Sample Volunteer Abroad Projects in Albania
Following the orientation, the participant will start the volunteer program. Available host projects reflect changing needs and priorities and may vary from those described below.
Community Service - Language Instruction - Health Education and Welfare Services - Childcare
Romani Baxt Albania - a Romani community center
“R.B.A” is a Romani community based non-profit center, situated in the periphery of Tirana, the capital of Albania. This is a training center for Romani children which provides services to underprivileged members of this community. Volunteers are needed in the following areas:
a- Teaching English to Romani children. The volunteer to this program must be a native speaker of English. He/she will offer instruction in English by developing the 4 basic skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking.
b- Office administration. The volunteer who will work as office administrator must create and elaborate new projects for the center as well as contact other organizations or business institutions in order to raise funds for the projects.
c- Social Director. The volunteer will work in the center, creating new activities and games for the children.
d- Women's health program. The center is seeking a female physician to volunteer as counselor in their health program for women.
The volunteers will work six hours/day and five days/week from 09:00-12:00 & 14:00-17:00. The projects are available all year round. Accommodation will be in a guest room in the Romani community center. An Albanian Romani family near the center will prepare the meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) for the volunteers.
Deutschzentrum Tirana, Projektbüro Goethe-Institute
is a German language teaching Institute in Tirana, Albania. In this Institute, teaching assistant volunteers are needed for German language courses. The volunteers must be German native speakers and must have a degree in German Language teaching. He/she will assist the teacher in the classroom, during 2 hours per day from Monday to Friday (2 x 45 minutes), according to the schedule of the principal teacher.
2009 Schedule: The one month intensive program will run from 7 September to 2 October.
Albanian Red Cross Society, Tirana Branch
The Albanian Red Cross was founded in 1921 and recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1923. This society, in accordance with the Fundamental Principles of the Movement, strives to improve the life and dignity of people in need, by working to increase humanitarian action. The vision of the Albanian Red Cross is to become a well-developed humanitarian organization, helping vulnerable people to improve their health and social welfare. The Tirana branch is one of the largest branches of the Albanian Red Cross in Albania. The main programs in which volunteers are needed, are as follows:
-Health Program
The Albanian Red Cross is active in health education, promotion of knowledge in reproductive health, infectious disease and hygiene, and promotion of blood donations. The goal of this program is to strengthen the health of population through the dissemination of information. There are two projects in which volunteers can participate: AIDS Prevention and Personal & Community Hygiene.
-First Aid Program
This program is focused on first aid demonstrations for the community. Volunteers can offer their services at various public events and venues.
-Social Welfare Program
The Albania Red Cross social welfare program aims to support institutions for people with disabilities, the elderly and children, and to distribute goods to those in need. The program also provides wheelchairs and establishes self-help projects. There is one project of this program in which volunteers can participate: Elders Daily Center (the volunteer will assist the elders who frequent this center five days per week).
The volunteer will work about 5-6 hours/day and 5 days/week. The projects are available all year around.
“Help the life” Daily Center - New for 2011
The center’s main activities are focused on people with mental and physical disabilities. The goal of the center is to integrate the disabled into the community, to improve their status in society, and to protect their rights.
A program called “Development and Integration” has been set up and operated by the Center since 2000. This program began in response to a need for social services for children with mental and physical disabilities. The center is situated in the village of Prush, which borders the Kombinat district, in the neighborhood of Tirana.
Task description for the volunteer:
- support the work done by the program “Integration and Development”, in regard to the implementation of activities of the center;
- assist the teachers during the daily activities in the center;
- work with children in their creative work and occupational therapy;
- create activities for handicapped children.
These nurseries are public institutions for children between 0-3 years old.
Female volunteers with experience working with children are needed for this volunteer placement. The volunteer will work about 6-7 hours/day and 5 days/week. The projects are available all year around.
