By the EcoVolis Team
Spring 2018

Bulqizë is an Albanian town about 40 miles northeast of Tirana, the capital. During the Communist era Bulqizë was a mining town well known for the high quality of its chromium and copper. At its peak it was home to around 50,000 people with full employment and excellent infrastructure – including schools, health centers, and roads. Mineral enrichment and smelting factories also provided employment for surrounding rural communities.

Today Bulqizë has been reduced to an isolated settlement with fewer than 14,000 inhabitants, who still live in the old and decaying Communist-era apartment buildings erected 45 years ago. Unemployment is high and the majority of families live at or below the poverty line. The tragic loss of life of men who work in the mines has left their families with little or no income. Community members and children thus feel financial and other kinds of pressure, and social problems continue to worsen.


On 1 May 2018, EcoVolis Albania headed to Bulqizë to meet with these communities and donate more than 20 bicycles to the most needy children and families. We also distributed boxes of clothes, toys, books, and modest supplies, providing some much needed relief. EcoVolis activists spent the day in the town talking to people about their lives, hardships, experiences, and daily issues. They also helped children to get on their bikes for the first time in their life, talked to them about their school, dreams, and what it is like growing up in Bulqizë. A local organization joined EcoVolis in this activity, helped us identify the most needy families, and facilitated our interaction with the local community.

At the end of the day, our EcoVolis team headed back to Tirana with fond memories of the children and their excitement when they got their new bikes. At the same time, we realize how much more support is needed in Bulqizë. With a series of similar activities in other vulnerable communities across Albania, our EcoVolis Team has given people there a happy break in their everyday routines. Though we can’t make a fundamental change in their lives overnight, we can give children the hope that their future can be different from their parents’ and we can inspire them to dream big like their peers elsewhere in Albania and the world.

On October 21, 2017, we loaded P4P container Albania #12 bound for Durrës, Albania: 494 bicycles and 30 sewing machines. The container got trucked to Port Newark, then shipped to Haifa, Israel. The container vessel was the Asiatic Liberty. The route of the Asiatic Liberty in December 2017 included Haifa and Ashdod, Israel; Koper, Slovenia; Venice and Ravenna, Italy; and Durrës Albania.

[More photos]

Our international shipments always include a heap of logistics. But because of bad weather in and around the Mediterranean Sea, the Albania #12 container had more drama than usual, including a failed attempt to dock in Albania.

The good news is that Ecovolis, our partner in Albania, finally got the shipment on 29 December 2017, and unloaded it around midnight the same day.

Here’s the story. Roxana and Lauren work for the shipping companies we use.

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On Thu, Oct 19, 2017 at 8:40 AM, Roxana wrote:

Good morning David,

We are waiting for the OBLS (Original Bills of Lading), I think we will receive them tomorrow or Monday, once I have them I’ll send them you.

Thanks!

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On Tue, Oct 24, 2017 at 11:00 AM, Roxana wrote:

Dear David,

We will send OBLS to you.

Tracking number 770572513697

Thanks!

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On Thu, Oct 26, 2017 at 11:06 AM, Roxana wrote:

David

We just received a notice from the SSL that ETA change

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On Tue, Oct 31, 2017 at 11:01 AM, Roxana wrote:

Hello David!

Happy Halloween =)

I’ve not received the OBLS yet, I’ll check and advise

Thanks!

Best Regards,

Roxana

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On Fri, Nov 3, 2017 at 12:01 PM, Roxana wrote:

Dear David

Please find below tracking number for your OBLS

770665449880

Best Regards,

Roxana

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On Nov 6, 2017, at 9:48 AM, Roxana wrote:

Good morning David

Could you please confirm that you have received OBLS?

Thanks!

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On Wed, Nov 15, 2017 at 8:04 AM, Roxana wrote:

Dear David

Please find below tracking of this shipment for your reference

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On Tue, Dec 5, 2017 at 9:51 AM, Roxana wrote:

Dear David

The vessel has ETA for today, I’ll keep you posted about any update

Thanks!

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On Dec 6, 2017, at 9:57 AM, Roxana wrote:

Hello David

Please consignee is doing customs clearance.

Thanks.

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From: Roxana

Subject: Re: 13877 Re: ZIMUORF0741498
Date: December 11, 2017 at 11:22:15 AM EST
To: David Schweidenback

Dear David

Good morning,

Kindly note that the container did not discharge in Durrës port.

