Health and Social Wealfare
ACA had Partnership Agreement with UNFPA 2012- 2016, 2017 -2021 and continues 2022-2026 on Health Education & Promotion, access on health services, health rights, based on research, capacity building & awareness, targeting vulnerable groups as Roma & Egyptian communities, rural women, disable, internal migrants; and health care providers.
Improvement of the quality and accessibility of the reproductive and sexual health services in the community UN Implementing Partner, funded by UNFPA – United Nations Population Fund.
Aiming Increase of Health Service quality and access to health services on Adolescent and Sexual and Reproductive Health. The intervention is based on the primary health care level of services including reproductive health and health promotion. Gender equality and RH advanced through advocacy and implementation of laws and policies.
– Communities have better access to primary health care services through activists. Training of selected communities activists to act as volunteer to provide medical advice and advocate better health practices on reproductive health, focusing on condom use, sexual transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS, disease prevention, hygiene; on drugs and alcohol; and health rights. – Advocacy on health issues among youth and 36 theatre based peer education. Realization of awareness events and theatre show with young Roma & Egyptian Communities aimed promotion of healthy behaviours. – Strengthen capacities of national institutions, public oversight bodies, civil society & media to promote GE and RR, to empower women and to address GBV with focus health sector. -Increased access to and utilization of Quality Maternal and Newborn health services through health mediators and community based officers.
During period 2014 – 2021, strengthening capacities of health education teams including 575 trained health care providers; 123 community health mediators and 143 community representatives; National Centre for Continuous Education evaluated the training with 75 credits for health providers. Training in Work Place organized by health education teams reached 75 doctors and 328 nurses. Community Health Model and the field work has been established and is active in 16 districts of Lezhe, Berat, Kuçove, Ura Vajgurore, Poliçan, Skrapar, Erseka, Korça, Devoll, Pogradec, Librazhd, Gramsh and Shkodra, Malesi e Madhe, Puka, Gjirokastra. Permet, Tepelena, Vlora as a continuity of the field work organized from the Health Education Teams created during the training in these regions. Over 94676 beneficiaries in urban and rural areas direct participating in the awareness raised activities, and information and IEC materials dissemination.
Capacity building of 335 R&E community activists and representatives of which trained 122 health mediators in the areas of Berat, Korça, Tirana, Elbasan and Shkodra. 38 trained
ACA has initiated the ASRHR approach and capacity building for 198 disable people, custodians, and Centre Care Givers for Disable in Berat, Korça, Tirana, Elbasan and Shkodra.
2 April 2018 – 2 December 2020 “Better Health, Better Life- Improvement of access to health services and education on health care for vulnerable groups in Albania”. Contract Number: 2018/396-508; financed by the European Commission / Contracting Authority – Delegation of the European Union to Albania; for the period of 32 months.
The action included a set of interventions which contributed to better access of vulnerable communities to health services by providing trainings tailored to vulnerable communities and to medical health providers needs in project intervention areas;
ACA in collaboration with the Local Health Care Units, Roma & Egyptian Organizations, Organizations of Persons Living with Disabilities in Tirana, Shkodra, Korca, Elbasan and Berat organized 60 training sessions In the end of these training sessions were trained : 151 health care provider ( 55 doctors and 96 nurses) ; 61 persons from R& E community and 75 persons from the organizations of people living with disabilities. From these training sessions were trained 120 Health Mediators. The field work was organized by:
- Community groups aware on their rights and procedures to access health services. Health mediators facilitate the access of the target groups to health services;
- Implementation of awareness sessions on access on health and rights;
- Health promotion using artistic approach through theatre show;
- Raising awareness though media coveragempreparation and distribution of IEC materials;
- Community groups aware on health information regarding prevention and dealing with their health issues.
ACA designed an advocacy plan with inline institutions for the formal recognition of community mediator’s position.
