The Angel's Cradle Program- Tirana, Albania

The Human Touch

In Albania, there is still little interest in volunteerism. And yet, OSAAB has been successful at creating a volunteer "Cuddling Program". OSAAB recruits both men and women, national and international, by consistently networking with Albanian and international organizations, women’s groups, and the international community.

****If you are visiting or living in Albania and would like to volunteer with our program, please contact hospital social worker, Mira Asllani, to receive a volunteer orientation. Telephone in Albania: (069) 216 8088.

Gina and the babies

Volunteer Profiles

GINA, an attorney, arrived in Albania in 2000 to volunteer with ABA/CEELI, an American Bar Association project which promotes the rule of law in developing democracies by supporting legal and judicial reforms. Volunteerism has been a constant in her life and her work with OSAAB began within weeks of her arrival.

Gina is a regular sight in the ward, feeding and cuddling, and talking to the babies. She has been trained in infant massage by OSAAB, which the babies love whenever she has a chance to use it. She has made a point to get to know the nurses. She practices her Albanian with them and they teach her about local customs and life in Albania. In her own words…. "Visiting the hospital is always a relaxing time and an escape from work and the social life in Tirana; though it pulls at my heartstrings to think of the future these babies face. I hope at least that I’m helping to give them a better start."

At 18 years old, ADA, is OSAAB’S youngest volunteer. She was looking for volunteer work when she approached the OSAAB booth at an NGO fair. She hoped that volunteering somewhere worthwhile would make for a busy summer and be gratifying at the same time. She joined the OSAAB volunteer program immediately, and has been an almost daily presence in the nursery, often accompanied by her friends. Ada admits that ..."in the beginning we were nervous because we didn’t know much about babies, but the nurses were very helpful and taught us many things.".. She has also learned infant massage from OSAAB staff.

Ada’s mother has come to the nursery at times, and encourages Ada in her work with the babies. Her father was a bit more hesitant in the beginning, as he feared what people would think if they saw his daughter going to the maternity hospital regularly. Despite the strong Albanian "opinion", Ada is a committed volunteer, insisting that ..."the babies need even more love than normal because of their situation".