In Albania, Changing Lives Through Education

Dear friends--

Studying at Nehemiah Gateway University can be a transformative experience, sometimes in unexpected ways. It is a small school and the learning is seldom limited to the classroom.

Karla, NGU’s first student from Guatemala, describes the moment a conversation with the Managing Director of Nehemiah Gateway changed her perspective. Karla is sponsored by a seminary that works to foster peace, justice, and compassionate communities in Guatemala. She has supported that organization in just about every possible role since she started working there, and has continued helping them out virtually from Albania. After graduation, she will go back. “He told me I should be planning to go back as a manager, not an assistant,” says Karla. “And I realized he was right.” In a culture where women have a reputation for strength, and use that strength to support others, the idea of leading is a new one. But, when you talk to Karla, you can see that it suits her.

Sandra is still learning and growing through Nehemiah Gateway University years after graduating. Sandra comes from Uganda, and, after she graduated in 2017, she went home to work for the organization that sponsored her scholarship. A few years later, she is ready to launch as an entrepreneur. Sandra is starting her own business as a groundnut wholesaler, connecting African farmers with markets in Europe and the Middle East. She has received guidance from Nehemiah Gateway University, including a connection to a social-minded entrepreneur in the US who was moved and impressed by Sandra's commmitment to employing teenage mothers in her enterprise. This connection to a like-minded entrepreneur will help her realize her commitment to her social and business vision.

At Nehemiah Gateway University, commitment to the careers and values of our students is strengthening communities, one student and one enterprise at a time. Fundraising for NG's educational programs is ongoing and can be supported here.

Thank you very much for your generous support.

All the best,

Sarah Pita

Development Director, NG USA

Dear Friends,

COVID-19 has created many new challenges in education. Nehemiah Gateway's schools in Albania have risen to the challenge. The teams at Amaro Tan and Nehemia School had to make quite a few adjustments to maintain socially distanced classrooms. Desks were cut in half and re-welded as single desks (picture below). Class groups were split to maintain mandated group sizes, with half the students in remote locations, watching their teachers online. [The new laptops helped make this possible!] Temperatures are taken every day before school. 

Nehemiah Gateway University had to grapple with even stricter government regulations. All universities were mandated to move online this fall. This measure was designed  for institutions where 200 person lectures are the norm-- and where most of the students are from the area where they are studying. Student-teacher time (pictured above) helped keep lessons real at NGU and provided more a chance for interaction for international students who are far from home. 

Donations like yours helped make these required adjustments, so that our teachers could adapt and our students of all ages could keep on learning. Thank you!

Be well,

Sarah Pita

Development Director, NG-USA

PS: This campaign is ongoing. You can still contribute here.