Below you will find the email we received from ZIM Line Albania:

Dear Client We would like to inform you that vessel Asiatic Liberty arrived Durrës on Saturday 9th of December but due to bad weather conditions and huge delays, vessel omitted call. We will keep you informed about arrival of containers as soon as possible.

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On Tue, Dec 12, 2017 at 4:11 AM, Lauren wrote:

Dear David,

I apologize due to the delay at the Port, I hope it is promptly fixed. Roxana and I will continue to update you on the status of this shipment.

Please let us know if you need anything else,

Lauren

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On Thu, Dec 14, 2017 at 9:51 AM, Roxana wrote:

Dear David

Please note that consignee is still doing customs clearance, I’ll let you know once shipment is released.

Thanks!

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On Thu, Dec 14, 2017 at 10:50 AM, Roxana wrote:

Dear David,

Hope you are doing well

Please note that we have not received any update yet.

I’ll keep you posted

Best Regards,

Roxana

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From: Roxana
Sent: Friday, December 15, 2017 11:58 PM
To: David Schweidenback Subject: Re: 13779 II Re: 8016759110

Dear David

Website shows that shipment was delivered, I’m waiting for agent confirmation and I’ll confirm you.

Best Regards,

Roxana

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From: Lauren
Date: December 19, 2017 at 6:32:27 PM EST
To: Roxana, David Schweidenback

Dear David,

The agent confirmed the shipment has been cleared from Tema Port.

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From: Fran
Subject: Re: 13877 Re: ZIMUORF0741498
Date: December 22, 2017 at 10:20:14 AM EST
To: Roxana
Cc: David Schweidenback

Hello David!

I hope you are well. Here is the latest update:

Container ZCSU7071639 is expected to arrive tomorrow at the afternoon in Durrës port, Albania.

Thanks.

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On Sat, Dec 30, 2017 at 5:40 PM, David Schweidenback wrote:

Howdy,

¿Did you get the container?

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From: Ened Mato
Subject: Re: container
Date: December 30, 2017 at 12:48:36 PM EST
To: David Schweidenback

yesterday

Ened Mato
Ecovolis Director

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Here are the ports of call of the vessel Asiatic Liberty on the fateful voyages. In the first voyage, the vessel bypassed Albania because of “weather and huge delays”.

Port Name	Direction	Local Arrival	Local Departure
Haifa	W	29-Nov-2017	30-Nov-2017
Ashdod	W	30-Nov-2017	01-Dec-2017
Koper	E	05-Dec-2017	06-Dec-2017
Venice	E	06-Dec-2017	07-Dec-2017
Ravenna	E	07-Dec-2017	08-Dec-2017
Haifa	E	13-Dec-2017	13-Dec-2017

Port Name	Direction	Local Arrival	Local Departure
Haifa	W	13-Dec-2017	13-Dec-2017
Ashdod	W	14-Dec-2017	15-Dec-2017
Koper	E	19-Dec-2017	19-Dec-2017
Venice	E	20-Dec-2017	20-Dec-2017
Ravenna	E	21-Dec-2017	21-Dec-2017
Durrës	E	22-Dec-2017	23-Dec-2017
Haifa	E	27-Dec-2017	28-Dec-2017

Fall 2017 InGear

Albania has one of our most active partners, PASS/Ecovolis, which runs a wide variety of social and environmental programs. An Update from March 2017 mentions two of their programs. One uses P4P/SP sewing machines to make reusable shopping bags and the the other operates a children’s library, LibrAria.

Ened Mato, the PASS director, recently reported on two other PASS projects.

The School of Nature is a children’s program in the Albanian capital, Tirana. The goal of the program is to give urban kids some experience in nature while having fun and learning. Here are some examples of School of Nature activities:

• raise a tent camp
• plant different kinds of flowers
• read books
• paint
• take canoe trips on the artificial lake in Tirana

The Elders’ Academy is a program to teach older adults to ride bicycles. Some of the riders have not ridden a bike for many years and some have never learned to ride. I don’t know about you, but the thought of learning to ride a bike at age 50 or 60 sounds a little scary, especially in a busy city like Tirana. But in the photos we’ve seen, these “elders” look like they’re having a blast.

Fall 2016 InGear

We’ve been providing free cycling classes for the past two years, where many young people come to learn how to ride a bike. We notice more and more young people come each week. And riders improve as the weeks go by. Each week we are inspired to persist in changing our daily lives and the traffic of Tirana. We’re glad to inform you that we’ve used several of the bikes for the activities we’ve organized, hence changing the lives of those who only dreamed of learning to ride a bike. We are pleased to see our former students riding on city streets. The number of bike riders has tripled and all this thanks to the “Bike Academy”.

