Achievements

A brief history of World Vision in Albania

World Vision started its programmes in Albania in April 1999 in response to the Kosovo refugee crisis, working in the capital, Tirana, as well as in the cities of Elbasan, and Vlora.

As of January 2014, World Vision sponsors from the United States, United Kingdom, Korea, and Hong Kong support 33, 660 children in 11 areas in Albania– the highest figure in the past 14 years of working in Albania.

In addition to the registered children impacted at program level, 628,543 is the number of children in Albania reached (potentially benefiting) from by a policy change or its implementation.

Achievements for FY 2013:

Child Protection Units

Prepared and submitted the 2013 EU progress report to the EU delegation in Albania from WVA perspective. EU 2013 progress report just released reflects our recommendations on Roma and Child protections Units scale and effectiveness.

Anti trafficking

After earlier successful lobby for anti trafficking legislation, community based prevention of trafficking was given attention in several ADP programmes with USAID support. After close-out of this project early 2013, a new project is building on its success. Together with Vodafone Albania and the Ministry of Interior and in collaboration with international partner NetHope/USAID, a smartphone application is under developing and will be field tested and will be geo-mapped with protection and referral facilities, disseminate knowledge and enhance community based protection and response mechanisms.Read more here

Faith and Development

We have worked together with the “Focolare Movement” from Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, protestant churches and mission agencies and supported multiple “family life” workshops around Albania. Hundreds of families explored important topics of love and loyalty among couples and between parents and children. The events and related interviews were given wide attention in various media channels.

Youth empowerment

More than 2000 youth have been supporting World Vision work in 11 ADPs throughout Albania, more than double the number of last year. In addition to providing a life skills and human rights education programme, youth leadership development was carried out at the National Level in order to support socially conscious and compassionate young leaders from Albania to become agents of change in their communities and reach out to more peers.

In addition, 288 young people from 20 students governments received information and knowledge regarding disaster risk reduction and got involved in environmental conservation and improvement conditions of their schools and communities.

Education

In an administrative unity covering four ADPs, children from the student government and school boards supported by World Vision have helped contextualize Child Friendly School standards for Disability inclusion, Quality of Education, Gender, Child Participation, DRR in school, Healthy school, Protection, and community participation in school life. These standards have now been adopted regionally and will benefit 337 educational institutions, representing 68.398 students. The tool that has been developed is helping schools to self evaluate themselves and undertake initiatives for improvement.

Summer Camps

8,776 children participated in 48 summer camps, organized in ADPs

Programmes

Children Are Educated for Life

Education: World Vision conducts education projects in 10 ADP areas in Albania. World Vision supported school structures during the last year to empower them to improve access to a quality education for all children. The main focus of our work was in kindergartens and the primary education system. Many communities have been urged to realize the importance of early childhood care. Parents participated in activities which enhance the full development of the child’s personality, talents, spiritual, mental and physical abilities. Inclusion for students who are still being excluded has been a key highlight throughout all our activities. We have been working hard to encourage children who dropped out of school to return to school again. World Vision joined with many other groups to emphasize the right to education for ALL children.

Youth: It is the goal of World Vision’s Youth program to create space for youth (age 13-24) to express themselves freely, build their competencies, and grow up to become healthy, positive, contributing adults. World Vision works with the Youth in our area development programmes (ADP) to assist them in their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual development which will in turn enable them to deal effectively with the challenges they face in everyday life. World Vision believes that empowering and developing youth to reach their full potential is one of the best ways to build a better future for the country.

Children Experience the love of God and their neighbours

Christian Commitment: The desire of our heart in Christian Commitment in World Vision is that “Staff, children and communities do justice, love mercy and walk humbly alongside towards Kingdom of God and injustice, with a special focus on women and children.” To see this dream come true we focus on nurturing and strengthening our Christian identity, values and mission. The Christian commitment project helps the overall program by contributing to the spiritual nurture of staff in order to strengthen the Christian identity at the very heart of the organisation. We aim to support the spiritual growth of World Vision staff to foster hope, and have a sense of vision and purpose in life. Also another strategic direction is to strengthen the partnership with all church denominations so that they become an authoritative voice on behalf of the poor and marginalized. Christian commitment operates in all ADPs and the national office.

Children Are Cared for and Protected

Child Protection: The child protection staff at World Vision works alongside communities to ensure an environment where children are cared for protected from violence, abuse, discrimination in which their rights are respected and they are meaningful participants. The Child Protection Program uses a grassroots approach in 10 areas (Elbasan 1&2, Vlora, Lezha, Kurbin, Tirana, Shkodra, Librazhd, Dibra and Korca) and at the National level through advocacy with and outside of the National Coalition for Child Rights (BKTF). World Vision works alongside partners such as the national and local government, community groups, children, non-governmental organizations and BKTF coalition to advocate for better quality services for child protection.

Economic Development:

Economic issues are at the root of many social problems in Albania. World Vision strives to help families increase their incomes so that they can provide for their children well. World Vision focuses its interventions at the local level, typically working with groups of small-holder farmers, micro-entrepreneurs, or vulnerable people facing barriers to earning a higher income. Participation can often open doors beyond discussions about finances and business to improvements in other important areas of life. Once the common money-related pressure points that many families feel are relieved, they tend to be more open to reach for further improvements in the well-being in their families and for their children. By strategically targeting our programs locally, World Vision engages groups of people who work together to significantly improve their own situation – primarily through the use of resources already locally available, but often unrecognized as a resource.

Emergency Response:

Emergency response and disaster mitigation was also part of World Vision’s work in Albania, during 2013. World Vision assists people affected by disasters by providing shelter, food aid and water and sanitation services to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The emergency response goal was to make development sustainable by decreasing the vulnerability of people and livelihoods, especially youth and Roma, who tend to be disproportionally affected.

Child Sponsorship: