Don�t Close �Balashe� Social Center

11 August 2005

The citizens of Elbasan need the Balashe Social Centre

The management of �Balashe� Social Centre in Elbasan seeks assistance for continuation of this programme, having in mind that all its resources are depleted and there is no other chance for survival of this public social institution that provides help to the elderly and persons with disabilities.

The Centre was established as a pilot project, the first of its kind in the Balkans, at the end of 2001. The Centre received financial support by several Italian NGOs, and afterwards it was financed through the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

The chairman, Sk�nder Leka, says that the Center offers its services, such as free meals for poor people which is distributed to 38 families, cleaning services for 20 families, psychological therapy for 22 patients, soup-kitchen that feeds about 110 people every day, laundry services for 65 families, medical assistance, etc.

All services are free of charge and the users are transported with the vehicle owned by the Centre.

�Elbasan is one of the poorest town and this Centre is an absolute necessity�, says Leka.

The Centre has prepared a cooperation project for a survey of persons with disabilities, together with five other regions in Albania and has submitted it for adoption to Elbasan Municipal Council. The Center has available finances to last till December of this year.