During these feast days the Orthodox Church of Albania is assisting a lot of people in need to fulfill some of their needs. This assistance is given through different institutions and departments that have been established by the Church through the years irrespective of their race or religion.

Since the year 2002, Diakonia Agapes Office – the social, development and relief office of the Orthodox Church of Albania – has been implemented the project “Someone is thinking of you”.

The project has been financially supported by the Orthodox Church of America and it consists in preparation and distribution of presents for children in need in Albania.

The aim of the project is: “A symbolic present for marginalized children in order to encourage and make them aware that on Christmas time and through all the year someone is thinking for them”.

Children in need have been identified by Diakonia Agapes who are the beneficiaries of this symbolic present. Each child receives a toy and a package with sweets.  A group of volunteers from the Student city helped in the preparation of the presents for the year 2006.

This was a positive experience for the students as well as a big help for Diakonia Agapes office. Diakonia Agapes staff is present in different distributions.

     The project will be implemented from 1- 30 December, 2006. Diakonia Agapes office was able to reach 1,500 children (200 children more compared with 2005) due to the financial contribution of the organization “Besa – Friends of Albania” and the financial contribution of different individuals within Albania.  

Following are some of the institutions and organizations who benefited from the project:
 

Institutions

Beneficiaries

Romani Baxt - Tirana

75

Diocese of  Korça

250

Njomëzakët - Elbasan

130

Delfinët e vegjël - Durrës

100

Burrel

80

Children of the World- Tirana

163

Special School - Durrës

100

Orthodox Women’s Group - Tirana

100

Development Center  “Pëllumbat”

31

Nursery Schools

70

Home of Hope - Durrës

31

Orphanage- Shkozet

21

Soup Kitchen - Tirana

100

Women in protection of children

53

Shoqata e trevës së vakëfëve

50

Municipality of Tirana

60

Center “Thavor” - Tirana

90

     The goal of Diakonia Agapes for the year 2007 is to increase the number of the beneficiaries aiming to secure funds within Albania.

      All the persons who are interested for further information could contact us in the following address:

Diakonia Agapes

P.O. BOX 1545

Tel: ++ 355 4 25 63 65

Fax: ++ 355 4 23 05 64

E-mail: daoffice@diakoniagapes.org