During 2020 in the COVID situation were organized online activities and face to face, deliver of PPE for vulnerable groups in the districts of Tirana, Berat, Shkodra, Korça, Elbasan. These activities were organized in collaboration with 13 coordinators and 91 health mediators and health care providers in this districts, engaged on working closely with the vulnerable communities as R&E communities, people living with disabilities, communities in need, elderly people, especially the elderly living alone, pregnant women.
During this period were organized 427 activities, by coordinators and health mediators and health care providers:
- 17929 persons reached by Dissemination of Information: of 72 online messages, photos, posters and videos on COVID 19 and health access in Social Media: Messenger, What’s app, Viber, Facebook, Instagram; and sending SMS by phone;
- 25 awareness online workshops / meetings on Skype and Zoom; with 150 participants – Roma and Egyptian and People living with Disabilities in Tirana, Berat, Shkodra, Korça, Elbasan.
- Training on ASRHR during COVID 19, 7 training sessions with 28 Health Care providers and local Coordinators.
- Distribution of 147 leaflets and posters on COVID 19, and 250 brochures for hygiene for children and young people;
- Awareness on ASRHR during COV-19 with face to face meetings with 9767 persons. The direct meetings (face to face) were done following the approved regulations, respecting the physical distance, and personal protection measurements.
- Deliver of PPE for vulnerable groups while getting the health services; distributed PPE packages for 500 families, and 115 packages for field work coordinators, health mediators and health care providers in Tirana, Shkodra, Korça, Elbasan and Berat. Deliver of PPE to the Institute of Public Health
- Direct support helping the elderly people especially those living alone to get the information, health services and medicines in Elbasan, Berat and Korça;
- Distribution of 1000 condoms in Berat District
1 April 2019 – 15 February 2020 – The project “Roma Integration and mobilization in Health Services” is supported by Subcontracting scheme of ECSORI project “Empowering Civil Society Organisations for Roma Integration” implemented by ANTTARC – Albanian National Training and Technical Assistance Resource Centre, Amaro Drom, Fondacioni per Ndermjetesim dhe Zgjidhjen e Konflikteve; financed by EU, European Commission / Contracting Authority – Delegation of the European Union to Albania.
It aimed to enhance capacities development of local CSOs of R&E for further strengthening their advocacy tools, mobilization of the local communities, project development and networking as well as support initiative of their dialogue with local and central level institutions. Project results: 8 activists /community mediators trained and capacitated to facilitate and negotiate community better health services; R&E CSOs and Health Institutions committed to collaborate; Increased capacities of 32 health decision makers, 350 health care providers aware both in Health Centers and Hospital in Tirana; 72 community members aware on their rights and procedures to access health services; 36 R&E community members assisted directly by the project staff and health mediators to request and receive direct quick health services; 1000 copies fumets, printed and distributed.
ACA has a long experience working in health education especially with Roma and Egyptian communities. This action is part of a five year action plan of ACA on improvement of the living conditions of vulnerable groups including Roma and Egyptian Community in Albania 2017-2021, covering several areas of intervention as Health awareness, health education, human rights, and education in general and youth empowerment. This action plan aims the following expected outputs: communities have better access to health care services through health mediators and community based officers; strengthen technical and institutional capacities of national health care system to integrate comprehensive standardized and oversight mechanisms into primary and secondary health care and maternity units; strengthen capacities of national institutions, public oversight bodies, civil society & media to promote antidiscrimination and marginalization practices for vulnerable groups.
“Together with health care providers to fight discrimination” funded by Agency for Support of Civil Society, with the amount of 7200 Euro, Jan –Dec 2016. In collaboration with Mother Terasa Hospital in Tirana QSUT, and Albanian Association of Emergencies. Human rights, Increase access and improve hospital services for Roma and Egyptian community. 50 doctors and nurses trained, 120 Roma & Egyptian benefited hospital services.
