SOS Children's Villages Albania

SOS Children's Villages Albania is a non for profit, secular and apolitical organization that provides services for children who have lost parental care and children at risk of losing it. It operates since 1995 in Albania by being a great support in the field of social services and providing quality programs for children in alternative care, 127 children and young people without parental care currently benefiting in Family Based Care (FBC) program. Family Strengthening Program (FSP) - is operating in Albania from January 2006. Actually FSP is supporting 751 children from families with social and economic difficulties, at risk of losing parental care. In 2009, SOS Albania has undertaken “I Matter” an advocacy campaign for the situation of youth without parental care. This campaign advocates for the improving conditions and rights completion of youngsters, will run until 2013. 30 young people have joined voluntary and are developing different activities in the framework of “I Matter”. Currently for SOS CV AL work 118 employees of various disciplines and professions. There are 46 young people supported on youth communities and semi-independence programs. SOS Children’s Villages Albania has great experience in managing national and international events with involvement of numerous participation of young people and adults. On April 2013 SOS CV AL in collaboration with EU organized and hosted for 1 week in Tirana Training and Networking project with Neighbouring Partner Countries (Youth in Action) with participations of 24 youngsters from different countries. During 2012 – 2013 SOS CV AL in collaboration with SOS CV Poland, Finland and Czech Republic developed the project "Rights of children in alternative care, from theory to practice: filling the gaps through peer research", which was co-financed by the European Commission. During 2013 SOS CV AL developed "Discover your rights - Alternative Care System" brochure in every residential care institutions in Albania (brochure in collaboration with the European Council). On June 2012 SOS CV AL organized and hosted for 1 week in Tirana Advocacy Network Meeting with participations of more than 20 advocacy advisers from the region countries EU, Caucasus and Eastern Europe. SOS CV AL in collaboration with UNICEF and MLSOA organized conference “Follow up on Social Services Reform in Albania, UN Guidelines on the Alternative Care for Children” on June 21-22 with youth’s participation.