YMCA Albania

Background

Albania has made progress in its democratic development since first holding multiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain. Although Albania's economy continues to grow, the country is the second poorest in Europe and is hampered by a large informal economy and an inadequate energy and transportation infrastructure. Albania has played a largely helpful role in managing inter-ethnic tensions in southeastern Europe, and is continuing to work toward joining NATO and the EU.

• Legal Status - YMCA Albania is registered nationally with the appropriate ministry as a Non-Government Organization.
• National Movement - represented by YMCA in Shkodra that is registered as an NGO operating in the whole territory of Albania.
• Local Associations - There exists an active local YMCA in Shkoder, Albania, registered as a local YMCA branch affiliated with to YMCA Albania. Since 2008 a sport club from Vlora asked to be branch of Shkodra YMCA. In a year cooperation the situation is questionable. In the same time, a new group of social workers appeared in Vlora which is interesting to include themselves to the YMCA.

What we do?

In 2008-2009, the YMCA in Albania served over 800 children and young people (250 Roma children, about 450 teenagers from 3 high schools and 150 students from the American University and the Shkodra University)

- YMCA Shkoder serves the Roma community in five ways: 1) the school for them, 2) by providing food, medicine and clothing to the population, 3) lessons and trainings for the young mothers about cleaning, cooking and feeding, 4) elementary preparation for young ladies, so they can found a work. The YMCA organized sport events (football races) between three high schools.

Moreover, in 2011 following projects were implemented by the Albnian YMCA in Shkodra District:

"Even we have rights". Beneficiaries: 100 Roma children participated. -Integration of Roma children through education and games. Funded by -"Save the Children".

"All different, all equal". Beneficiaries: 150 Roma families. Objectives: reduction of poverty, fighting the illiteracy, promoting health education and the employment. Funded by World Bank Office in Tirana and ILO-IPE.

"A sweet smile". Beneficiaries:45 children that suffer from the phenomenon of blood-feud. Objectives: raising awareness of the community on their rights for education, freedom through media activities, conducting psycho-emotional meetings with 45 children and their families identified as isolated ,promotion of the works produced by the isolated children through an exhibition in the center of Shkodra. Funded by Canada Fund in Albania.

" Post-Flows". Objective: facilitation the emergency situation by delivering material and psychological support and assistance to the families affected by the flows in Shkodra region. . Funded by Ministry of Youth, Culture, Sports and Tourism in Albania.

"Stop HIV-AIDS. Stop DRUG" . Objective: raising awareness and providing information to the young people on the risks of the virus "HIV AIDS" and the drug abusing. Funded by the Agency for the Development of Albanian Civil Society.

"The civic perception on democratic education for citizenship". Objectives: increase the public opinion perception regarding to the transparency of the public services and their quality, struggle and reduce the corruption. Funded by municipality of Shkodra through resources from Soros Foundation.

"Training on Gender Equality". Beneficiaries: students of secondary schools and universities. Objectives: explanation the gender issues, understand the main concepts on gender issues among the young people. Promoting the gender participation in governance at local level.

Field Group Albania

Contact person: Lisa Kalyvatsi ( FG Leader, YMCA Greece )

Members: Carol Baughan, John Baughnan, Julia Klark, Graham Klark (representatives of St. Albans Church, England),Fatmir Lugji (CEO of YMCA Albania), John Murray (YMCA Buffalo-Niagara USA), Antonis Tournas (YMCA Greece).

Albania - Population / Religion

The population of Albania was estimated at 3,581,655 in 2006. 95% of the people are Albanian. 70% of the people are Muslim, 20% are Albanian Orthodox and 10% are Roman Catholic.

For contact:
Rozana Kadari – communication assistant
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

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