“BE A MAN” CLUB 2020-2021
ACA and Act for Society with the support of UNFPA and financed by Sweden Embassy work with youth on GE and GBV was focused on men engagement through “Be a man Club initiative” expanded the awareness activities organized in 10 Districts of Kukes, Dibra, Shkodra, Lezha, Puka, Berat, Gjirokastra, Korça, Tirana and Kruja. Club members are 202 young people out of which 86 boys and 116 girls as well 480 young people are involved during the sessions information sessions organized by Be a Man Club Members in 9 Municipalities. It is a club where young people discuss about gender based violence and gender equality issues, sexuality, gender identity and other topics deal with teens and young people.
On the 16 days of activism against gender based violence were organized awareness sessions for gender based violence issues with students, young people, women and men in Gjirokastra, Berat, Korça, Shkodra, Tirana, Elbasan.
Public Debates on Gender Equality
GBV and stereotypes in Korça, Shkodra, Berat, and Gjirokastra 24 young people.
Due to the COVID situation this year the public debates were without public in order to respect the regulation.
EU4 Gender Equality in Albania 2021 -2022
Support activities under EU for Gender Equality in Albania project to reach young people and the wider communities at administrative level. 4 Local administrative Units (Kodoviat-Gramsh, Berzhite–Tirana, Lunxheri-Gjirokastër, Bulgarec -Korçë) will create a conducive environment for young people to thrive, focusing on service delivery and communication with adolescent girls and boys in poor / undeveloped / rural areas, in collaboration with local partners Municipalities, Local Administrative Units, Social Services Directories; Health Care Units, Local Education Directories. During 2021 awareness sessions reached in total 169 young people that were 78 boys and 91 girls, as well 100 women and 5 men in 4 Local Administrative Units – Kodoviat, Berzhite, Lunxheri, Bulgarec
ACA as partner of ACDRAD – (Association for Cooperation and Development of Rural Areas in Diber Region “Dolphin”, supported by ANTTARC – Albanian National Training and Technical Assistance Resource Center and PACT – Partnership Against Corruption Together, financed by EU implemented the project “Combating corruptive behaviour within health system in Dibra region”. Aiming to strengthen the role of the civil society organizations and other actors of the community in good governance and anticorruption of health services in Dibra region. 200 representatives of local public health authorities and health care providers of Peshkopi, Bulqize, Burrel and Klos increased capacities on transpareny, corruption, discrimination and quality of services; 200 representatives of local communities and local NGO’s, increased awareness and capacities on how non-transparent and corruptive behaviours/actions of the public authorities impact directly the quality of community life’s; 60 young people and local NGO representatives increased capacities and prepared draft of local plans for anti-discrimination & anti-corruption initiatives and monitor local authorities’ performance.
ACA in partnership with international and national organizations has organized Health Awareness Campaigns on gender-based violence, gender stereotypes, 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, awareness about drug, alcohol, sexual and reproductive health of the youth, International Day of Population, Awareness Agains Breast Cancer Day, Family Planning Day, HIV/AIDS/IST since 2009.
ACA has held awareness campaigns for teenagers, youth, women, men, vulnerable groups coming from Roma and Egyptian community and majority community. These campaigns were supported and financed from UNFPA Albania, UNICEF, UNDP, UN Women.
2011-2018, HIV/AIDS awareness campaign, in the framework of World AIDS Day, ACA implemented HIV/AIDS awareness campaign for young people in high schools and universities in 14 Districts in collaboration with Health Directories and local organizations. Awareness sessions and youth theatre plays organized, condom and IEC materials distributed.
Trainings in Tirana, Fushekruje, Durres, Elbasan, Levan-Fier and Drize-Fier. During 2011, ACA organized 55 training sessions in Tirana, Fushekruje, Durres, Elbasan, Levan Fier and Drize Fier, prepared and distributed “Manual for Health Mediators”, other training materials, leaflets and brochures on health and social issues.
