CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Although a devastating earthquake has shaken the foundation of her hometown in Albania, a Charlottetown resident's faith in people remains unshaken following heart-warming and unexpected support.
Gjyzela Tetova, who emigrated to Charlottetown five years ago, has been overwhelmed by the kindness of Islanders, ever since an earthquake hit the port city of Durres during the early morning hours of Nov. 26.
Her parents were in Charlottetown visiting at the time of the quake, which measured 6.4 on the Richter scale and destroyed the nine-floor apartment building where her brother’s young family lived in and badly damaged her parents’ home.
Tetova's co-workers at the Confederation Centre Public Library, where she works as an assistant librarian, and at SkillsP.E.I., where she has been on temporary assignment for three months, immediately sprung into action to help. They got together and held fundraisers so she could help her brother and her parents rebuild their lives, raising $750.
Jan. 9, Tetova struggled to hold back tears to describe the kindness she’s been shown.
“It’s about kindness and giving back. I couldn’t stop crying for the whole week (after the fundraisers), not for the money, just since day one (since the earthquake) my co-workers were holding my hand. This makes my heart big. This is the spirit of the Island. That’s why we chose to live here and make P.E.I. our forever home. I’m an Islander now, deep inside my soul.’’
- Gjyzela Tetova
“I was only here (at SkillsP.E.I.) for three months when everything happened. I don’t know what to say about all these wonderful people. They cried with me every day. They asked me every day how I was doing,’’ Tetova said as she wiped away tears.
“They allowed me to go on compassionate leave because I had my parents here and they were suffering (with worry) ... I wish everyone could work in such a wonderful environment.’’
Tetova, who lives in Hillsborough Park with her husband, Armando Shima, and their two children, said this isn’t about the money.
“It’s about kindness and giving back. I couldn’t stop crying for the whole week (after the fundraisers), not for the money, just since day one (since the earthquake) my co-workers were holding my hand. This makes my heart big. This is the spirit of the Island. That’s why we chose to live here and make P.E.I. our forever home. I’m an Islander now, deep inside my soul.’’
June Godfrey, one of Tetova’s co-workers at SkillsP.E.I., said they didn’t think twice about helping.
“We usually support a charity (at Christmas) and this just fit the bill so well,’’ said Godfrey. “We just love her. There was no hesitation. We just jumped on it.’’
Tetova still finds it painful to talk about the earthquake. She was sleeping when her brother called after the quake, telling her he didn’t think they would survive.
“My brother has three kids and one of them is a baby ... (when the earthquake) happened it lasted for 29 seconds and my brother said the little baby literally flew from his arms. He couldn’t hold on to the baby. It was hard to tell my parents because the only thing they felt was guilt because they weren’t there.’’
Tetova said her parents, who are still with her on P.E.I., will fix up their home and her brother and his family will rebuild, but her brother’s children still live in fear.
“They’re doing better now, (but) they still sleep with their shoes on.’’
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