Historia jonë
Tek Ura (registered as Qendra Tek Ura’) was formed in January 2016. The original founders were British Baptist missionaries from BMS World Mission (Rev’d Dan and Annie Dupree, and Mat and Suzanne Gregory) and Pastor Mondi Palucaj (the then President of the Albanian Baptist Union, ‘ABU’)
We shared a mission to reach out to the most marginalised. Tek Ura would, as its name suggests, be a bridging point for divided sections of the community to meet and experience God. Albanian churches (the majority of the ABU) as well as UK church representatives, gathered to commission the ministry of Tek Ura on 10 Mar 2016. Suzanne and Mondi would step down in June 2017, leaving 3 original founders to establish Tek Ura.
We are an Albanian ‘Centre’ based in Kafja e Rremes on the edge of Tirana, Albania. Tek Ura can best be described as having 3 parts:
3 parts of Tek Ura
A Christian faith community - Komuniteti i Besimit tek Ura
A Community center - a meeting place for the people of Kafja e Rremes
A development agency providing services - in health, education, social welfare, and relief – to people living in Municipality 4 (Tirana) and the surrounding area
We continue to work towards the use of our building in Kafja e Rremes as a ‘Community Centre’ , a shared space that is owned by local people. Our desire has always been to connect people, to increase the number of people participating and playing a full part in community life. In 2018 we formed an older person's social group, and a carer support group. These groups bring together people with shared challenges, enabling them to help one another and strengthen their informal networks. We are also increasing social cohesion amongst children and adults from different ethnic groups and backgrounds and combat the causes of exploitation. In 2020, we are supporting young people to connect, engage and share in their communities in varied and creative ways.
A more connected community leaves less space for those who would seek to exploit, through human trafficking and modern slavery. As we move towards 2024, we will place greater focus on enabling local people In Kafja e Rremes to identify trafficking, understand how it affects the community, and learn how to help prevent its continuation. We envision a community centre led by local people, with increased numbers from marginalised people groups empowered to play a role in the community. A safe place that includes, empowers and celebrates lives. A beacon of community, working alongside other agencies, state and local leaders to offer real hope of a prospering community for all, combating the causes of exploitation and separation.