Awareness campaign on drugs, alcohol, sexual health. September – October 2010, Within the framework of the implementation of the Youth Strategy, ACA has implemented a project focused on information and awareness campaign on drugs, alcohol and sexual and reproduction health of adolescents involving art, in collaboration with AYAS, funded by UNFPA and Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports.
HIV/AIDS awareness campaign November – December 2009, In the framework of World AIDS Day 2009, ACA implemented HIV/AIDS awareness campaign for young people in the Districts of Malsi e Madhe, Elbasan, Librazhd and Pogradec, funded by UNTG.
Awareness campaign on sexual and reproduction health November –December 2009, ACA has organized information and awareness campaign on sexual health and reproduction health of adolescents involving art, in collaboration with AYAS, funded by UNFPA and Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports.
Nov.– Dec. 2011, ACA has supported the organization Sfinks in realizing the project ”Reproducive Health Awareness STI/HIV/AIDS in Roma and Egyptian communities” financed by UNFPA The main aim of the project was the education of the youth people in Roma and Egyptians communities in Shkodra, Kucove, Berat and Tirana; in the field of reproductive and sexual health; reducing risk behaviors; promotion of healthy lifestyles; promotion the participation of Roma and Egyptian youth people. ACA was partner of UNFPA for the implementation of the programme “Empowering Vulnerable Local Communities” (EVLC) UN Joint Programme, 2011- 2012, that consist to enable vulnerable Roma and Egyptian communities to access their rights, particularly in the area of health, increasing capacities of Health Mediators and Community Based Officers, as well as advocacy among the youth and theatre show based health components, in targeted areas of Tirana, Durres,Fushekruje, Elbasan and Fier.
The result of these actions strengthen knowledge of Young People of Egyptian and Roma Communities in the areas of Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health, risky behaviors that affect the health of young people, advocate for healthy lifestyles; raise awareness about HIV/AIDS/STI; promote youth participation of Egyptians and Roma. The trainings and raising awareness activities are focused on the problems faced by these vulnerable and marginalized communities with drugs, alcohol, sexual and reproductive health, hygiene issues and access to health services.
This was a two year programme 2011- 2012. In 2011 were reached 520 Roma and Egyptians Community members, through training and awareness: trained 110 community members, of which 60 are Peer Educators/Health Mediators; and 520 participated in the awareness activities.
ACA is part of national advocacy campaigns for different social issues as GBV, HIV/AIDS, Nationa Day of Population, Roma and Egyptian Anti – Discrimination Campaigns, White Stick (supporting the blind persons).
In these national days, ACA organizes activities in her focal point. Activities organized from ACA’s coordinators, volunteers and health teams. The activities are focused in: information sessions; delivery leaflets, brochures, condoms; role-plays; competitions, theatre shows ; seminars, meeting and discussions with the beficiaries, students, groups, communities.
Social Development and Income Generation
Sewing Courses – VET-Vocational Education & Training
2011 – 2022, ACA financed from ICA-UK and individual donors has organized and supported the sewing courses for girls and women in need, widows, victims of domestic violence mainly in rural areas in Albania (Shkodra, Pogradec, Berat, Kuçova, Fushe Kruje, Tirana, ect), trained 430 young girls and women; 240 employed; 180 self-employed. ACA and ICA has supported these sewing courses by delivering sewing machines, materials and paying the sewing course’s instructor.
ACA has also donated 150 sewing machines in Tirana, Shkoder, BajramCurri (Valbone), Elbasan, Peqin, Kuçove, Kavaje. A part of these sewing machines are donated to families in need to increasing their income generation and some in the community centres used from the members of the communities in need. With the support of a individual donor from UK, Mrs. Primrose Peacock, ACA has delivered 13 sewing machines for girls and women that came from families in need in Albania (Puke, Malesi e Madhe, Shkoder, Kuçove, Berat, Cerrik, Librazhd, Korçe, Laknas, Voskopoje, Tirane). The aim of this delivered is to help the families in need by improving their life and their families life. ACA financed from ICA-UK has also donated 5 sewing machines at National Center for Domestic Violence in Tirana.
