Following the collapse of the Communist regime, more than 70% of the Albanian population found themselves both unemployed and under-skilled.

The Daut Borici Community Training Centre in Shkodra, Albania's third largest city, seeks to address these problems by providing high quality vocational training at very low prices within a morally sound environment.

The Daut Borici Community Training Centre (CTC) was established in 1994 to alleviate problems caused by high unemployment and low skill levels amongst the Albanian population.

The CTC comprises of a building and grounds which belong to the Albanian Muslim Community; the government-sanctioned body which overseas Islamic activities, mosques and organisations in Albania. Islamic Relief  (IR) reconstructed the spacious two-floor building that houses classrooms, conference rooms and IR administration offices. The building is surrounded by a garden as well as a small sports field and playground.

Unemployment was and remains a serious problem in Albania and especially in the long-neglected city of Shkodra. IR designed and continues to implement this project to provide much-needed skills to the people, especially the youth who normally find themselves unqualified to meet the criteria needed to find meaningful and legal employment.

The CTC provides language training in English and Italian, as well as computer skills, sewing, tailoring and handicrafts. In addition, the CTC runs kindergartens with 50 youngsters attending daily.

The Albanian Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs fully licenses the course offerings and even signs off on graduation certificates. Demand for enrolment in the CTC for its various course offerings far exceeds the amount of spaces available owing to the high quality of educational services and value for price.

Project Objectives

• To equip individuals with the skills necessary to find employment and contribute to the long term development of the country

• To provide a facility where Albanians can have access to Islamic education on top of skills and learning in other fields

• To serve as a true community centre in which individuals can come together in a healthy environment
  

Project Activities

• Educational training courses

• Kindergartens

• Educational activities and events

• "Summer Club" activities

• Sports championships

"Islamic Relief is striving for a fairer world. Our mission is to help the poor and needy to live sustainable, self-reliant lives within safe and caring communities. Our work is guided and shaped by the core values of accountability, humanitarianism, neutrality and impartiality, inclusiveness, integrity and co-operation, all of which are also integral to the Islamic faith."
Dr Hany El Banna - Founder of Islamic Relief

Islamic Relief was established in 1984 and our unique approach is the result of these many years of hands-on experience.

1. Where possible we adopt a community partnership-based approach; encouraging community involvement, understanding and ownership of projects.
2. We run the majority of our field projects ourselves, giving us direct insight into the problems faced and how best to solve them.
3. We aim to empower those we help in order to achieve sustainable results.
4. Though our emergency response teams are quick to respond to emergencies around the world, we continue to support communities long after the initial media interest has died down.
5. We recruit staff locally to benefit from their local knowledge. This ensures that we are culturally sensitive and allows us to reach communities and areas other organisations cannot.
6. Where necessary we coordinate our work with other reputable aid agencies, local organisations and governments.

Millennium Development Goals

Islamic Relief is committed to the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which have been agreed by the world’s leading development institutions in an effort to meet the needs of the world’s poorest by the year 2015. 

The goals:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development

For more information about the MDGs, please visit: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/