Quarter "Visarion Xhuvani", Building 583/3
3001
Elbasan
Albania
- Youth and education
The Women's Center for Development and Culture Albania (W.C.D.C.A) was established in 2010 and has a staff of six full-time and three part-time members, as well as five external experts and advisors. Part of the working group is the board of volunteer students consisting of nine members. Our work is structured in different departments such as “The Department of Women and Family Affairs”, “The Department of Cultural Affairs”, “The Department of Humanitarian and Social Affairs”, “The Department of Students” and “The Department of Freedom of Religion”. Throughout the years, WCDCA has successfully contributed to the abovementioned issues and to establish a solid cooperation with several government institutions, such as the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Ministry of Health and social work, Elbasan Municipality and City Hall. WCDCA is member of the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN), of the Albanian National Network of civil society organisations PCVE established by CLCI as well as partner with different civil society organisations in the region. Our Donors are national organizations, the Embassy of Kuwait and projects supported by foreign donors such as EU found, IPF found, Hedayah found, King Baudouin Foundation etc. The annual budget for 2020 is 36,312,637 ALL. Over the years WCDCA has contributed to the growth and empowerment of young people, students from rural areas, students in need and students of the pre-university system through: professional courses, workshops, academic training, awareness campaigns (Volunteering is humanism) in cooperation with the University and the Local Education Office of Elbasan. One of the main objectives is the development of interfaith dialogue among women and youth. To achieve this goal, we have undertaken a series of initiatives such as: table discussion, conferences, meeting, focus groups etc.
The mission of WCDCA is: To promote the common good and public interest, to promote and protect the human rights, focusing on women rights, to promote socio-economic, education and health development through the implementation of Projects financed by the WCDC and its partners. To support the religious community and academia for research, publications and activities related to capacity building and development.
WCDCA has implemented several projects to promote inter-cultural and inter-religion diversity (mainly in the territory of Elbasan), to boost partnership among different local stakeholders as well as activities focused on schools’ infrastructure facilities related to sport and culture within the schools settings in remote areas of Elbasan region. In addition, some of the projects implemented recently: “Examining gendered components of radicalization and violent extremism in Albania”, On November 2020, supported by Hedayah - International Centre of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism. The project “Local perspectives on de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration of women and children returnees” on June 2021 in collaboration with Forum MNE. Currently we are implementing the project titled: “An Integrated Approach to Promote Women & Youth as Peacebuilders in Albania” in collaboration with ICAN founded by IPF.
WCDCA will contribute to the implementation of national strategies for the promotion of culture and cultural dialogue with other similar initiatives around the world to respond to challenges and needs in the community and beyond. Collaborating with network members will enable us to share good practices and identify needs based on our local context. An important component is capacity building of young people and their promotion through cultural education in initiatives that promote their voice and build sustainable communities. Also one of the issues of interest is the contribution we can offer in promoting interfaith dialogue with various actors in society to develop and protect religious harmony and tolerance in the country and beyond through joint initiatives.
Our interest in joining the ALF Network comes as a result of the background of the organization, which in its status has the main focus on developing cultural dialogue and increasing the capacity of young people in this field. WCDCA is the first organization to lobby for the development of interfaith dialogue with a focus on women and their role. WCDCA under the slogan "Educate, Engage, Empower", aims to promote cultural dialogue among young people by sharing experiences with members of the ALF network.