” Penelope and feminine joyfulness” April 2012 to August 2012, ACA implemented the project “Penelope and feminine joyfulness” on VET & income generation for women in need in Tirana, funded by Open Society Foundation (Soros Foundation).
“Help the widows to support themselves” July 2012 – June 2013, ACA has implemented the project “ Help the widows to support themselves” in Malesi e Madhe. The project was financed from Vodafone Foundation. 30 widows were trained to sew in a sewing machine, life skills, how to take care of the land and animals, bussines knowledges in order to generate incomes for their families. In the end of the training, the sewing machines were donated to the widows for personal use.
During November 2009 – March 2010, ACA has implemented ““Strengthening the role of local media” which had the purpose of developing capacity building of media to highlight social responsibility in rural areas funded by the Soros Foundation.
In order to support the local organization, ACA has given the possibility to donate 12 computers PC and 5 Laptops to the organizations as: Romano Sezi in Elbasan, Learning Difficulty Center in Tirana and Sauk area, and for her branches in Patos, Berat, Ballsh, Memaliaj and Skrapar. A laptop is donated to the center The Protection of the Environment in Voskopoja.
Hairdressing Courses
Another assistance that ACA and ICA-UK according to their programs is the support that it has given 14 girls that came from the Roma and Egyptian community in preparing for hairdressing. This was realized in collaboration with Sfinks Tirana. ACA has given the possibility to this girls to attend the course and to buy all the materials that were needed for the course. Thanks to the support that they got from ACA and Sfinks, they don’t felt distanced from the rest of the group
Since 2010 , ACA has supported the new business by expanding its loan programme to the rural areas in Librazhd, in collaboration with Women Forum Librazhd through Saving – Credit Soci ACA has also supported 25 new businesses in MeM since 2001 by giving revolving loans as well as advice and mentoring; all these businesses are thriving today.
Social Enterpreneurship and Innovation
Sept.2017 – Dec.2019 – The project “INNOVENTER – Innovative Vocational Social Entrepreneurial Training” (BMP1/1.3/2738/2017), is implemented under Transnational Cooperation Programme Interreg Balkan-Mediterranean 2014-2020. The general objective of the INNOVENTER is through combining in a logical sequence creation of learning content, online platform and piloting of the training courses to trigger learning cooperation scheme encompassing VET institutions and to implement innovative means injecting social aspects in the entrepreneurship training to enhance SMEs competitiveness through discovering unused resources. The project is to establish VET oriented social entrepreneurship training for SME entrepreneurs so that they innovate themselves, while at the same time also engaging disadvantaged people as employees. A gap that exists between commercial and social entrepreneurship is also addressed. Main project outputs all nationally adapted are delivered by a consortium of partner organisations from Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece and FIROM.
The project “Establish capacities for setting up Social Entrepreneurship” May 2023 – May 2024 is part the sub-granting schemes mechanism of the Inclusive EduJobs project, funded by the European Union and implemented by Open Society Foundation for Albania, in cooperation with the Social Action and Innovation Centre and the Municipality of Tirana”.
The action is focused on the creation, establishment and management of a social entrepreneurship developing a complex intervention that will target both Roma and Egyptian and the elderly people in need, addressing their needs and constrains. The Project Specific Objective is: Develop a social entrepreneurship which will provide employment for Roma and Egyptians and services for elderly in need.
Enabling Tourism and Heritage
“Augmenting Cooperation – from Christian Antiquities Towards Enhanced Tourism” implemented by Diocese of Budimlje and Nisic in partnership with ACA – Albania Community Assist, Museum Polimlje – Berane, and Centre of Albanology Studies – Institute of Archaeology Tirana, No. CFCU/MNE/055, the Cross-border Program Albania – Montenegro,, financed by European Union. 2018 – 2021.
