2016

Annual Report

Contact Us: Building Bridges of Friendship Since 1992

During 2016 volunteers from three groups served to communiti es across Albania

Albania Group 19

Albania Group 18

Albania Group 17

1 Message from Honorable Donald Lu, US Ambassador to Albania

2 Message from Kate Becker, Peace Corps Country Director

Peace Corps Mission and Goals

President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps Peace Corps changes lives—both the lives of people in in 1961 to foster a better understanding between and communities around the world and the volunteer’s life. promote friendship among Americans and people of Peace Corps Volunteers have demonstrated their com- other countries. The three goals of Peace Corps: mitment to grassroots development by working with and living amongst local people of countries served in order to achieve the agency’s Mission to promote world peace and friendship. 1 To help the people of interested countries in Since 1961, over 225,000 Americans have served in the meeting their needs for trained men and women. Peace Corps in 141 countries. 2. To help promote a better understanding of Amer- Since 1992, 746 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in icans on the part of the peoples served. Albania. 3. To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

3 Peace Corps in Albania

In 1991, the Albanian government invited the US to es- The Peace Corps program is here at the invitation of tablish a Peace Corps program. The first group of volun- the Albanian government and operates according to an teers arrived in Albania in 1992 committed to teaching agreement between the and Albania that English in secondary schools and universities. During recognizes the importance of developing mutually ad- our first five years through 1997, 166 Peace Corps Vol- vantageous relationships and cooperation. unteers had served throughout Albania. The US evacu- ated all Peace Corps volunteers in 1997 due to concerns related to the civil unrest the country was experiencing Projects at that time. - Teaching English as a Foreign Language In 2002 the Albanian government requested that the US reestablish the Peace Corps program. - Community Organizational Development Since September 2003, 580 Volunteers have come to - Health Education work with local governments, NGOs, schools and health Cross - sector proram priority institutions in three project areas: Community and -Or ganizational Development, Health Education and English - Let girls learn Teaching.

Our Partners

Peace Corps Albania operates in Albania under a memoran- • Planning and Local Governance Project dum of understanding with the government of Albania. • Regional Directorates of Education • Offices ofducation E Important partners include: • Institute of Education Development • English Language Teachers Association • Ministry of Education and Sport • University of , English Department • Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth • Institute of Public Health • Ministry of Health • Directorates of Public Health • Ministry of Urban Development • Albanian Red Cross • Ministry of Economic Development, Tourism, Trade and Entrepreneurship • Chamber of Commerce, Vlorë • United States Agency for International Development • Regional Directorate of National Culture - Gjirokastër • US Embassy and American Corners • Regional Directorates of State Social Services of and Durrës • United Nations Albania • 15 Municipalities including: • United Nations Population Fund Kruje, Kuçovë, Berat, , , Kavaje, , Malesi e Madhe, VauiDejës, Ersekë, Lushnje, Korçë, Mirditë and ; • Partner NGOs including: Agropuka, World Vision, Food Bank, Youth in Free En- terprise, Lerda, Regional Development Agency Korçë, Epoka e Re,GjirokastërFoundation, ARKA Center Shkodër, Mary Ward Loreto, Youth Center Vlorë, the VET Clinic in Shkodër, World Connect, Darien Book Aid, Friends of Albania, Water Charity, Sidi Education. World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

4 Our Volunteers

2016 Stati sti cs In Total 149 Volunteers served across the country.

By Program 73: English Educati on 48: Community and Organizati onal Development 28: Health Educati on

By Gender 74: female 75: male

By Age 62%: between 23 to 29 years old 18%: between 30 to 39 years old 20%: between 40 to 73 years old

By U.S. In 2016, Volunteers represented 33 of the 50 United States with the highest num- State bers of Volunteers coming from: 21% from 7% from New York 5% from Florida 5% from Texas

Our Staff

The Peace Corps Albania team consists of dedicated Amer- Every year we hire on temporary basis 20 team members, ican and Albanian staff who support the Volunteers as they who play a criti cal role in the Pre-Service training of the meet their service goals. Pictured above are the year-round, volunteers full-ti me Peace Corps Albania staff .

