In 2003 CRY took over the management of the Home of Hope which cares for children and young people aged up to 14 years. They are cared for in small groups. The Home is managed by an Albanian Director (Arjan Emini) who is assisted by a social worker and House Mothers. Apart from the care of the children in the Residential Home, work is now being done with those children who have returned to their own families.

CRY's objective is to ensure that all the children and young people receive the regular help and support that will encourage them in their skills for life and spiritual development. Also for the Care Team to develop skills and expertise in respect of social/child care which will enable them to develop services to children and young people in their community, and to continue to develop innovative ways to place the children and young people with their families or similar family type homes.

Please partner us in this excellent work by sponsoring a child.

SUMMER CAMPS 2006/07/08 - TAUNTON SCHOOL STUDENTS TRIP
For three years running, Christabel Ager from Taunton School, Somerset organised teams of 6th Form students to visit Albania to take the children from Home of Hope on an activities camp holiday at Erseka (Erseke) - a small town of just 7,000 in south-eastern Albania, near the Greek border - (map link). The children from the Home, students and teachers all had a great time at the Udhëkryq activities centre run by Torchbearers-Albania.

If you would like to partner us in giving the children from Home of Hope a really great holiday in 2009, please make a donation.

DAY CARE CENTRE
Hope of Hope also operates a Day Centre which provides general support, food, and educational help to children (mostly under 6 yrs) from very poor families - mostly Roma Gypsy living on the outskirts of Elbasan in a 'shanty town' type environment. Without the kindergarten support, these gypsy children would not be allowed to enter the Albanian education system and would remain illiterate - unable to read, write and unlikely to find regular work as adults.

TIRANA
DAY CENTRE OUTREACH
CRY also supports an outreach to the poor through Bethel Trust in Tirana. This work includes feeding poor Roma Gypsy children living in squalid conditions on the outskirts of Tirana. It is hoped to expand the work in due course when enlarged facilities and funding allows. In 2007, the Bethel Trust opened a street cafe with "Lamb and Spit" - the profits from this business supports this outreach to the poor.