Albania

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Albania is the poorest country in Europe. The economy has struggled since the overthrow of the communist regime and public services have deteriorated badly.

Economic and social insecurity has led many Albanians to leave the country in search of work, whilst others have been forced to migrate from villages to towns. In this environment, child abandonment is common, and there are few alternatives to institutional care.

Improving Standards of Care
In 1996, in partnership with the Albanian State Social Services, we established a home for 50 children to rescue them from dire institutional conditions.

Since then our work has focused on ensuring that each of these children receives the highest standard of care and that their individual needs are met. Wherever possible we aim to reunite children with birth or extended families
or to find adoptive parents within Albania.

Closing Institutions
In collaboration with the Ministry of Labour
and Social Affairs - we are working on a programme of de-institutionalisation by establishing community-based care services including Respite and Day Care Centres, Family Support Services and Foster Care
and Adoption Services.

This pilot project will be co-ordinated from
the Durres Children's Home and, if successful, will pave the way for new childcare services throughout Albania.