by Andrea Ferrari-Bravo

26 September 2003

Tirana, Albania: Promoting the ideals of volunteerism in Albania is a challenging task, as there are many Albanian families experiencing financial hardship, worrying about how to sustain themselves. In the past, however, volunteerism played a major role in Albanian society. Volunteers constructed community facilities such as bridges and irrigation systems and managed potable water springs. People often helped each other to plant and harvest vegetables. These activities were based upon Albanian Kanuns, or ancient codes of laws, that define the duties of society such as assisting others. The Kanun of Skanderbeg (a medieval Albanian hero) calls those who contribute to society Falanik workers. He defines a Falanik as “one who does work for honour, without being forced or taking any reward“ – thus a Falanik is a true volunteer.

After the Second World War, the socialist government organized volunteer work on a countrywide scale to reconstruct and organize the economy and society according to socialist principles. Thousands of volunteers from all over the country were producing construction materials, cleaning towns, rebuilding torched houses, schools and bridges and opening new irrigation canals. The official propaganda of the labour party and the State labelled volunteering activities as revolutionary education and a way to strengthen the youth and “shield” them from bourgeois and revisionist ideology.

After the death of Enver Hoxha in 1985, volunteering dramatically increased in an effort to reverse the declining economy. Massive one-day volunteering events were organized and sometimes named, “The Day of Enver”. During the harvesting of maize and cotton, which often fell on Sundays, the traditional day of rest, people of all ages including students and those on the eve of retirement worked the fields. Under these conditions, the obligatory ‘volunteering’ enforced by the Government became not only an extremely tiring event but also a disturbing activity.

Today, volunteering is still viewed by many as a remnant of the communist regime. The majority of Albanians consider volunteering as a worthless job – an activity that takes their time and gives nothing in return.

This view is well explained in a conversation between Professor Dr. Zyhdi Dervishi, the author of the UNV publication, “Volunteering in the Republic of Albania: Reality, Ideas, Challenges”, and a middle-aged worker in a construction site in Tirana e Re. I work as a master. I have built a lot of houses and private villas,” said the construction worker. “I like to work for two or three days without payment in each house. Those who know I am with secondary school education call this action something human and try to compensate it with some kinds of presents. Some of them relate this act with my religious faith. But when owners of villas know I have no schooling, they see my volunteer work as a sign of innocence, of my humbleness in front of them. Often I tell to myself: ‘When you are not educated even your good behaviour is not accepted, or the good thing you do is called something bad.’ This is why I try to read, to complete my knowledge so that others do not understand I have not graduated the secondary school. So even the presents I offer to others through my volunteering work seem to be more valuable”.

Despite this sentiment, a number of facts show that volunteerism was present long before the communist regime. My experience in Albania proves that the volunteering spirit is revived and is especially evident during natural disasters and other times of crisis. Under these situations, Albanians show a strong sense of devotion and altruism, which Professor Dervish defines as, “ordinary in ordinary situations… [and]…extraordinary in emergency situations.”

I am excited to be with the UNV programme and believe there is much more we can do to contribute to improving the lives of Albanians. One lesson I learned here is the importance of partnership and its lasting impact. Relationships of trust and confidence enabled us to build a solid human resource capacity. As UN Volunteers, we try to provide the best advice possible to those faced with tough decisions to make in situations where resources are few and needs are great. With this in mind, anyone with an interest in social responsibility should consider an experience with the UNV programme.