Encouraging tourism and cultural and natural heritage on: Montenegro – Berane Municipality; Albania – Shkodra region, Hoti in Kastrat, Malesia e Madhe.
- Diversification of touristic offer, upgrade and promote less known tourism attractions in the program area – Through restoration of the archaeological sites involved on both sides of the border and their promotion within the action
- Increase capacities and introducing new promotion techniques and approaches, including mapping, use of ICT, multi-media, research, etc. – Surveying and mapping of Roman road structures for potential use by tourists visitors (students and teachers as well as the development of ICT mobile app software for augmented reality guide, placing tourist signalization developing a research and a brochure for promotion of the archaeological heritage involved;
- Awareness raising campaigns and educational programmes and curricula targeting tourism and best utilisation of its potentials in the area; – through involvement of higher educational institutions, schools and students and involvement of archaeological heritage in education (field trips, archaeology camps)
Activities to promote the cultural and natural touristic potential of the programme area
ACA has supported the touristic areas as Valbona, Theth, Voskopoje in the development of mountain tourism. ACA has organized Develepment Tours with her donors coming from abroad. The donors has visited the touristic areas in Albania. They have contributed in the development of the areas and they have enjoy the tourism of that areas. Also they have refered they friend to come and to visit Albania.
ACA has supported the shepherds of Voskopoja area by donated them 20 LGD (Life Guardian Dog). The main aim is to help these shepherds of area to protect the sheeps and their goods for the wolfs. That is a good possibility for the shepherd to protect their sheeps and goods and in this way they secure products and income generation for their families.
Voskopoja is visited from a lot of tourists and this area it’s known for wild animals, ACA donating these dogs will protect the tourists.
Youth Empowerment and Cultural Approach
ACA in collaboration with AYAS and with the support of international donors such as UNFPA Albania, UNDP, UN WOMEN and Swedish Government has contributed on the social approach through art. Cultural – educative activities and theatre shows were realized which has treated main social issues topics with young people in and out of school. Another way of informing and raising awareness to the youth for health components are the deliver of Photonovels. Throug Photonovels are transmitted big messages for the main social issues that is affect the teens and youth generation.
Awareness on gender-based violence, gender stereotypes. During 2012 and 2013, ACA, financed by the Gender and Domestic Violence programs of UNDP and UN Women, organized 2 theatre shows and 4 cultural activities in 8 high schools, in collaboration with AYAS. “Awareness to promote male involvement to challenge gender stereotypes, combat gender-based violence and promote gender equality among young people through photo-novel”.
Theatre Show for Raising Awareness in Roma and Egyptian communities 2013, ACA, in collaboration with AYAS on the preparation of a theatre show for awareness raising for Roma and Egyptian communities on ASHR and preparation of a photo novel on Reproductive Health for women in need in rural areas
2022 “Mandrake” Niccolo Machiaveli, by professional artists, financed by Municipalityof Tirana and Municipality of Fier.
2021 “The Water drop”, puppets theatre, by professional artists, financed by Raiffeissen Bank, for orphans, children with different abilities and minorities in 8 Community Centers in Albania.
2020 “The Bird and the Rose”, puppets theatre, by professional artists, financed by Raiffeissen Bank. Show performed in Community Centers for orphans, children with different abilities and minorities in 12 districts of Albania.
2019 Greek Comedy of Jorgos Theodosiadis ”Do not hear, do not see, do not speak” by professional artists, financed by Raiffeissen Bank.
2018 “Albanian Marriage” musical for children touring in Albania, Italy and Montenegro, financed by Ministry of Culture and Local Municipalities in host cities.
2017, “ Suspicion” John Patrick Shanley a theater show was realized at the University of Arts financed by Raiffeissen Bank.
2015 “Salome” by professional artists, financed by Raiffeissen Bank.
