Vulnerable families who suffered already poor living conditions when the pandemic hit the country, have experienced extreme economic hardship during the COVID-19 crisis, while simultaneously having historic difficulties accessing public services.
Goal
Increase access of vulnerable children and families affected by COVID-19 to an enhanced and sustainable protective environment.
Albanian society, as many other countries will have profound long-term effects as a result of the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vulnerable families who suffered already poor living conditions when the pandemic hit the country, have experienced extreme economic hardship during the COVID-19 crisis, while simultaneously having historic difficulties accessing public services. Terre des hommes Mission in Albania is implementing the EU funded project “Emergency and recovery support for vulnerable children and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Albania” (ERCA).
The project focuses on ensuring availability of direct services through service provision and support to a proactive referral mechanism and has synergy with other national and regional initiatives that include prevention and support to vulnerable communities affected by COVID-19.
Terre des hommes aims (1) To provide advanced quality emergency & recovery social care services towards vulnerable communities affected by COVID-19 (including, but not limited to, social & child protection, education, mental health & psycho-social services); (2) To empower service providers to deliver social care support to vulnerable communities in the COVID-19 situation through structured capacity building; (3) To build knowledge among vulnerable communities about COVID-19 prevention measures and appropriate available social care protection services through supporting awareness raising campaigns.
Through ERCA:
- 378 households, approx.1500 individuals will receive direct (in-kind) support;
- 250 children will complete COVID-19 school support programme with a minimum of 80% attendance;
- - 400 children, youth and adults will receive psycho-social support to cope with the impact of COVID-19 on their lives though individual & group counselling sessions;
- 150 cases will receive case management support;
- 40 children in street situation will be referred to a Child Protection Unit (CPUs);
- 140 child protection & social welfare professionals will be trained in case management approaches in the post COVID-19 situation and there will be reported increase in confidence in online modality of working;
- 120 professionals (social workers & psychologists of the school psycho-social units) assisted to be able to provide support to vulnerable children responding to COVID-19;
- 2,400 vulnerable children, youth and adults will receive direct services and direct (in kind) support benefitting approximately 600 households
DURATION: 12 months
TARGET AREAS: Durres, Fier, Korca, Lezhe, Shkoder and Tirana
PROJECT PARTNERS: The national child helpline ALO 116 111, Center for Integrated Psychological Services, Murialdo Social Centre, International Association for Solidarity (SHIS Albania), Initiative for social change (NISMA – Arsis)
The action ERCA - Emergency and recovery support for vulnerable children and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Albania, is funded by the European Union.