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Chisago County Press readers have helped to give youth at a school in Albania the gift of knowledge. The library at the Peshkopia Pedagogical School now has decent shelving containing new books that donations have allowed the students to enjoy.

A former Chisago Lakes student, Joshua Slattengren, wrote the Press last winter about the need for books at the school where he volunteers through the Peace Corps. "One year ago," he says, "I discovered that the school where I volunteer had a library. Or, more specifically I learned there was a locked room filled with dust and outdated books." (See photo.)

"Instead of uplifting and encouraging and benefiting young learners (the room) more likely brought about a feeling of inferiority and despondency-- which is why it was probably always locked," Slattengren explained.

Thanks to the donations he sought several months ago and an effort in the Albanian town of Peshkopia, the school situation has turned around. "The school, local city council, many citizens and businessmen of Peshkopia and the students also played a part in making the library a reality." Slattengren said students campaigned throughout the city to help raise the needed funds to pool with the donations received from here, to create a suitable library. He said when he set about raising funds to do something about the library condition he used as a "basic condition" that the Albanians would generate 27 percent of the expenses and the community "invested above and beyond that."

Slattengren said he was honored and thrilled to help with spending the funds collected. He traveled to Albania's capital city Tirana and visited a book distributor. "My colleague and I were like children in a candy store as we selected books and packed them in boxes," Slattengren reports. It took about five hours, "but seemed like only a fraction of that," he added. Books purchased are by Albanian authors as well as classics such as Oliver Twist and The Illiad.

Slattengren expresses his sincerest appreciation "...not only from me but from all of the students" who benefit from the generosity of donors here and in Albania.

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