LightForce International began working in Albania in 1992 and to date more than 1000 people have personally given their time as volunteers. Thousands of tons of aid have been delivered. LightForce has repaired hospitals & schools, supplying necessary equipment, provided clothes, food and blankets, repaired and constructed homes.

LightForce International is also working on development projects to provide training, long-term employment and create small businesses thus enabling people to rebuild their lives.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

A small micro farm project has been established. It is intended to provide employment for local people and sustainability for other projects.

Children’s Camps are running each summer enabling children to enjoy the facilities at one of the LightForce Activity Centres.. In 2010 we hosted over 1,000 visitors at Summer Camps.

At the request of the local town council welfare department LightForce International is providing monthly supplementary support to 60 of the 650 local families being supported by the local government. Many of the families are from the gypsy community. Each beneficiary family has agreed to send their children to school, not to beg and participate in local community work. An agreement has been made with a local supermarket and the beneficiaries are able to present a voucher in return for food, toiletries & cleaning materials. During the summer a camp was provided for many of these children and ran in partnership with the town council.

LightForce has also donated sheep for slaughter to the Home for the Elderly in Tirana.

ACTIVITY CENTRES

Since 2001 LightForce International has run children’s camps at its site in Ishull Lezhe with 100’s of children enjoying trips to the beach and days filled with fun, good food and lots of recreational and creative ideas.

In 2009, LightForce International embarked upon a programme to develop two exciting Activity Centres for the benefit of community, church and school groups, conference groups, and individuals and families on holiday. The work is ongoing and includes the revamping of the Ishull Lezhe site and the securing of a lease on a property in the beautiful mountainous region of Lura which has been renovated to provide accommodation in two attached village houses as well as camping in the grounds. We launched in the middle of summer 2010 and hosted around 1,100 people.

A wide range of activities at both sites provide new experiences for both young and old in a safe and peaceful environment. These projects are also giving Albanians an opportunity to work and develop skills and greater understanding of what is required in running busy people based activity.

Further additions to the sites will be made ready for the coming year when we expect the number of visitors to more than double. LightForce International sees the need to present solid values to help shape lives, especially those of Albanian children, many of whom will be the decision and policy makers of the future.