Annual Report 2012 World Vision in Albania and Kosovo
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Annual Report 2012 World Vision in Albania and Kosovo MOBILISING CHILDREN, YOUTH AND COMMUNITIES Welcome Letter from Rein Dekker National Director of World Vision in Albania and Kosovo As the new National Director for World Vision in Albania and Kosovo, it is my privilege to present to you our story of 2012. Before joining World Vision in October last year, I worked with another agency to support war-affected children in Su- dan and South Sudan. Until then, I was deeply involved with minority communities in Southern Africa around the ques- tions of land, identity, culture and poverty. Eight years ago I made several visits to Albania and vividly remember the openness and warmth of the people. I had been interested for some time to working with World Vision. Its significant field presence in a dozen areas in Albania and Kosovo now provides me with an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children and young people in vulnerable communities. Looking back over 2012, I am grateful what World Vision, in collaboration with national and local partners, has been able to achieve. Some of the highlights of the past year were: • Launching the Child Protection and Participation Learning Hub which is a region-wide initiative that enables replication of field-based success for the improved well-being of children. Also next year will launch a new learning hub focused on Gender. • Young people prepared and presented a special report on child rights to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. • Joined the National Referral Mechanism for cooperation on anti-trafficking. • Research about the situation of children with disabilities and also on the topic of sex-selective abortions. These will be followed by activities in response to the findings. • We have actively supported the establishment of 8 new Child Protection Units. Of course we face challenges in the year ahead, such as developing income sources beyond the base of private donors; determining how to increase the scale of successful local projects or further increase opportunities for economic devel- opment. In 2013 we will also be reviewing our national strategy. This will help us to renew our focus and increase the relevance, coherence and depth of our current programmes. Together with our great team of 300 staff, we look forward to continue our collaboration with all our partners and make a sustainable difference in the lives of children, families and their communities. Sincerely, Rein Dekker Who we are and What we do Core Values We are Christian We are committed to the Poor We value People We are Stewards Vision We are Partners Our Vision for every child, Life in We are Responsive all its fullness… …Our prayer for every heart, The will to make it so. World Vision International is a Christian relief, development World Vision’s emergency relief operations have gradually and advocacy organization founded in 1950. World Vision is transitioned into sustainable development programs in eleven dedicated to working with children, families and their com- areas in Albania and the “Kids for Peace” program in Kosovo. munities worldwide to help them reach their full potential by directly addressing the causes of poverty and oppression. Today, World Vision’s goal in Albania and Kosovo is to em- World Vision works in 98 countries around the world, serv- power communities to bring about change that will lead to ing all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. social, physical and spiritual transformation. We are commit- ted to challenge unjust structures and advocate for a better World Vision started its work in Albania and Kosovo in 1999 life for the poor among whom we work, especially for the and 1998 respectively, as an emergency response to aid per- most vulnerable people. sons displaced by Kosovo’s war that was raging at the time. Mission World Vision in Albania and World Vision is an international Kosovo works through: partnership of Christians whose • Child Protection mission is to follow our Lord and • Education Saviour Jesus Christ in working • Health with the poor and oppressed to • Youth promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to • Christian Commitment the good news of the Kingdom • Emergency Response of God. • Peace Building Projects Where we oday World Vision in Albania works alongside children, their families and communities through work … TArea Development Programmes (ADPs) in Lezha, Vlora, two in Elbasan, Kurbin, Tirana, Shkodra, Dibra, Korca, Librazhd and Durrës. We work in Kosovo as well with a peace building project. SHKODRA DIBRA Area Development Programme Area Development Programme Started in 2007, serving over 1200 Started in 2008, serving around 4000 registered children (Rrethina and registered children in the Dibra district Bardhaj communes, and the Guerrila (Tomin, Kastriot, and Maqellar communes). and Iliria quarters of Shkodra city). Tropojë LIBRAZHD LEZHA Area Development Programme Area Development Programme Puka Started