Eastern Europe

The collapse of the pyramid investment schemes in Albania, in which many Albanians lost their life savings, was the catalyst for the civil unrest which swept the country early in 1997. As arms depots were looted for rifles and heavy weapons, and law and order broke down, western television screens and newspapers were filled with images of aid workers being evacutated and thousands of Albanians attempting to leave by boat.

Less well publicised were the efforts of ordinary Albanians to alleviate the suffering caused by the crisis, such as CAFOD's 25 local staff who carried on working throughout, providing aid to over 700 families.

As the situation stabilised and order was restored, CAFOD resumed its longer-term development programme, working with local community groups in the north, south and central regions of the country to address basic needs such as schools, housing and water supplies and giving people real hope for a better future.

Eastern Europe (Development and Emergency Grants 1996/97)				Further self-build housing schemes for former politically persecuted families were completed. At an average cost of just �2,500 per scheme families are provided with materials and technical advice to renovate or extend their existing overcrowded and inadequate homes. Training courses in computing and English for unemployed women in Lushnje in the south continued, with further vocational training courses set up in Tirana. Three social workers joined staff on the community information and advice services which operate from CAFOD's regional offices in Lushnje and the northern town of Bajze. CAFOD also encouraged emerging development agencies in Albania by running staff training courses in project planning and fundraising.
	Development	Emergency
Country	(�000's)	(�000's)
Albania	347.0	6.0
Armenia	65.0	54.0
Hungary	1.0	-
Lithuania	2.0	-
Poland	75.0	3.0
Russia	5.0	-
Former Yugoslavia	5.0	119.0
Grants for more than one country	2.0	-
Total Eastern Europe	502.0	182.0

September saw the successful completion of the two-year training programme in mental health care for local staff at the Moughny Health Centre in Armenia. The EU and CAFOD-funded programme has helped staff to learn new approaches to mental health problems amongst a population scarred by manmade and natural calamities in the country's recent past. The staff now also work with schools and youth groups to raise mental health awareness and help reduce the numbers of children developing mental disorders associated with increasing poverty and hardship.

The 300 residents of the multi-ethnic old people's home in Central Bosnia again receive assistance from CAFOD in the form of new pyjamas and bedlinen, delivered for CAFOD by the British Army. CAFOD also worked with the Army to provide essential items for an institute for children and adults with mental disabilities. Elsewhere in the former Yugoslavia, CAFOD supported a trauma project for children in Sarajevo and provided medicines for Serbian refugees.

In Poland, CAFOD continued its EU-funded project providing help and advice for unemployed workers in the town of Lubartow and running courses in how to develop community businesses.

Albania Map and Statistics (from CIA World Factbook 1997)

CAFOD Review of the Year 1997