Ongoing projects

Kape të Ardhmen (Take the Future) is the main project of Hope which commenced in April 1999 with opening of the Information, Counseling and Support on Reintegration Office for the forcibly returnees by Switzerland. The initiator and fundraiser of this project is Dr. Patrice de Mestral. Hereafter the office offered support on reintegration of the repatriated people not only from Switzerland but from other west European countries as well.

Since 2003 internal migrants have been involved in this project as well.

Donors of this project are:

1999 – 2000:    Private Swiss donors and partly HEKS (Swiss Interchurch Aid)

2001 – 2002: SDC (Swiss Development and Cooperation) and HEKS.

2003 - 2007: HEKS

and EED (German Evangelic Church Development Aid).

2008: HEKS

2009: HEKS

Projects involved already implemented

The project “ALBAMAR” was aimed at the definition and implementation of an integrated support to Moroccan and Albanian migrants forcedly or voluntarily repatriated from Italy to their country of origin. Overall objective of the project was to contribute to the development of a culture of legal migration and socio-economic reintegration of returning migrants. Support to the returnees was provided in terms of psychological assistance and aid to the placement in the Moroccan and Albanian labour market. Vocational trainings and psychological preparation to return were offered in Italy.

The specific objective was the definition of a sustainable and integrated support to returning migrants which covers the diversity of factors related to the return (psychological, social and economical).

In the framework of this three year duration project, Hope for the Future was providing assistance for 253 repatriated people from Italy. The assistance consisted in job placement and salary supplement, training courses, psycho-social and legal counseling. The project beneficiaries were also involved in the socio-cultural activities to promote their social reintegration.

Sensitization activities on the issue of illegal migration were performed with the returnees as main actors. This participation allowed to take advantage of their experience to better deliver the message.

Donor: European Commission, AENEAS Programme.

In partnership with IOM

VARRP – Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme for voluntary returnees by UK, initiated by IOM London. The first agreement for this project was signed in February 2003.

Donor:European Refugee Fund

The MIGRAVALUE project, in which our association was involved, started to be implemented in September 2006, and ended in August  2008. It was financed by the EC in the frame of the INTERREG IIIB CADSES program.

This project was aimed at launching a model for the active management of migration as a key tool for the integrated economic and social development of host and source regions. It involved 14 partners from EU as well as EU Neighbour countries, representing a broad network of public and private stakeholders, including businesses and migrants. The leader partner was Veneto Lavoro (Italy). It enhanced the spatial cohesion of interested regions by valuing the financial and human capital of migrants.

This project was aimed to develop spatial development visions associated with migratory movements and with regional development strategies. Close cooperation between migration host and home countries to attain this goal helped improving cohesion within the EU and with border regions in the CADSES area, in accordance with the policy goals of cooperation and spatial integration set forth in the New Neighbourhood Instrument.

Donor: EC INTERREG IIIB CADSES

On 17 October 2006 the agreement with the Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen (Flemish Refugee Council) was signed to strengthen the cooperation in the frame of the “Individualised Reintegration Assistance after Voluntary Return” project. The project was aimed to provide direct or indirect assistance for the emigrants residing in Belgium, those who were wishing to return voluntarily, to assure a sustainable return to Albania.

Our association did provide various reintegration services, as its programme contained, to voluntary return migrants from Belgium.

Donor: EC and FEDASIL (Belgian Government)

Open up a new path in your life                     (second phrase of Take a Step Project)

This project was aimed at promoting the integration of 55 women internal migrants of Vora region (Bërxullë and Domje) by giving them the opportunity of vocational formation and further training in order to facilitate the employment process in their new settlements.

Donor: Swiss  Parishes (Patrice de Mestral)

FOKABI project (SME-s Capacity Building) was aimed at achieving sustainability by building the capacity of the local entrepreneurs to sustain their activities and to continue providing reintegration services (on-job training) to returned migrants referred by Hope in a long term run. Training and seminar sessions regarding SME issues were realized with Hope's beneficiaries who were interested in this field. 

The project also was aimed at promoting the female entrepreneurship by showing in this way the woman’s values, capacities and power and taking into consideration that women are wishing to have a proper income generating activity in the premises of their houses or nearby, in order to give their financial contribution in the family.

This project did provide financial support for 10 beneficiaries (5 female and 5 male).

Donor: EED (German Evangelic Church Development Aid).

Take a Step (2006)

This project was aimed at promoting the integration of internal migrant women by giving them the opportunity of vocational formation and further training in order to facilitate the employment process in their new settlements.

According to addressed needs the women were provided with vocational formation in different training courses like tailoring, hairdressing, computer, culinary, foreign languages. This was done in cooperation with entities and vocational training centers which provided these services.

The integration packet included professional, social and cultural integration.  

Counseling and emotional support was also provided.

50 women and young girls benefited by this project. 62% of them found a job after training.

This project is expected to be developed in other problematic areas as well.

“Donor: HEKS

FOKABI project (SME-s Capacity Building) was aimed at achieving sustainability by building the capacity of the local entrepreneurs (former Hope's beneficiaries) in order to achieve a sustainable return.  

This project provided financial support for 5 beneficiaries (5 women internal migrants of Laknas area).

Donor: HEKS

With IOM (2004 - 2005)

HLWG Project “Fostering sustainable reintegration in Albania, Kosovo Province and FYROM, by reinforcing local NGOs capacity for service provision to returnees”.

Donor: European Commission, HLWG Project.

With COOPI (2003 - 2005)

ALNIMA Project - Providing assistance to reintegration of ex-detainees and forcibly or voluntarily returnees from Italy to Albania, Nigeria and Morocco.

Donor: European Commission, HLWG Project.

Spread of activities

       STATISTICS                                                                                                                          - on the activity of Hope for the Future Association -      (May 1999 — December 2008)

A total of 1745 persons, 1406 men and 339 women are enrolled in “Hope for the Future” Association list from May 1999 to December 2008.

1362 beneficiaries, 1079 men and 83 women have benefited from our professional and social reintegration programme from May 1999 to December 2008.

Statistics of 2008