Caritas Albania

Founded 1993

234

Staff and volunteers

6k

Beneficiaries

About Caritas Albania

Caritas Albania is composed of six dioces. It was established in 1993 by the Conference of Bishops of the Catholic Church in conjunction with a visit by Pope John Paul II as the country emerged from one of the most isolationist communist dictatorships of the Cold War era. Since its inception, Caritas Albania has encountered some of the most difficult periods in Albania’s short history as a nation: an unemployment rate of nearly 27 per cent after the collapse of the communist regime in 1992, poverty levels of around 25 per cent and over 300,000 Kosovo refugees crossing the border into Albania as a result of the conflict in Kosovo.

Caritas Albania responded to those challenges by providing material assistance and restoring hope in the communities where it worked. Today, the vast majority of Caritas Albania initiatives continue to be at the grassroots level and their belief that respect for human rights will ensure sustainable development underpins its 95 missions: providing access to social and health services, advocacy for anti-trafficking measures, emergency relief and social development.

Caritas Albania’s emergency relief efforts immediately following civil emergencies and natural disasters in Albania have been the cornerstone of its work for the last decades. The organisation provides essential services, such as food, water, and shelter, and care for those most in need.

Together with the Catholic Church, Caritas Albania supports the construction of schools, health centres, hospitals, roads, bridges, water supply systems, and housing social centres for children, young people and people in need. The organisation pay particular attention to women who have been victims of human trafficking and families with children with serious illnesses. Caritas Albania has been actively involved in the construction of 49 health centres in 6 Dioceses (Shkodra, SAPE, Rrëshen, Lezha and South) to improve the health care and services for people with disabilities.

Caritas Albania plays an instrumental role combating human trafficking; both at the grassroots level with at risk communities and at the advocacy level supporting the work of Caritas Europe and Caritas Internationalis.

Caritas Albania’s main office is in Tirana. Its staff consists of approximately 20 people and over 100 volunteers. Caritas Albania conducts all its activities in close cooperation with missionaries, clergy, volunteers, and donors. Caritas Albania local offices operate in 6 dioceses: Caritas Tirana / Durres, Shkodra Caritas, Caritas Dashboard, Sapa Caritas, Caritas Lezha, Caritas Caritas Rrëshen and South.

The organisation is an active member of Caritas Internationalis and Caritas Europa.

General information

Arch. Arjan Dodaj
President

Ms. Juljana Reso
Director

Address:
Rruga Don Bosko 4
Tirana
Albania

Telephone: +355 42 230 088
Fax: +355 42 34 327
Email: caritasalbania@caritasalbania.org
Website: http://caritasalbania.org

Donate

Where there is a need, there is a Caritas

Our members across Europe

Or view map here