Projects - Albania

Until May 2001 the Congregational Federation ran an appeal for funds to support a Church in Southern Albania. The church provides many services to the people of the town of Sarandë. These services include a food voucher scheme, an adoption programme, and the running of a Christian bookshop and a small cafe, which are then managed by poor families who would otherwise have no employment or income.

Christian Bookshop in Sarandë sponsored by Christian Rebuild

Each summer, the Church organises, mans and finances three camps, one each for adults, teenagers and children. The camps are held at a secluded beach two hours north of Sarandë. For the adults they provide an opportunity to explore the Bible and the Christian faith away from the demands of normal life. For the teenagers and children they give an opportunity to learn more about God, while enjoying a holiday away from home.

Children and teenagers from Sarandë enjoying the annual summer camp

During the Kosovo crisis in 1999, the Church of around fifty members cared for and fed approximately 3,000 refugees who had fled from Kosovo. The Greek Evangelical Church of Corfu, which originally established the Church in Sarandë after the fall of Communism, was also involved in this huge operation. The Greek Church mortgaged its building in order to buy food, medicine and bed mattresses. The Kosovan Albanians have returned home now but the Churches in Corfu and Sarandë continued to take goods and supplies to people in Kosovo until they were completely resettled.

Kosovan refugee children in Sarandë

The Congregational Federation raised and donated around £8,000 to the Churches in Corfu and Sarandë before Christian Rebuild was formed. In November 1999, the Rev. C. Gillham, Secretary of the Congregational Federation in Wales, drove a landrover, bought by the Gofrit organisation, from Wales to Albania. The Church in Sarandë is using it now to transport food and other supplies to families around Southern Albania, and for taking supplies to the summer camps.

Landrover bought by Gofrit and supplied with the assistance of Christian Rebuild

A van load of nurses' uniforms and other hospital equipment was taken out to Sarandë in November 2003, and the work of the Church is expanding from Sarandë itself to other towns and villages in south west Albania.

By 2005 the summer camps have increased to four. On 29th May 2005, Sarandë's pastor, Sortiris, was Ordained, becoming the first Albanian to be so in the Greek Evangelical tradition.

Ordination of Sarandë’s pastor Sortiris

In order to be able to continue our work and support more projects, we need donations. Details of how you can donate can be found on our donations page.

Return to project overview page