And now for something completely different...

We're off again in 5 days.  Supporting Global Care has taken us to East Africa and the Middle East, and next week to Europe.  I’ve seen lots of photos of the project, read regular reports and written project updates…. but I still feel somewhat unprepared – I’m not sure what to expect.

We’re going to Albania. I didn’t even know where Albania is! 

Things I’ve found out about Albania, thanks to the UN/UNICEF, World Vision & Save the Children, and the UK Home Office:

·         Albania has seen significant economic growth in the past decade, but remains one of the poorest countries in Europe – and there is widespread inequality affecting healthcare, education, and social care and protection

·         The UN places Albanian criminal groups amongst the top criminal syndicates in the world in the illegal trafficking of heroin, cocaine, and cannabis.

·         Albania is a source, transit, and destination country for sex trafficking and forced labour for men, women and children.  Internal child trafficking and forced begging has increased in recent years, particularly during the tourist season.  Street children are at greatest risk, especially those from Egyptian and Roma communities, 

·         About 15% of Albanian citizens perceive themselves to be socially excluded or at risk of exclusion from development. People most at risk are those with physical and intellectual disabilities, returning migrants, people living with HIV/AIDS, members of the Roma and Egyptian communities, victims of trafficking or domestic violence (often women) and vulnerable children.

·         Assessment of disability is only performed by doctors -and focuses on diagnosis/cause not on needs for rehabilitation or overcoming social barriers. Lack of training and equipment and out-of-date criteria and categorisation rules contribute to only 4% of children with disability in Albania having a medical certificate (i.e. their condition is officially recognised)

·         Only 7.8% of children with disabilities have received a social service in the last 12 months. Access to social services, such as specialised centres, day-care centres, mental health centres and social care residential centres is very limited

·         1 in 2 children with disabilities experiences discrimination in the community

I’m beginning to understand why Global Care – whose focus is on the most vulnerable children in society – continues to have a presence in Albania.

We’re vising New Day Centre in Bathore, a semi-legal slum suburb on the edge of Tirana. Through the local team, Global Care aims to empower and support children and young people through a wide range of activities. One of the revolutionary aspects of New Day Centre is their work with children with disabilities - including a special kindergarten for children with autism.

I’ve read reports, papers, and blogs about autism in Albania. Children with autism fall into all the holes listed above. UNICEF highlights the problems in early detection and assessment for all children with disability – but particularly those with complex conditions like autism spectrum disorders. There is a huge need to increase awareness and understanding of autism for parents, families, communities, teachers, health and social care professionals…

So… we’re off on our travels again with our project management and proposal writing hats on. We’re going to help the team think about a funding bid to increase their services for children with autism – encompassing all the areas that could be addressed to give these children a better chance in life – and hope for their futures.  Its been amazing to have the privilege of being involved from the start, to read the passion of Global Care partners in Albania for the children in their care – and those children with no support at all.  Its also a privilege to go out to a country at this stage in proposal development – to understand and see what the problems really are and what change is needed, to be able to say when we come back that we wholeheartedly support a funding bid because we’ve seen the need and worked with the team to refine their solutions.  And it is such a privilege to meet local partners and see them at work.


Of course, I’ll also get to hear stories, interview people … and play with the latest ‘Wightman’ donated parachute with children in the special Kindergarten.  We’re ready for an intense 3 days on the ground - yes…. 3 days! 

I’ll try and update the blog when we’re there – but expect short posts as I suspect I’ll be writing up notes and preparing for the next day in the evenings.

Thanks for all the support you lovely people.