Professional initiatives
Start-up support for an independent life
In over 30 years of Albania aid, we have repeatedly carried out or supported professional projects. The latest initiative is a distribution for Albanian wines in Germany.
WK Albanischer Markt Wismar
The Kryemadhi family from Tirana is strongly committed to the work of Diakonia. They developed the idea of exporting Albanian wine to Germany and giving part of the profits to the DA. The quality of Albanian wines and the argument that the best form of development aid is to help people stand on their own feet persuaded Frieder Weinhold to support the project wholeheartedly.
In 2023, WK Albanischer Markt Wismar GmbH was founded and imported the first wines. The reactions to several wine tastings (and to an event at the Albanian Embassy in Berlin) showed that Albanian wines are also well received in Germany.
- Onlineshop: www.amantia-shop.com
Bishnica sewing room
This project aims to help people help themselves. Women without their own income can learn to sew and make clothing using the machines in the sewing room – for their own use or to earn money. For example, they sewed work clothes for the CHW staff or curtains for the Pogradec hospital. The project was made possible through donations in kind: a number of well-preserved sewing machines and bolts of fabric from Drechsler Arbeitsschutz GmbH.
The project began in 2011. Since then, our employee Florie Gjona, who is a trained seamstress, has offered several sewing courses. The sewing machines are still in use.
Nursing course
In order to cover our need for qualified employees for the care project and at the same time to offer young people a career perspective, a special course took place from 2007 to 2009: five participants from the mountain villages received in-depth training as nursing assistants. The course was carried out in collaboration with Medizinische Nothilfe Albanien (MNA). Three participants were subsequently hired for our care project, Bashkim Lilo is still there today.
Collaborations
Depending on current needs and opportunities, we are also happy to support our partners’ projects. Diakonia Albania has supported a project by the local Elijah cooperative, through which farmers in the Mokra region can buy cheap seeds, propagate them and then sell them profitably – climatically adapted to the conditions of the mountain region. There were also project-related collaborations with the vocational school in Pogradec: aspiring electricians took on work as part of the school renovation projects. In another project, apprentice metal workers made ovens for classrooms in mountain villages from scrap metal.
2023: Albanischer Markt Wismar
In Albania, young wineries are now offering good wines again. The Kryemadhi family from Tirana is offering these wines for the first time in Germany – and donates part of the profits to the work of Diakonia Albania.
2018: Vocational school project
Vocational students from Pogradec produce ovens from old parts for the village schools; we fund the materials (firebricks and stove pipes) as well as the travel costs
February 2017: Dental practice
With donated practice equipment, we support a young dentist who is setting up his own business in Tirana
2016: Buzahishtë potato project
The seed potato project provides a secure income for some families as well as the farmers who purchase good quality acclimatized seeds through the Elija cooperative
2011: Project sewing room
In Bishnica we set up a sewing room using donated machines. In the following years there are repeated sewing courses and commissioned work.
2007-09: Nursing assistant course
On May 1, 2009, five young Albanians receive their diplomas. The course, carried out in collaboration with Medizinische Nothilfe Albanien (MNA), is still exceptional for the Mokra region today.