Updated: March 2009
Albania
Overview | World Vision's history in Albania | World Vision in Albania today
OverviewA small country the size of Massachusetts, the Republic of Albania is located on the Balkan Peninsula in southeast Europe. It is bordered by Greece to the southeast, Kosovo to the northeast, Macedonia to the east, Montenegro to the north, and the Adriatic Sea to the west. The Strait of Otranto separates Albania from the heel of Italy’s boot by 45 miles. The eastern two-thirds of the country features an extensive, rugged mountain range, while the western region consists of coastal plains—home to most of the country’s population. Due to the mountainous terrain, the majority of rivers become torrents when they reach the plain, making most of them impossible to navigate. With a temperate climate, Albania experiences cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Natural resources include petroleum, natural gas, coal, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, and hydropower.Ethnic Albanians make up 95 percent of the population, while Greeks constitute 3 percent. Vlachs, Roma, Serbs, Macedonians, Gorani, Jews, Montenegrins, and Bulgarians represent the remaining 2 percent. Albanian is the official language of the country and is split into two dialects: Tosk, which is spoken mostly in southern counties; and Gheg, which is primarily spoken in the north. Greek, Vlach, and Romani are also spoken, as well as some English and Italian. Once a part of the Roman Empire, Albania was ruled by the Byzantines from 535 to 1204. The Ottoman Turks conquered the region in the 15th century and remained in control for the next 450 years, until independence was declared in November 1912. |  |
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| Shortly before the start of World War II, Italian forces under Benito Mussolini invaded Albania and later used the country to launch attacks against Greece. Communist guerillas under Enver Hoxha seized power in 1944. Hoxha, who would rule for 41 years, was a devotee of Joseph Stalin, using repressive tactics against those who did not conform to his ideals. During its four decades of communism, Albania became a founding member of the Warsaw Pact in 1955 and was declared the world’s first atheist state in 1967. By 1991, communism in Eastern Europe had collapsed. A general strike and street protests in Albania’s capital, Tirana, forced communist cabinet members to resign, allowing the Democratic Party to win a landslide in the 1992 elections. Sali Berisha became Albania’s first elected president. Many Albanians invested in get-rich-quick pyramid schemes in the mid-1990s. By March 1997, five of those schemes collapsed, robbing thousands of an estimated $1.2 billion in savings. Rioting broke out, with gangsters and rebels overrunning the country and plunging it into anarchy. Order was eventually restored and President Berisha, unpopular with those who lost their money, resigned. A year later, escalating unrest between Serbians and independence-seeking ethnic Albanians in neighboring Kosovo forced 440,000 refugees into Albania. Efforts have been made in the last 10 years to institute social reforms, but political infighting has hampered the process. Albania’s democratic government launched economic reforms in 1992 that were deemed successful until the pyramid scheme crisis in 1997. Coupled with the massive influx of Albanians from Kosovo in the late 1990s, the country’s already fragile economy began to collapse. The economy has made some positive strides in the last five years, with high annual growth rates and a reduction in poverty levels. More than a quarter of the population still lives below the poverty line, however, and unemployment levels are nearly 30 percent due to a high prevalence of subsistence farming. In the education sector, more than 90 percent of children are registered for primary school, but only 52 percent actually attend. Enrollment rates are especially low among marginalized groups and children with disabilities. Many parents have sent their children abroad to work in better paying jobs, keeping them from obtaining an education. Numerous schools, especially in rural areas, have crumbling buildings, outdated curricula, lack of modern equipment and supplies, and poorly qualified teachers. The Ministry of Education has instituted several initiatives to improve the educational experience, such as allowing children without a birth certificate to register for school. (Previously, they had been unable to do so.) Half of Roma children currently enroll in primary school, but only half of them go on to finish classes. Less than four percent of students finish secondary school, and of the ones who continue to college, only 0.2 percent graduate. As a result, the percentage of illiteracy among the Roma is high—56 percent of women and 48 percent of men. Lack of education has had an impact economically on the Roma; approximately 80 percent of families cannot afford to buy medicine and health care products. In addition, unemployment among the Roma is nearly 90 percent—well above the national average. Back to top World Vision's history in AlbaniaWorld Vision began working in Albania in 1999, providing relief operations in response to the Kosovo refugee crisis. Staff delivered weekly food packs to families in the Tirana, Elbasan, Saranda, and Vlore districts. World Vision also began rehabilitating several structures, including a transit center and two depots. Since 1999, millions of dollars have been invested in relief, rehabilitation, and development projects in Albania.Working with communities to help families move toward self-sufficiency, World Vision initiated a gift-in-kind project in the village of Pashtresh, where most families live below the poverty line. Project leaders provided tools, clothes, plants, and other necessities to families in the area. Additionally, a credit program assisted residents, helping them increase their income, providing improved opportunities for better nutrition, and enabling parents to better provide for their children. In 2006, the Hoshetima Village School Project was established and began helping community members reconstruct school buildings, giving children an opportunity to gain an education in a safe and stable facility. Another program has educated young people about HIV and AIDS and has given them a forum in which to discuss related issues freely. Back to top World Vision in Albania todayWorld Vision is committed to partnering with the people of Albania to enhance their lives today and to help enact sustainable solutions for the future of their communities, families, and children. Currently, 13,960 children are registered in the World Vision sponsorship program. Several times this number of children and other family members benefit from World Vision activities. Of these registered children, many have World Vision sponsors in other countries. U.S. donors sponsor 8,460 girls and boys. In addition, World Vision operates six development programs, three of which are supported by U.S. donors. Highlights of these efforts include the following:
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