Albania is one of the poorest countries in Europe. One in three young people are unemployed, and for those with jobs, income levels have fallen to just 26% of the EU average. As a result, meeting basic needs is a daily challenge for many, and an incredible 56% of all Albanians want to emigrate, a Gallup poll found in 2017.
Albania is also a major source country for people trafficking & forced labor; and money laundering & drug trafficking are rife. Also, women have poor social & economic status in what is a patriarchal culture, and one woman dies every month as a result of domestic violence.
Our work in Albania focuses mainly in Durres, where many people move from poverty in rural areas to find work, but we also work in the capital Tirana, Berat, and in neighboring villages.
We work with families & children, addressing issues such as addiction & domestic violence when necessary. By providing a route to self-sufficiency & alleviating poverty, we hope to make families less vulnerable to trafficking and to labor migration. We also run a Soup Kitchen for the elderly, many of whom are alone after their children moved abroad to find work. We also provide educational support to children, making sure they have what they need to get a good education and a brighter future.