“Theatre Festival “Investing in Young people”
Since 2012, ACA in collaboration with AYAS has organized The Theatre Festival of High Schools of Tirana and the National Theatre of High Schools. In years, the festival is financed from UN organization as UNFPA, UNDP, UN WOMEN and Swedish Government. The theatre festival is organized in Tirana. Part of this theatre festival have been young people from high schools from all over Albania. 100 theatre groups were engaged in education through art and theatre; 855 young people were involved in the theatre shows; 25.000 spectators have attended the theatre shows. The staff and the Art Director chose the dramas related to the social issues related to the empowerment of the youth, involving translating or drama writing. These young people through their theatre shows have the aim to transmit the messages to their peers for social problems that touch their ages. All the theatre shows have an positive impact to the peers, teachers, parents and the spectators that have been present during all the festival. These theatre festivals have been very educative to the youth generation and most of the actor/actress that have played in these short theatre shows have attended and finished the University of Art. Today, they are actor/ actress, art director. During all these years, the theatre festival has influenced not only in the powerful messages transmited at the youth but also to help them to decide for their future career. The theatre festival has been shown in media, social media in order to increasy its impact.
Since 2016, ACA in partnership with AYAS-Association of Youth Artists of Scene has implemented and organized Youth Street Theatres all over Albania such in: Berat, Kuçova, Korça, Pogradec and Vlora, Himara, Librazhd. These Street Theatres have been financed with funds of LEVIZ ALBANIA, UNFPA Albania, Municipality of Tirana and and Raiffeissen Bank. The themes of the theatre shows were: awareness for the environmental conservation; to increase the transparency/ accountability of institutions; agains corrupt practice; the civil engagement in improving governance; on condom use, protect & clean environment, youth empowerment topics; Gender Based Violence, early marriages.
During the street theater shows in four cities of Albania, were present 3300 spectators and 2700 were online public. Most of the spectators were residents , young people, tourist who appreciate these form of shows to share such big messages.
“Human and minorities Rights and Peer Education among Young People” was 7 days training, organized in Academia Hotel, Voskopoje, Korça, and it was part of the project supporting Y-PEER Network, which is supported by UNFPA Albania and Coordinated by Albania Community Assist and Implemented by Albania Human Rights Group and Y-PEER Network in Albania. Peer Educators are part of the approach of Y-PEER Network in International Level and National level. P.E are part of our daily work and we thought for this 7-day training as a possibility to build capacity for new and old member of Y-PEER from different cities of Albania, from different communities and different background, to be the future of the Peer Educators and the Human Rights Protector. This group is going to work together to implement Y-PEER annual plan 2017, in different cities and also to recruit and train new peer educators who will be the new leaders of this approach. To work especially with out of school young people, with Roma and Egyptian community, young people from rural area, etc.
The main objective of this training was to create ability for new peer educators who are capable and motivated for planning and implementing a peer educating programme among their peers according to the standards of peer education. Participants were 25 Young People, of which Male: 12, and Female 13, with the age range 17-24 Years Old.
Direct Assistance
2011 – 2020 ACA and ICA – UK with the support of individual donors has supported 65 students on Bachelor and Master Degrees, by paying the fee of the university, financing the books and the materials needed for the university and paying the transport. The supported students are excellent at school coming from vulnerable and marginalized communities from all over Albania. The aim is to support these students to finish the university and to find a job and to secure a better life for themselfes and their families. ACA gives to them not only financial support bur also give to them advices, mentoring for different problems. The students participate in different ACA activities and/or other organizations activities; on volunteer campaigns in different social issues. Most of the students has finished with execellent result the Bachelor and Master Course. A part of them are working in Albania and some of them are working abroad in their proffesions.
Thank to ACA and ICA support, all the students that have been supported from them have their own job and they have build up their lifes not only in Albania but even abroad.
1999- 2010 ACA with the support of ICA- UK and the individual donors from UK has given a big contribution in education of the future students. They have built new schools, reconstructed schools, internet centers, educated students. ACA has renovated three schools, built two schools and developed sports playing fields for remote village communities in Malesi e Madhe, Albania, as well as trained the staff of these schools – project implemented with DFID funds and ICA-UK funds.