5 Peace Corps Volunteers across Albania

6 English Education

2016 Achievements

Peace Corps is excited to partner with the Ministry of Educati on and Sports to promote English educati on throughout the country. Our volunteers are placed in educati on insti tuti ons as below: • 5 in Universiti es • 4 in professional schools • 25 in High Schools • 15 in Nine Year Schools • 4 in United Schools

Goal 1: Improve Teaching

650 teachers Worked side by side with Volunteers co-developing lesson plans and resources Write On! Contest, Lushnje, 2016 for use in class. As a result, teachers increased their English profi ciency while gaining confi dence and being introduced to new instructi onal methods and practi ces.

Goal 2: Increase Student Success 5648 students demonstrated improved English profi ciency based on classroom and/or extracurricular acti vity content (such as camps, clubs, sports, contests, debates, and shows)

Goal 3: Strengthen School and Community

470 stakeholders increased their parti cipati on in acti viti es that support their Students celebrate the Day of Languages, 2016. school or enhance student English learning, or demonstrat- ed improved skills as a result of personal and/or professional development.

7 Community & Organizational Development In the community & organizational development 2016 Achievements program volunteers are working with their host Goal 1. Organizati onal Development agencies on such issues as urban planning, economic development, tourism development, organizational 235 Local have improved their planning development, strategic planning, information government processes in: vision and mission management, community mobilization and outreach, Units and Non statements, strategic plan, and promotion of citizen involvement in community Governmental operati onal plan, Monitoring & decision-making. Organizati ons: Evaluati on plan, or involvement of stakeholders. 83 Non have improved their internal Governmental management in areas such Organizati ons as: human resource policies municipaliti es, and procedures, informati on and businesses: sharing and transparency, ti me management, or parti cipatory decision making. 301 Local have improved their project Municipaliti es, design, management processes Non Governmental and practi ces, and provide Organizati ons, evidence of increased sati sfacti on and community on the part of citi zens. groups: 251 Non improved public image and Governmental promoti ons of historic, cultural Organizati ons: and touristi c areas through increased number of visitors, Baking/Female Entrepreneurship Program. Kuçove, 2016 increased accessibility to informati on and services provided. Goal 2. Civil Society Building 1614 individuals: trained around the country in leadership. 260 individuals: trained in employability, entrepreneurship, Informati on and Communicati on Technology in order to increase the potenti al of youth in the labor market. 1531 youth: trained on volunteerism and com- munity service oriented acti viti es and engaged. 2500 youth: trained in community- benefi ti ng acti viti es Outdoor Ambassador Shijak Club repaints benches. Shijak, 2016 1092 individuals: trained in advocacy and increased the involvement of 657 youth in planning or implementi ng an advocacy acti vity or campaign for children/women/ minority and disability rights in their communiti es

8 Health Education

Volunteers are assigned to a community in which they 2016 Achievements co-teach Health Educati on at a 9-grade and/or high school in which they address life skills and reproducti ve Goal 1: Sexual and Reproducti ve Health health issues. 1485 youth in Albania have increased knowledge and social skills to avoid early or unplanned pregnancies and maintain their reproducti ve health.

367 teachers, care providers have improved psychologists skills to design and deliver age and other health appropriate content on sexual and reproducti ve health educati on and promoti on of healthy lifestyles.

Goal 2: Healthy Lifestyles and Life skills Community. Health Fair in Pukë region, 2016 5056 youth (5th to 12th grade) demonstrated improvement in one or more key life skills including positve self-esteem eff ecti ve communicati on, ability to set goals, think criti cally and adopt strategies to support their emoti onal and physical health.

4520 youth have adopted healthy behaviors related to sexual acti vity, physical acti vity, alcohol consumpti on, and substance use. 2125 youth promoted life skills and healthy behaviors through aft er school acti viti es peer educati on and leadership techniques

Maternal Health Trainings in Fier region, 2016

9 Cross - Sector Programming Priority Girls Lead our World under Let Girls Learn Initi ati ve

2016 Achievements Across Albania Volunteers and Albanian Counterparts led camps designed specifi cally for young women to explore diverse topics such as leadership, teamwork, communicati on, the environment, domesti c violence, sexual and reproducti ve health, and personal empowerment.

Girls Lead Our World camp Kuçovë, 2016

Camp parti cipants go on to lead civic engagement events and train other young women in their communiti es.

