Kimse Yok Mu aid cheers up Albanian community in Petrella


Date posted: March 13, 2013

Kimse Yok Mu relief foundation extended its hands to poverty-stricken community trying to survive harsh winter conditions in Petrella, one of the first settlements to welcome Ottomans in central Albania.

Foundation official Mustafa Ilhan reported that aid packages of one-month food supply from Turkey have been delivered to the needy in Petrella county.

In his press release, Ilhan drew attention to high unemployment rate among the young in the country, where alcohol consumption is considerably high due to low prices. However, even such a small county, Petrella, has five lottery kiosks. Speaking of Petrella’s significance in Albania history, Ilhan said “Suleyman Pasha, who Suleyman Pasha Complex in one of the earliest settlements in Tirana was named after, is originally from Petrella. And Ethem Bey who Ethem Bey Mosque, one of the few mosques that could survive Enver Pasha’s oppression, was named after is Suleyman Pasha’s grandson. The number of mosques and tekkes (dervish lodges) reached 12 during Ottoman rule but each was demolished in Enver Pasha period.

The aid revived charity among Albanians

Noting that Kimse Yok Mu initiatives have revived charity and cooperation tradition among Albanians Ilhan went on to say “Human relations were seriously ruined in the country in Enver Pasha period. He not only tore down the mosques and madrasahs but also banned even naming children with Muslim names. What is more, he compelled the Muslim to marry Christians and sent out spies among public. Relief and aid foundations succeeding Enver Pasha’s oppression too abused the nation where even a husband and wife didn’t trust each other. As a result, Albanians take a dim view of aid foundations. They have never heard of Muslims’ aid in their country while certainly being familiar with Greek foundations’ frequent arrivals. That is why they asked “Do Muslims help?” in astonishment upon seeing Kimse Yok Mu volunteers helping across Albania. They express their gratitude to Turkish people for remembering them in hard times.” Kimse Yok mu delivers its aid through a local foundation in the region.

Christian Women’s appreciation

Kimse Yok Mu provided aid to families through its partner foundation Compassion which is of vital significance for rural communities of Albania, in particular. The activities of globally active foundation Kimse Yok Mu are well-recognized by government officials as well as Albanian people.

Malsimale Vice-Governor Sytki Wdrecaj underlined that Albania went through hard times of 50 years and Petrella was a disadvantaged region in the past too. As Wdrecaj stated the state keeps alleviating the region but contributions of civil foundations are of great importance. Wdercaj, who was present during aid deliveries, said “Two Albanian women approached and asked me to thank Kimse Yok Mu on their behalf. They accepted the aid from Tsurkey appreciatively as they were not for Muslims only. All the needy benefited them. Thank you very much for the aid. But the scope of assistance shouldn’t be restricted to what it is now. Turkey has always stood by us since we adopted democracy. The existing partnership should continue increasing progressively in other fields too.”

A local woman Luce Sufaji Shkrel, 47, who lined up to get one of aid boxes distributed in a school yard, expressed her feelings: “I have two daughters. One is married and the other is engaged. We experienced hard times after my husband’s death. I have a seriously sore foot and we live on the state’s financial aid. The aid you send means a lot for us. Thanks in no small part to you for it. We are grateful to Turkish people as they remembered us in hard times.” Another woman Rushe Holaj, 50, also thanked Kimse Yok Mu and said, “We were almost running out food. We wouldn’t be able to survive the month without this aid. We have our Turkish friends in our prayers. May God be with them.”

Source: Excerpted from the piece published [in Turkish] on Medya73 newspaper, 10 March 2013. English translation is retrieved from HizmetMovement.Com


Related News

Refugee helps refugees

Syrian refugees are getting a helping hand from central Pennsylvania thanks to an effort being led by a refugee in Cumberland County. Zuhra Korkutovic knows what it’s like to have to leave your homeland and start over.

Kimse Yok Mu continues its assistance to Cambodia

Highly acclaimed for its aid efforts globally, Kimse Yok Mu Foundation recently made another five water wells available to the needy locals in Cambodia where it had previously provided 40 of them.

US, Turkish charities hold blanket drive

In a joint campaign, the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC), the American Turkish Friendship Association (AFTA) and Embrace Relief held a blanket drive for Syrian and Iraqi refugees in the US on Thursday and collected 25,000 blankets, which will soon be shipped to Turkey.

Kimse Yok Mu holds iftar dinner for Bosnian orphans

KYM has been active in Bosnia for some time. The foundation gave away scholarships in the amount of 50 thousand dollar in April. Besides, the children received clothing aid. The foundation also provided both monetary assistance and eight-truck load of basic needs in the aftermath of the recent flooding disaster.

African Union, Kimse Yok Mu Sign Landmark Agreement

Turkish charity organization Kimse Yok Mu (KYM) has signed a landmark agreement with the African Union (AU), paving way for close cooperation between the two entities to further aid education and development efforts in Africa.

Japanese students assist Syrian refugees in Turkey

A group of Japanese university students and professors recently came to Turkey to provide educational assistance to Syrian refugees, according to Turkish news sources on Tuesday. The volunteer group, which came to Turkey through the agency of charity Kimse Yok Mu, consisted of 15 students and professors from Meiji Gakuin University.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Erdogan vows for genocide of Gulen sympathizers: “We will not give them the right to life!”

Fountain’s Yeşilova: We believe human life and the universe are each a book to read

Reflections on Hizmet Movement at conference in Taiwan

Police officer reassigned for attending dershane picnic

Nigeria: Our students in Turkey

Arabs, Turks attempt to redefine Arab uprisings, political trajectories

Candidates on ‘red list’ denied jobs despite high test scores, Taraf reports

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News