Bike Tours

We travel by bikes every Saturday to various destinations, thus traveling several miles while discovering, cleaning, and promoting different attractions on the outskirts of Tirana. We are grateful for the bikes you’ve donated because it is through those bikes that the young people are provided the opportunity to become part of these travels since they don’t possess a bike of their own. The bike trips have brought us closer to the people who need us the most and more conscious of the distinctive issues the suburbs face.

Bicycle Essay Contest

We often organize a literary contest consisting of a bike essay and award the winner one of the bikes you have provided. The main purpose of this contest is to raise awareness of citizens, artists, and bike lovers through literary expression, with the main topic being the ecological two-wheeled vehicle. The aim of this competition is to assess everyone, be they young or old, be they writers or artists, who want or need to express themselves regarding the bikes.

Dear David,

I hope all is well with you.

Winter is on the verge in Albania as the first snow has fallen on the Dajti Mountain in Tirana. We’ve worked very hard during the summer at the camp in Jal with lots of young and energetic people. We’ve come back to Tirana full of energy, dreams and plans, as we are recognized for our leadership in improving the life of the community.

The first project we’ve completed is a soup kitchen in the neighborhood of Tufina in Tirana. The right to food is the basis for human rights, enshrined in conventions and constitutions, including that of the United Nations. Article 25.1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.”

Our mission “A plate full of love” is initially to help nourish, at least twice a week, 300 members of the community using surpluses that society already has available. Eventually we hope to open the soup kitchen every day. We believe that no one should go hungry and that we have a moral obligation to assist those who need aid the most. Malnutrition causes poor health and premature deaths, and has long-term effects on wellbeing and productivity.

It was both a pleasure and a challenge building this kitchen as we had to reconstruct the whole building, build a new roof and find food. The walls were painted by volunteers as we wanted to engage them on this project as they can gain experience, confidence and a great sense of pride being part of the community.

We have also launched an event called “Ecovolis has a bike for you” where we invite everyone who wants a bike but can’t afford one to write to us. We receive so many letters each week and donate a bike every week to the person whose letter impressed us the most. The fact that this is a surprise event makes it that much more special.

Last but not least, the winter is on the way and we’ll need other bikes to proceed with our projects as Eco Bicycle is our main source of support and the bikes from the last container from P4P are almost gone. So we were wondering when do you think you’ll be able to proceed with the next shipment to Albania?

We appreciate and are deeply grateful for all your assistance. Thanks in advance!!

Best Regards,

Ened
October 12, 2016

[Click here to see the Ecovolis facebook page.]

by Ened Mato
Spring 2016 InGear

December 2015: 2 babies died from the cold. They belonged to the Roma community, one of the most marginalized communities in Albania. Since 1990 they have been in constant movement.

They raise their homes near rivers so they have access to water for drinking and cleaning. Simultaneously they do some of the best work that humans do for their planet, which is recycling. But they suffer, they have always suffered in Albania. They have more than 25 years of living on trash heaps and wandering in the open air.

The Roma people in Albania alone have 500 of their children at risk from the cold, the winter rains, and from poverty. They are full of life. You can find them everywhere, separating trash from recyclables. You can find them in the street begging for money, or in bars selling almonds and walnuts.

They are everywhere, and often are victims of violence, exploitation, or abuse. You can see these kids everywhere except at school! None of them go to school for a simple reason: they are unwashed and unkempt, and are too embarrassed to attend school, where they feel rejected. Their problem lies precisely in their living conditions. This is the point where all the problems of this community begin. Lacking adequate living conditions, they lack the opportunities that others have. So because of the lack of sanitation in their communities they do not go to school but instead go out on the street. It is a vicious circle from which it is so difficult to disconnect the dots. This is why we hope to attack the problem at its root.

All the money from the sale of the first 100 bicycles from our recent P4P container will go to provide the first house trailers of the First Roma Park in Albania. The trailers will ensure minimal living conditions, adapted also to their nomadic culture. We will supply house trailers to 40 families with 150 children. Pedals for Progress will be the catalyst of this change.

These children will leave the streets and will return to school. They will have the opportunity to be educated and they will have a future. But what is most important is that these Roma will have a roof over their heads for the first time in 25 years. There will be no more babies dying from the cold.