This week in the office

As part of the local government in Elbasan, the office of Economic Development partners with non-governmental organizations and other local government offices throughout Albania to work on projects that enhance the community. This week I was able to work on a few projects – one that has the potential to provide a cleaner environment in Elbasan and the other a case study for a USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development) conference, where a total of 25 government offices will present best practices.

The environment project is part of a cross-border initiative with Macedonia – if the grant application is approved we will develop a campaign to raise awareness in the city of Elbasan about the effects of littering/pollution. Unfortunately, Elbasan (and most other cities/villages in Albania) have a major trash problem – citizens throw trash on the ground and in the rivers with no regard for the effects. The grant will also cover signs and garbage bins throughout the city, along with continuous awareness education. What a great opportunity to serve the cause of environmental protection, and to help create a higher quality of life for the people here.

The case study is Elbasan’s Social Area Plan – Elbasan is the first city in Albania to have such a plan, which aims to analyze the socio-economic situation of the most exposed social groups to poverty and social exclusion, to identify reasons of the situation; to propose interventions at social and economic levels to improve the situation; and to seek planning of needs for financial and human resources to face the related costs. As part of the plan a new office was opened at the Department of Social Care of the Municipality, which allows for constant follow–up of the problems of all the vulnerable groups, such as disabled people, minors, women, the elderly, and minorities.

Working on these projects serves as a reminder why I have chosen to commit to be a Peace Corps Volunteer for the next two years. I can not only build capacity of the people in my areas of expertise, but I can contribute and be a witness to the transformation of a government and country that faced the fall of Communism in 1992 and the crisis of the pyramid investment schemes in 1997. Today Albania is a part of NATO and is working to become a part of the European Union. There is much promise here…