in 2007, serving more than 4000 Started in 2001, serving more than 2200 registered children in Librazhd area registered children in the Lezha District (Qendër, Hotolisht and Qukës communes). (Kolsh, Zejmen and Balldren communes). Mirditë KURBIN ELBASAN Mat Area Development Programme Krujë Area Development Programme Started in 2006, serving more than Bulqizë (ADP I) - started in 2001, serving over 3400 4200 registered children in Kurbin registered children (Bradashesh, Labinot district (Milot, Mamurras, and Laç fushë, Shushicë and Gjinar communes). communes). (ADP 2) - started in 2003, serving over 3100 Kavajë registered children (Paper, Shirgjan, Gjergjan DURRES and a village of the Gostimë commune). Lushje Area Development Programme Pogradec Started in 2011, serving more than Gramsh 1000 registered children, in Keneta and Portoromano areas. Skrapar TIRANA Tepelenë Kolonjë KORÇA Përmet Area Development Programme Area Development Programme Started in 2007, serving about 3900 Started in 2008, serving more than registered children in the Tirana district 3300 registered children, in the (suburban areas of Bathore and Bregu i Korça district (Maliq, Libonik, Pojan Lumit). and Vreshtas, Korça communes). Sarandë KOSOVO: VLORA Zonal Office Started in 1998, assisting thousand people Area Development Programme affected by the armed conflict in Kosovo. In Started in 2001; serving about 2000 2002 the programs transitioned into a peace registered children in13 villages in the building project “Kids For Peace” serving to Vlora District (Novosela and Qendra more than 300 children and youth in five Commune). Municipalities of Kosovo. by children’s groups on child Supported the establishment of 8 new Child Protection rights, child protection, communica- Units (CPUs) increasing the total number of CPUs supported tion, and use of the referral mechanism. by World Vision to13 . During 2012: Increased the knowledge of about children Around Families from Dibra, Tirana, Elbasan and Le- 6,000 250 and youth in all areas about child rights, peace- building, World Vision in Albania and Kosovo worked alongside now are back in school thanks to World Vision’s support. zha participated in programs for family empowerment. protection issues and use of the referral mechanism. direct beneficiaries, which re- More than students were intensively educated Trained about school and kindergarten teachers 374,132 500 300 Our operations were generously supported by our donors about organizing democratic elections and trained on their to apply positive behavior approaches with children in their sulted in direct help for children for the amount of 32,000 roles and responsibilities in school. schools. $6,638,034 Served in communities. Current World Vision staff total is about staff in Al- 265 Trained school board representatives (parents, Trained parents about positive child rearing prac- 300 260 700 bania and Kosovo committed to working with children to Supported 1500 active young people in Albania and teachers and representatives of school governments on their tices, child rights, and child protection. sustainably improve their lives. Kosovo with their creative ideas and projects roles and responsibilities, project proposal writing and fund Around community members participated in raising activities. They also started several initiatives to im- 1800 Served these children, families and communities with 50 awareness raising activities prove the quality of education in their schools. well-being projects. conducted Trained nearly teachers on child-centered and in- Provided 59 summer camps attended by 16,283 300 clusive teaching methodologies. children in11 areas where we work. youth took part of the Annu- Held Christmas hope activities for 5000 children 400 al National Youth Conference in Trained mothers on various health issues and 2,200 September 2012. how to raise their children better. Improved the professional effectiveness of 430 primary health care workers Provided emergency assistance to 3,600 peo- ple in three areas (Dibra, Librazhd and Korca) affected by this winter’s cold and snow. Nearly 55 children who had dropped out and “My name is Sara*. I’m 18 now and pregnant with my second child. I come from a behave in such circumstances. That was the first time for me hearing about such things. poor and traditional family in north-eastern Albania. That These words gave me wings and power to fight for my baby’s cause and protect her was the reason of my early marriage. innocent life. I never will forget what I learned there. Now that I think about that time “I was [only] 15 years old when my parents forced me to I feel absolutely convinced I did the right thing [by] going to that training. marry, but I [agreed] with what they decided for me as our eco- “At the diner time [that night], I immediately opened the topic, but this time I knew nomic situation was not favourable. [At] that time I was planning I was much more prepared for what I wanted to say to him. ‘I won’t abort! I won’t do and dreaming to continue [in] school and become the person I so, even if you leave me!,’ I said.