"Friendship Tree" is the newest garden in Tirana, which is located near "Shqiponja" square.
"Today, the new 'Andrea Stefani' school, which is adjacent to the 'Friendship Tree' kindergarten, creates the opportunity for children, as soon as they finish kindergarten, to go directly to first grade. When it is thought that children had to go to nurseries, kindergartens and schools outside the unit, today this seems like a fairy tale from the past. The fact that the children have access to a building, with two different entrances, is something extraordinary", said Veliaj.
The mayor showed the plan that the Municipality of Tirana has for the addition of other gardens. "The plan we have with the directorate of kindergartens is to continue along the Ring Road, as we are here at 'Shqiponja' square, continue along Astir, then to "Liqeni i Thaë" in district 13, where we have other institutions, as an integrated kindergarten with a school in the part of the Botanical Garden, and an integrated garden with a school in the Olympic Park. We continue on the Ring Road, up to Sauk, where we have two more schools, one at the former Arab Hospital and the other on the other side of the road, where the Police Academy is and we have a large field," he explained.
Për ata që bllokojnë projektet e Tiranës, Veliaj u shpreh se qyteti duhet të ecë përpara. “Ata që bllokojnë Astirin, shkollën ‘Kosova’, ‘Sami Frashërin’, duhet të kuptojnë se të gjitha këto kanë një logjikë: Ku shkon autostrada dhe rruga, vijnë edhe shërbimet, dhe kush i bllokon ato ka bllokuar qytetin, si të majtë, si të djathtë. Asnjë nuk i ka pyetur fëmijët të kujt partie jeni sepse kur ndërtohet një hapësirë e tillë, ajo është e të gjithëve. Duhet të ndajmë se çfarë është pjesa që meriton debat dhe çfarë janë disa punë publike, që nuk hanë debat fare. Kopshtet dhe shkollat i shijojnë të gjithë. Rrugën e përdorin të gjithë, një park i çlodh të gjithë. Është shumë e rëndësishme që të kultivojmë një brez të cilit punën, përkushtimin dhe talentin e nderon dhe e respekton në një shoqëri ku ne biem dakord se nuk biem dakord për bindje të ndryshme, por jo kundër zhvillimit, kundër shkollës, kundër rrugës, kundër parqeve”, nënvizoi Veliaj.
Regarding the promises of free services, Veliaj said: "It is very easy to say everything is free. But today for kindergartens we subsidize 7 to 1: that is, for every 1 lek paid by a family, 7 is paid by the municipality. This is a good way to find a balance even for those who are in need, but also to show the solidary face of the state. A ratio of 7 to 1 is a healthy ratio. By paying for something, the family also feels like they are contributing and that has value because sometimes things, when they are free, seem like they have no value. When the ratio is 7 to 1, it means that the hand of the state is the one that makes most of the payment and families are helped to the maximum extent possible so that the children have a safe environment, with teachers who help them and quality food". says Veliaj.
