ALBANIA

Many activities have been organised in all Albania in recent months. The aim of these activities is for the youth groups throughout Albania to know each other better, for young people to build relationships and to learn from the ancien tradition which our church has been developing throughout the decades.
Since January, youth activities and meetings have been focused in the Diocese of Berati, and will continue in the coming months in the Diocese of Tirana and then in that of Korca.
One significant activity was a three-day conference held in Durres with the theme "The relationship within a christian couple". Fr. Luke Veronis and Presbitera Fotini addressed the youth, speaking about communication within a relationship; Natan and Linet Hope spoke about the problems that can arise within a relationship and how can we overcome them.
Other activities in past months include a seminar for youth groups leaders, presidents, accountants and spiritual leaders, in the Theological Academy of Saint Vlash in Durres.

Plans for the coming months include a youth festival (in June) in the Diocese of Berati. The best groups will go on to participate in the national festival, due to take place in September 2001 in Tirana.

During the same month, summer camps are planned in the monastery of St. John Vladimir in Elbasan (for girls) and in one of the islands of Vlora, Zvernec, for boys. The theme for the camps will be " Christ knocks on my heart's door." Later in the year we plan a festival of traditional games in the Diocese of Korca (October), a Students' conference (November) and finally a Christmas Festival in all three dioceses of Albania.