ACA has set up three education, information and communication centers in Malesi e Madhe and Elbasan. The centers have trained impoverished young people in job related IT skills (use of Internet), English language skills, research activities.
Another support that ACA and ICA have given to the vulnerable groups is the support of the students who came from poor families. ACA has funded the education of 40 Albanian young people in the UK through coordination with British institutions and donors.
2009 – 2020 ACA with the support of ICA-UK and individual donor (Robinson Family) delivered 985 wheelchairs for persons living with physical and mental disabilities. These wheelchairs have been delivered in all over Albania from North to South, from East to West.
2017 – 2020, ACA with the financial support of individual donors from UK has supported three families living in bad conditions in Malesi e Madhe and Tirana.
1999 – 2017, ACA and ICA-UK have supported 300 families in need in Malesi e Madhe, Shkoder, Librazhd and in Tirana. Through coordination of ICA-UK families in United Kingdom donated each year regularly to the correspondent families in need in Albania for have their individual donors which are connected with each other. These families that live in bad conditions and our support is to need primary needs. ACA’s work covers the following: support of families in need, either with income support or providing animals and feed or vegetables to grow in the garden or renovating or building new houses for them.
Some of the families in Malesi e Madhe are supported with different materials as clothes, shoes,medicines from donors in UK. The donors in UK have created good relation with these families and help them with little donations.
During the Kosova crisis in 1999, ACA supported the Kosova Refugees with clothing and food support to 1000 destitute families for 3 months
Another program of ACA and ICA-UK is to support families in need by food aid. ACA have supported with food aid the Roma and Egyptian Coomunities in different area of Tirana like: Selite, Babrru, Oxhaku, Ish-Akademia and Tirana e Re areas.
In order to help the community in Shkodra from the flood and the damages caused to these families, ACA has supported 15 families with food aid. This is realized in the collaboration of the two organizations Sfinks Tirana and Sfinks Shkoder. During 2012 ACA have supported with food aid 40 families in different area of Tirana like: Babrru, Oxhaku, Laprakeand Tirana e Re areas. These families are from Egyptians Community. The Food Aid was delivered in a holy day for this community, in the day of KurbanBajram.
In collaboration with association Sfinks, branch Shkoder, ACA has helped 20 families in need with food aid. This community live in “Liria” neighborhood in Shkodra. They are very poor and live in bad conditions.The food aid was delivered for the New Year. Some presents were delivered for 100 children of this community. ACA has given support to different organization by helping them with food, clothes, medical materials in order to support their vulnerable groups.
ACA’s individual donors from UK collect and deliver medicines, medical equipment for Health Centers in rural area and for people in need in Albania.
ACA with the support of the individual donors in UK is supporting the Tirana branch of the Albanian charity, the National Association for People with Mental Handicap. Specifically we help with the running of a drop in centre for people with learning difficulties and their families. This well run, friendly establishment is in constant need of money to keep the place operating and ACA (with the support of individual donors) is currently the only funder keeping them going. We are currently applying for extra funding to increase the educational capacity of this Centre for clients, staff and family members. The support of ACA is not concentrated only in finanacial support but ACA supports this center with different activities, being part of different competition organized in local and national level.
The support for this center is on going with the financial support of the individual donors in UK. Around 50 children and young people take services at the Learning Difficulties Center, out of which 25 children take daily care in the center and 25 children is offering services in their houses.
During the period September 2009 – January 2010, ACA has implemented the Basketball Project “ We love Sports” in collaboration with the Association of Paraplegics and Tetraplegics, Elbasan. The aim of the project was the rehabilation and the reintegration of the disable people in the social life. ACA implemented this project to show to other that these target- groups are very active when they have the opportunity. They don’t need only financial support but they need activities, to be part of the society.