Who would have thought seven years ago, that the project “Kape të Ardhmen” would still exist today?

It is indeed a great success-story, but let us not forget that without the diligent and patient work of a qualified team of social workers, led by a very competent manager, Irena Dono Jorgaqi, our project would have died a long time ago…

In a letter dated March 2^nd 2004 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, Madame Micheline Calmy-Rey pointed out, that she is very proud of the fact that this successful team of Kape consists primarily of women. It is to them that goes the credit, to have developed a project for one of the most difficult target group, the repatriated young Albanians, who left the country to flee the poverty of their homeland in the hope to find a better life somewhere in Europe.

When I look back to the beginning of this project, started in April 1999, in the midst of the Kosovo-war, I remember, that after six months, we were almost ready to give up this project, because only a handful Albanians had come to our office, overcoming their deep seated mistrust, that a Swiss led organization would indeed be willing to help them to get a new start in Albania, after having been repatriated by the Swiss police.

Today, the project of “Kape të Ardhmen” which is a project of the Albanian NGO “Shpresë për të Ardhmen” has gained recognition throughout Albania, and also in Switzerland. As its initial founder and coordinator, it is my great hope, that Shpresë për të Ardhmen will be able to “Albanize” this and other projects, thus showing to the Albanian people, that it is worthwhile to develop projects, which have not only material goals, but a broader scope and vision for the future of a prosperous and sane Albania.

On this occasion I would like to thank all the countless donors who have helped start and carry through this project all these years. I would like to mention especially the Swiss agency of the Protestant churches HEKS and its responsible monitoring person Madeleine Hirsch, the DEZA offices in Tirana and Berne, the Deutsche Entwicklungs-Stiftung of the EKD and IOM Tirana and IOM London, with whom contracts and support have been guaranteed throughout these years. We do hope that all the donors in Switzerland, Germany and England will continue to support this unusual project, started on a private basis, out of the troublesome experiences of a prison chaplain in Switzerland, who realized, that young Albanians need to have a positive outlook on their own future, after having been sent back from Europe to Albania.

Last but not least, I would like to thank all our clients, who have gained confidence in this project, but also all the “shop-keepers” who were willing to give these young Albanians a chance for a new start in their homeland.

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