Flour being distributed
Social Security
Education Support
Vocational Training
Income Generation
Advice Centre
Albanian Charity
Is given to the most
destitute families. Clothing and Medical aid has been delivered to Albania in
1998
Flour
being distributed
Refurbishing Primary Schools: Many of the schools in Albania suffered badly in the political and social turmoil of 1997. Many are left with scarcely any heating, furniture or teaching materials, and are in a very poor state of physical repair, greatly restricting access to education for children.
During the last six months, with funding totalling £60,000 from the UK government, ICA has been able to build one new primary school at Gashaj in North Western Albania, and refurbish a second in Rapshe in Northern Albania. Gashaj's original school had become an unusable "cow bier", and the children had been faced with the alternative of trekking for over two hours to the nearest habitable school, or the prospect of sitting on dilapidated stools, keeping their feet on other stools out of the stagnant water.
Some 40 teachers and 200 pupils will directly benefit from the building and refurbishment of these two schools. A further three schools have been identified for re-construction and refurbishment as soon as funding is secured.
Provided with materials such as desks, paper, pencils, books, etc. Whenever possible money is provided for the local production of materials such as desks, thereby giving employment.
Teacher Training, Language Training: English Teaching by UK teachers, summer schools teaching English, Computing, Job skills.
UK and Albanian Schools Linked.
Albanian Students at UK Universities are given advice, support and funding via UK Sponsors: " Students Together".
Bajze
School and... ...the School "sports field"
Production of Jewellery
Micro level:
Income Generation and Micro-credit: The ICA Micro-Credit Scheme works with the poorest members of the community, for whom a small loan offers a route out of poverty and into economic productivity and self-sufficiency. The scheme is based on a simple but effective and successful revolvng group loan system.
So far, the project has provided loans for 20 people, to support a variety of small businesses from mending shoes to raising sheep. To date, all repayments have been made in full. Every repayment cycle allows the project to support loans to an additional two people.
Small/Medium business:
Handmade silver filigree jewellery, kelim rugs and wooden products which are on sale in the UK and sold via DJI (Developing Joint Industries which is seperate from ICA). This has so far assisted over 100 people gain employment.
Agricultural Development: The agricultural economy in MeM is based on subsistence farming on family run smallholdings. Agricultural production remains low due to water supply problems, and insufficient economic activity to support investment in new equipment, the maintenance of irrigation systems or the introduction of alternative techniques to improve agricultural productivity.
ICA is currently in the planning stages of a "Wells Project", in the limestone area of NW Albania, and is actively seeking funds to support the work. The water table is 100 metres deep, which adds to the cost of drilling and maintaining a new well. The few wells that currently exist produce poor quality water.
Land cultivation made possible using well water. An example of a polytunnel.
We are also piloting the use of "polytunnels". These versatile and durable greenhouses help extend the growing cycle and provide a more protective environment for crops, thereby increasing the number and range of crops that can be grown. The pilot tunnels will be placed next to local schools, to be used as a source of practical work and training, and to supplement the nutritional intake of the school children. It is anticipated that, if successful, the scheme could be replicated by other schools,as well as by farmers and smallholders.
Advancing
civil society by general information to help all members of the community from
the sharing of resources, how to find work to advocacy.
ICA has established an Albanian charity, (ICA-AL) so that Albanians can control their own destiny. ICA-AL works via steering committees, local administration and co-operates with other charities to utilise scarce resources.