WASH Project/School Bathroom Refurbishment, Elbasan, 2016

The gender - focused cross sector priority is included in the three Peace Corps programs: English Educati on, Community Organizati onal Development, and Health Educati on. Let Girls Learn provided resources for Volunteers and their counterparts as well as training op- portuniti es.

First ti me GLOW camp in Roskovec, Roskovec, 2016

10 Small Grants

2016 Achievements

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, USAID/Albania provided PC Alba- nia with funds under SPA Parti cipati ng Agency Program Agreement (PAPA) between the United States Agency for Internati onal Development (USAID) and the United States Peace Corps. The Let Girls Learn initi ati ve and Peace Corps Partner- ship program also provided funding for grants.

Brest cancer awareness training, in , 2016 Small Projects Assistance $ 40,033 in funding for SPA was granted to 7 projects in 7 communiti es. 7 projects were implemented focused on Project Design and Management 3 trainings were conducted for Volunteers and their Albanian counterparts.

Peace Corps Partnership Program Over $12,000 was granted for PC Partnership Program 3 projects were designed and implemented SPA-funded Green Roof Project, in Tirana, 2016 in Durres, Berat and Korçe. Let Girls Learn Over $25,200 was granted for Let Girls Learn Projects for 12 projects implemented in 12 citi es.

12 projects were designed and implemented.

SPA-funded Baking/Female Entrepreneurship Program, Kuçovë, 2016

11 Sharing American Culture

American Traditi ons

Volunteers throughout the country are sharing their tra- diti ons with Albanians. Highlight: The Fier-English Corner troop of ten kids learned about Halloween (photo) and were inspired by the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday - everyone shared what they were most thankful for and then added feathers to a drawing of big Thanksgiving turkey. The troop also played some games and made some sweet “turkeys” out of Oreo cookies, candy corn and pretzels.

Fier English Corner on Halloween Day

American Competi ti ons

English Spelling Bee Competi ti ons. Eleven Peace Corps Volunteers have introduced the American “Spelling Bee” to 200 students in three communiti es across the country. Many students also parti cipated in a writi ng competi ti on called “Write On!” Libohovë School Holds Spelling Contest

Sharing American Culture

Albanian Stories

Peace Corps Volunteers are linking classrooms and stu- dents in Albania to classrooms and students in the US. Highlight: A Peace Corps Albania Volunteer visiti ng her home in Minneapolis, Minnesota took a bit of Albania with her! The Volunteer visited an Elementary School in Minneapolis and talked with the kids about Albanian traditi ons and celebrati ons, listened to traditi onal music, displayed the Albanian fl ag, examined Albanian money (everyone got a 1 Lek coin to keep), and she even taught them to circle dance!

Albania Introduced to a Minneapolis school 2016

12 Peace Corps Albania Initiatives

Peace Corps Albania Volunteers and their Counterparts, Spring 2016.

Initi ati ves to Improve Volunteer Support Sustainable Development: In 2016, the staff put a focus on the sustainable development and worked to deep- All Volunteer Conference: For the fi rst ti me, all of the en their impact by ensuring the collaborati on of Peace Volunteers gathered together for an ½ day. Kevin Mc- Corps Volunteers with Albanian Counterparts. Laughlin, Chief of Party for the Planning Local Govern- ment Project facilitated a discussion with Bruna Kondi from Tirana, Romina Hasanaj from Librazhd and Alti n Improved policies: The Peace Corps Albania Service Veshti from Tirana, who refl ected on the personal im- Handbook went through a major revision 2016. This re- pact of the relati onships they had with Peace Corps Vol- sulted from the collaborati on of the Albania Volunteer unteers who served in years prior. Volunteers also heard Advisory Committ ee and Staff members. In order to from Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj about his personal jour- make it more clear and easier to read and understand ney, his commitment to service and volunteerism, and about 25% of the policies that were in the April 2015 his vision for the city of Tirana. version were dropped, decreasing the overall size of the

13 Volunteer and Staff Development Peace Corps Albania Training for Peace Corps Volunteers

Peace Corps Volunteers undergo an extensive training process that begins upon arrival and conti nues through- out their service. In 2016, Peace Corps Volunteers par- ti cipated in the following trainings: • Orientati on session - 3 days • Pre-Service Training - 3 weeks • In-Service Training - 2 days Project Design & Management Training, Tirana • Mid Service Training - 16 hours • Project Design Management Workshop - 3 days • All Volunteer Conference - 1 day • Peer Support Network training - 2 days • Language Volunteer refresher training - 3+ days. • Close of Service Conference - 2 days

Peace Corps Counterpart Training

In 2016, Albanian professionals who serve as Counter- parts to our Volunteers parti cipated in 10 days of train- Volunteer Michael delivering a presentati on ing including: • Project Design Management Training - 3 days • Counterparts Workshops - 2 days • Girls Scouts Training of Trainers - 4 days

Professional Development for Peace Corps Staff

In 2016, eight Peace Corps Albania Staff members par- ti cipated in 328 hours of training in Washington, DC, Ne- pal, Cambodia, and Thailand focusing on train- Peace Corps Counterpart Training in Durrës ing related to: • Medical, health and emoti onal well-being; for 120 hours • Safety and Security - 80 hours • Cross-cultural - 40 hours • Small grants management - 48 hours • Gender and employability training of trainers - 40 hours

Peace Corps Albania staff members Training, Cambodia 2016

14 Girl Scouts of Albania

First Girl Scouts event in Orikum, 2016 World Associati on of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from Head Offi ce in London visit Albania, 2016

Two former Girl Scouts serving in Peace Corps Albania how to build fi res and to pitch tents. At the conclusion as Community Organizati onal Development volunteers, of the training, the groups returned to their communi- Hilary and Michelle, began researching how they could ti es with acti on plans and resources to begin their troop launch a successful Girl Scouts chapter in Albania. The acti viti es. Volunteers connected with the World Associati on of Girl 15 troops were set up in 15 communiti es throughout Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and have worked to Albania for girls from 10 to 14 years old. Two-hundred build a sustainable new initi ati ve in Albania. girls from Korca, Shkodra, Fier, Rrëshen, , Vlorë, In August, Peace Corps Albania hosted three mem- , Berat and Kuçovë are acti vely parti cipati ng. bers from the World Associati on of Girl Guides and Girl Six Girl Scouts leaders from around the country have Scouts. The training was for 12 Peace Corps Volunteers stepped forward to lead the Girl Scouts in Albania. Alke- and 26 counterparts was designed to train the group to ta (Keti ) Lamani Dhimitri, Elsa Rafaeli, Kaltra Toska, Lusi- launch Girl Scouts of Albania. The training focused on ana (Lusi) Mailaj, Manjola Gega, and, Marsela Saqellari educati ng parti cipants on the Girl Scouts philosophy are in the process of registering the organizati on with including traditi ons, songs, and practi ces. The training the Government of Albania and pursuing internati onal introduced parti cipants to the World Associati on of Girl membership with WAGGGS. Inspired by Peace Corps Guides and Girl Scouts’ Social Entrepreneurship cur- Volunteers, the Girl Scouts of Albania will be fully sus- riculum. This curriculum will be used over the next 6 tained under the leadership of passionate and talented months in ten diff erent citi es all over Albania. Another women from across this country. great component of the training was an outdoor acti vity to bring about the scouti ng spirit. Parti cipants learned We are so proud of all of our champions!

15 Summer Camps & After School Clubs

Keeping the streets clean, Orikum, Vlore 2016

In 2016 Peace Corps in Albania sought to refocus Vol- This year 46 sites across Albania have held camps with unteer Secondary projects on low-cost, high-impact, over 400 youth, on a wide range of acti viti es including: replicable, locally-held summer camps and aft erschool Outdoor Ambassador, Technovati on Challenge, English clubs. Beginning in Pre-Service Training for group 19 club, GLOW club, Book club, Model United Nati ons, Volunteers, the Tirana Offi ce began the strategy of “Life Kampi pa Emer, Team building acti viti es, Helping with Skills and Leadership Camps to Clubs” as the Let Girls English, Young Arti st Club, Bike Club and Find the Mean- Learn anchor acti vity, integrati ng components into each ing Club, Running Club, Debate Club, Outdoor Ambas- project framework. sadors and the Creati ve and Criti cal Thinking for Young Adults Club.

16 Ripples of Impact

Five years of “Health Fairs” Booths included in the Fairs cover topics on Alcohol, Drugs, and Smoking; Road Safety; Sexual Transmitt ed Infecti ons; Human Traffi cking; Gender Equality and In 2012 the Health Volunteers of Peace Corps Albania, Gender Violence; Mental Health; Reproducti ve Health along with the Ministry of Health started Health Fairs and Family Planning; Tuberculosis; Nutriti on; BMI-Body that fi ve years later are sti ll occurring annually. To date, Mass Index and Hypertension, and Oral Hygiene. Repre- Health fairs are organized in 51 communiti es. sentati ves at the Health Fair also provide children with In cooperati on with the local authoriti es such as the De- free eye and vision care. partments of Public Health and schools across the coun- The communiti es show much interest and are eager to try, Peace Corps Volunteers are part of the organizing hear recommendati ons, advice and ti ps from health pro- committ ees that set up health fairs at town centers with fessionals. Health Fairs are organized in many towns of individual booths focusing on specifi c health related is- Albania including communiti es without Peace Corps Vol- sues. Health personnel from nearby areas usually join unteers. This is a good sign of our program sustainability. the Health Fair. Since the fi rst ti me the health fair was initi ated by Peace Corps Volunteers, it has now become a yearly traditi on.

Health Fair, Puka, 2016

17 Ripples of Impact

Eight years of Kampi Pa Emer “Camp No Name” together to dance to traditi onal Albanian songs. In recent years Kampi Pa Emer has also begun to focus Camp No Name came to be in 2008 when then Peace on dental hygiene of its campers with the support of Corps volunteer Joseph Deschenes along with Librazhd Zamir Alliu, a local denti st. Aft er breakfast all campers resident Alba Mana decided to have a week long camp join together to brush their teeth and learn new ti ps on for the Roma children living around Librazhd’s train sta- how to maintain a bright smile. ti on. Kampi Pa Emer, was a good omen for Joseph and Alba as Kampi Pa Emer began with four counselors and 20 kids they later got married. and has grown to a camp for 70 kids managed by 12 Two young girls who started as campers engaging with counselors! The camp promotes “tolerance and person- Kampi Pa Emer every summer have grown up to be al growth in all campers and their families regardless of counselors and are the “big sisters” of their communi- ethnicity.” ty. These two young women are part of the reason the Each year Kampi Pa Emer aims to create an inclusive en- camp remains alive and well every year. vironment where Roma and Albanian children can learn Full of fun, sun, and shiny teeth, Kampi may now be over and grow together. The days are fi lled with laughter and unti l next summer, but its spirit of positi vism remains smiles as children practi ce yoga, Frisbee, and arts and throughout the year! craft s. At the end of each day children would all come

Camp “No Name”, Librazhd, 2016

18 Spotlight Story: Tourism Development

Website Developed for Delvinë

Delvinë is a small town located in southern Albania, 16 highlights the many opti ons for visiti ng historic monu- kilometers northeast of Saranda. The picturesque com- ments and hiking in Delvine. munity however is oft en only passed through by tourists The English Educati on Volunteer Catherine Tutt le and and locals on their way to the beaches of Saranda and her counterpart Marjo Kanina had developed the proj- Ksamil or the archeological site of Butrint. ect idea in a January 2016 Peace Corps’ Project Design In the spring of 2016, a new website was launched to Management Conference, which teaches valuable proj- bring more traffi c to Delvinë to enjoy its rich history and ect management skills. The PDM Training is funded by natural beauty. In preparati on for the summer tourist USAID in Albania. boom in nearby Saranda, the local Peace Corps Vol- To view the website, click here: htt p://delvine.my-free. unteer and local counterpart created the website that website

19 Spotlight Story: Empowering through Hi-Tech

Tirana girls compete in Technovati on Challenge

In Albania, girls are usually known for being well-per- across Albania. The app provides informati on in Alba- forming students but IT educati on is sti ll a challenge. nian about common mental health issues and provides Some Albanian girls have smartphones and many have contact informati on and directi ons for mental health re- Facebook accounts but access to resources in many sources available around Albania. parts of the country is diffi cult. The middle school team, consisti ng of four members, This is the fi rst year Peace Corps Volunteers have intro- looked at tourism and Albania’s beaches. Using data duced Technovati on and technology clubs to Albanian girls. from the Ministry of the Environment, they created an app that lets users search for beaches near diff erent For 12 weeks, two teams of Tirana girls, worked with Albanian citi es and provides water quality informati on a Peace Corps Volunteer and a Volunteer from the US along with details about the ameniti es available at each Embassy parti cipati ng in the Technovati on Challenge, an beach. internati onal competi ti on that encourages girls to learn more about technology. During this 12-week period, the All of the 50 girls from 10 teams in ten communiti es girls worked on developing smartphone applicati ons throughout the country reported that it was a good and created a business plan describing how they would learning experience. Some of them indicated they would like to launch their applicati on as a business. be interested in pursuing technology related work and that it was empowering to understand more about how The fi ve-member high school team developed an app technology works. that provides mental health resources for teenagers

20 Spotlight Story: Health Education Volunteers

Veterinary project in Shkodër

Peace Corps volunteer Jessica Skelton coordinated Organizati on in Shkoder. and a vet clinic with dozens of community and Peace Planning for next year, Jessica is focused on the sustainability Corps Volunteers. Some Volunteers traveled the city of of the project. She contacted the Dean of Faculty of Medical Shkoder picking up stray animals and transporti ng them Veterinary with the Agricultural University of Tirana to learn to the temporary clinic. Other Volunteers managed how the clinic could be a requirement (a practi cum) for the the operati on within the building as the vets worked in students within the Veterinary Sciences department at the several make-shift operati ng rooms. In 2016, 217 cats and University. Initi al plans were set up in 2016 to build on the dogs were vaccinated and neutered by six visiti ng Vets success in 2017. from the US and other countries through the World Vet

21 Spotlight Story: A school based Activity Success

Write On! Competi ti on held in Albania

Write On Students in Write On Students in Bicaj, Kukës

Write On Students in Pukë Write On Students in Lushnje

This spring, approximately 1,000 students ranging from stresses “thinking outside the box” over grammar, and 6th grade to university in 23 communiti es across Alba- in this year’s competi ti on, students were asked to write nia competed in Write On! Albania’s creati ve writi ng responses to various prompts that forced them to con- competi ti on. The competi ti on took place aft er weeks of sider life from a diff erent perspecti ve, including from the students working with their local English teachers and viewpoint of the opposite gender. These talented stu- Peace Corps Volunteers in writi ng clubs and workshops. dents showed their creati vity by responding to specially chosen prompts for their learning level. Write On! is an internati onal Peace Corps youth devel- opment initi ati ve, which works to promote criti cal think- Congratulati ons for all the students who parti cipated and to ing and creati vity in English classrooms. The competi ti on the English teachers and Volunteers who inspire them daily!

22 Spotlight Story: Building Community Cohesion

Water project in Vehçan is one of the 10 projects, implemented throughout the Country in 2016

The village of Vehçan in is a remote village rectorate of Public Health Librazhd and the community with few resources. This ti ny community sits perched organized a health fair which focused on: maintaining a atop a hill above a steep and treacherous dirt road. The clean bathroom, hand washing, teeth brushing, and eat- village itself has only a school and two ti ny coff ee shops. ing healthy. Aft er a visit to the school Kyle Moyes’ att enti on was im- With the inspirati on following the Health Fair, the com- mediately drawn to the state of the bathrooms. There munity worked to apply for funds to build a new bath- was no running water for children to wash their hands. room. A grant was awarded, the new bathroom supplies The single defunct Turkish toilet was broken and unus- were instantly purchased and aft er two weeks the enti re able. Children, did not have a place to use the bathroom reconstructi on was fi nished. Installed were: new pipes at their school and were forced to use the outdoors. to transport clean running water, brand new toilets, doors, ti les, sinks, and mirrors. The new bathrooms are It took ti me to make substanti al progress. As the saying now the nicest rooms in the school and give young girls goes in Albania, “avash avash” (slowly, slowly), and such and boys the opportuniti es they never had before. Stu- was the nature of this project. The Volunteer spent sev- dents can now wash their hands and girls no longer have eral aft ernoons going to village to have coff ee with the to miss several days of school every month because of director and teachers at the school. Getti ng to know the the indoor bathroom and hygienic conditi ons. needs and personaliti es of the community was the most important aspect of this project. The community is incredibly thankful to Water Charity, Peace Corps and Let Girls Learn for supporti ng this op- Four months of community meeti ngs led by Kyle and portunity. This was a true work of community collab- his counterpart, Shpeti m, provided opportuniti es to orati on that has now empowered a new generati on of learn the concerns of the community. Kyle together with young girls and boys. support from parents, local nurses, local Red Cross, Di-

23 Volunteers & staff who worked in Albania during 2016

Group 17 Volunteers Group 18 Volunteers Group 19 Volunteers Peace Corps Albania Full Time Staff Members

Allyson Stanford Ada Tran Alexandria Luu Agim Dyrmishi Annsleigh Carter Adam Poeschl Amy Jacobi Alsida Myrtaj Benjamin Dempe Adrian Horner Angela Battisti Anida Tulo Bonnie Scott Alexandra Schwier Anthony Baker Arben Cako Charles McGee Alison Bregstein Barbara Grant Arben Loci Charles Peterson Alison Lozano Berta Schweinberger Ardiana Brahja Colby Kiener Alyssa Harn Brenna Moran Besa Arapi Corbin Kappler Barbara Richardson Brittney Mancini Cale Wagner David Turner Bonnie Rico Christine Torres Darina Kaltani Emily Fesette Brian Bond Christopher Klimovitz Diana Djaloshi Erich Klothen Catherine Tuttle Daniel Morton Dritan Gjoshi Ezra Monasebian Christopher Vasquez Dara Schmitt Dritan Kamberi Gene Kim Cristin Bleess Dylan Saucedo Elsona Cupi Graham Anderson Daniel Volkman Elizabeth Quimby Gentian Leka Jaclyn Boroff Debra Thomas Eric Williams Ilir Memlikaj Jefferson Speer Diane Coon Gillian Richter Ilir Ziu Erik Clark Jermanne Perry Jay Cederholm Iris Dollia Francis Gavaller Jessica Asmus Jessica Skelton Iva Sinani Gabriel Naranjo Jon Breen Jill Pearson Jason Kane Grace Beah Jonathan Ayres John Clark Kate Becker Hilary Richardson Karla Yates Jordan Arvayo Kenneth Johnson Jacob Farris Katie Littlejohn Joseph Otterbine Marjeta Zavalani Jacqueline Labrador Kelsey Draughon Jesse Corfield Judith Glenn Marsela Loci Kevin Bawden Jessica Williams Julia Gross Mira Luca Kristopher Parker Joanne Luongo Julian Griffee Mirela Tahiraj Laura Hobbs John Jaques Julio Lamas Monika Mukja Lauren Alpert Joseph Parks Keith Jacobi Poleta Luka Lucy Hamer Julianne Scherer Kelly Ancharski Rudina Lubonja Martin Fankhanel Justin VanLeeuwen Keyania Campbell Ylli Cupi Meredith Porter Kyle Moye Lily Madeira Michael Keevican Md Ashique Margret Chu Peace Corps Albania Monika Dunbar Megan Hamilton Marilyn Matt Temporary Staff Members Olivia Grajeda Michael Pugh Mary Surgi Paulina Flores Michael Winans Megan Duffy Ali Gjiriti Quinn Hargitai Michelle Killingsworth Melanie Tafejian Altina Peshkatari Sho Tsubakiyama Miles Killingsworth Michael McLemore Ana Harja Stacey Weidemann Mitesh Patel Michael Richter Besmira Rrumbullaku Stephen Coryelle Nathan Boles Michelle Johnson Brunilda Peqini Teresa Anderson Nicole Martin Miguel Ramos Diamanta Vito Thomas Pyke Paul Shawkat Mike Bailey Elona Kafexhiu (Pajova) William Dunbar Pier Vernaza Varner Oliver Powell Elvana Stambolli Zachary Blehm Polly Smith Olivia Hanning Erion Kumuria Randolph Kent Rachel Kennedy Ervin Bebeti Ronald Lozano Ranya Agcaoili Esmeralda Dogani Sarah Senior Raymond Edmondson Imelda Celibashi Silke Martin Sarah Oswalt Ina Tollumi Suzanne Weiss Steven Hurtado Ledion Veshi Thomas Cartaxo Timothy Carroll Marsida Rrupulli Walter Johnson Tina Racha Ornela Bardhi William Burchell Vincenzo Tanza Vjollca Merdani William Hunter Zachary Burdeau Ymer Leksi William Martin Zygmunt Czykieta Zamir Mero Zachary James Zerina Zeneli

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