebration, the Albanian dance team wore traditional garments and performed traditional dances from many regions throughout Albania. The dance team welcomed two special dancers, Laura and Zef, Elementary school students, who joined the performance.

AAEA would like to thank Townsend Tutors for their support and very generous $1,000 donation to our organization.

This gift will help AAEA to continue our mission to promote education and life-long learning as well as build resources necessary for the long-term efforts.

Their generous support makes it possible for AAEA operational costs and set monies aside for monetary awards for planned initiatives.

FEATURED ARTICLE

By Soena Muja, student at John Jay College, CUNY

To be raised in a household engulfed in education is an opportunity. It is an opportunity so rare in a culture in need of liberation from its primitive ancestral mindset. Education is the key to opening doors to experience and personal achievement.

Growing up, education surrounded me and filled every crevice of my being. From my parents being teachers, my uncle and aunt professors, many cousins and family-friends with diplomas and PhD’s, education was abundant and inspiring. My parents pushed me to be curious and to ask questions. I loved spending time in libraries, learning new things and reading books. I found comfort in books and fell in love with writing. I knew growing up I would continue to higher education and work in the field of politics and law.

To deprive oneself of education is to deprive the entire world of one brilliant mind. A mind that carries the skills necessary to lead a nation, cure diseases, end poverty, improve economies, and save lives. We are powerful as people, but also as an Albanian community. We are brilliant and curious people. We wish to see the world, to experience and to educate ourselves, but rarely step out of this desire and push to make it a reality. Set goals to feed your mind new information every day, for you are not limited to the information taught in a classroom. To be different and to make a change, you must first be willing to take steps beyond the minimum. Study harder, read more books, fall in love with something and pursue it every day.

We must keep our curiosity alive and feed it knowledge every day. Every chance you see, grasp it and take it. Every door opened, enter and explore. Your mind must be fed in order to grow and your mind holds the ability to change the world, but only if you are willing to allow it. Let’s work together to enrich our lives as individual and as a community.

On November 7^th, 2017 voters in New York State will have an opportunity to change New York State’s constitution. Every twenty years this option is placed on the voter’s ballot giving New Yorkers the chance to afford law makers an opportunity hold a convention to rewrite the state constitution.

Changes to the state constitution can greatly impact public and private education, union agreements and pensions. These constitutionally protected rights would inevitably be challenged:

• The right to a free public education (Article 11, §1)
• The prohibition of reductions in public pension benefits (Article 5, §7);
• The right to workers’ compensation (Article 1, §18)
• The right to be a member of a union and bargain collectively (Article 1, §17).
• A convention would reopen the question of repealing the Blaine Amendment, which bans state aid to religious schools.

NYS educators are encouraged to vote “No” to these changes. To learn more visit educational union websites and the NYS Board of Elections website.

We are happy to announce that the Albanian American Educators Association is cooperating with RIT- Kosovo. RIT-Kosovo (A.U.K.) was founded through a partnership with Rochester Institute of Technology and the American University in Kosovo Foundation in 2003.  The University serves over 500 students in Prishtina, Kosovo’s capital city.  The school is a non-for-profit, higher education institute offering degrees from Rochester Institute of Technology with an International acuity.  Kosovo is a young country, both in terms of population (more than 50% of the population is under 30 years of age) and sovereign status. As such, it offers a vivacious and entrepreneurial learning environment.  As a new and developing nation, Prishtina (and the region) is also home to a small population of International Affairs professionals.  Overall, Kosovo offers an exceptionally friendly and safe environment for an affordable and enriching educational and cultural exchange as well as many opportunities for regional adventures (my favorite, the South of Albania!) on a student budget.

RIT- Kosovo is proud to offer the Gilman Scholarship that offers a study abroad opportunity program for young people seeking a BA degree. This scholarship is designed to support students with financial need for up to $5,000 for study abroad related expenses. For more information, click here.

See the following links for more information and opportunities:

• RIT-Kosovo website: http://kosovo.rit.edu/
• RIT-Global, study abroad website:  https://www.rit.edu/academicaffairs/global/academicadvantage-kosovo
• Peace and Conflict Studies Summer Program: http://summer.auk.org/

AAEA is now collaborating with St. Barnabas High School in the Bronx, New York. The internship program is designed to develop voluntary, one-on-one relationships among alumni and students to share knowledge, skill-sets, and perspectives.  Its goal is to empower youth and drive career development as well as form School-Community-Business partnerships. We are very excited to partake in this program and are looking forward to working with school officials and students.

As we embark upon a new school year, it is critical for all educators to understand the responsibilities we have as nation builders. We possess a tremendous power to develop the talent of young people by preparing them for success in the 21st Century. As educators, it is incumbent upon us to become involved in our community affairs, serve as role models and impart knowledge so as to positively impact the lives of others. With our combined energy, ideas and commitment we can fulfill our mission.

As AAEA continues to evolve, please know that we are committed to developing an organization dedicated to promoting education and lifelong learning. AAEA is currently in the process of reorganization and as we move forward, our proposed plan is designed to make AAEA a healthier and stronger organization that is better positioned for the future. Our redesigned website provides information and services related to AAEA, look for updates and information. Our newsletter shares communications, articles, stories, and relevant community events and happenings. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Twitter, we would like to hear from you! As a community of educators we encourage your involvement and expertise to enrich and strengthen the Albanian community.

AAEA is currently in the process of developing an Executive Board, Advisory Board and Committees that will foster unity and empower educators to work towards meaningful, productive and beneficial activities they value. We seek to improve the educational and cultural opportunities of our Albanian communities. Your involvement is critical to the success of our Association and our community.

AAEA is committed to providing a forum for educators to share ideas, best practices and knowledge. Please become involved to promote education and lifelong learning to effectively and positively impact the lives of students, families and Albanian communities. Here are a few ways you can help:

• Make sure you get on the AAEA mailing list so you can stay up-to-date on happenings and volunteer opportunities. You can do this by spreading the word to family and friends and by visiting to our website and joining our mailing list or by emailing [email protected].
• Think about ways you might like to get involved with the association. We have volunteer opportunities to fit every interest and skill set. Whether fundraising, computer/technical skills, writing/communication/public relations, support for academic programs, and identifying service and educational opportunities for students, families and educators.

Please know there is no minimum commitment required. No effort is too small.

As Albanian-American educators our greatest strength comes from a heritage of spirit, commitment and the belief in the transformative power of education to make the world a better place. We look forward to your involvement.

Sincerely Jacqueline Kapaj-Vieira
Executive Director

RIT-Kosovo (A.U.K) founded through a partnership with Rochester Institute of Technology and the American University in Kosovo Foundation, is offering the Gilman Scholarship which offers students an  opportunity to pursue a semester abroad for spring 2018 and possibly summer.  The Gilman Scholarship is designed to support students with financial need for up to $5,000 for study abroad related expenses.  The deadline for the scholarship is October 3rd, 2017. For more information contact Sara Baxley, International Student Recruitment Coordinator, at [email protected].

Please apply, click here: