Your Best Info Source for Peace Corps Albania

Welcome to your best source of information for Peace Corps Albania! If you’re considering volunteering in Albania, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll tell you more about the history of the Peace Corps in Albania and explore Albania as a nation. You’ll learn about the languages spoken in the country and hear about other volunteers experiences. You can find more information about safety and health issues here too. And we’ll tell you how to connect with returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) who served in Albania. Get ready to find out more about information to help you decide if serving in Albania is right for you.

Volunteers in Albania work with their communities on projects in Education (ED) , Health, and Community Economic Development (CED) sectors. Cohorts usually leave in October.

What is the History of Peace Corps Albania?

The Peace Corps first started working in Albania in 1992, right after communism ended there. It was one of the first American groups to come to Albania after communism. Since 1992, over 850 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Albania. They had to stop working there briefly in 1997 due to fighting in the country, but started up again in 2003. A big focus has been on helping develop rural communities. Peace Corps continues to be an important part of the relationship between the US and Albania.

Map showing the position of Albania in Europe.

What about Albania as a nation?

Albania is a small country located in southeastern Europe. It borders Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Greece. Albania has about 2.8 million people.

For most of its history, Albania was controlled by the Ottoman Empire. It became independent in 1912. After World War II, Albania was ruled by a communist government until communism ended in Eastern Europe in the 1990s.

Around 90% of Albania’s population is ethnic Albanian.
The main religions are Islam and Christianity.
Albania joined NATO in 2009.

Albania has a democratically elected government. In the 1990s it transitioned to a market economy after years under communist control.

Some major industries in Albania include farming, mining, energy, tourism, and clothing manufacturing. But Albania remains one of the poorest countries in Europe.

In summary, Albania is a small, mostly Muslim country in Europe transitioning to democracy and a market economy after being under communist rule. It is working on joining Western institutions like NATO and the EU.

Peace Corps Albania volunteer engaged in English teaching in a classroom filled with attentive students.

What languages do they speak in Albania?

The main language spoken in Albania is Albanian. It is the official language of Albania and Kosovo. It is also spoken in parts of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Greece and Italy. There are around 7-8 million Albanian speakers worldwide, mostly in Albania and Kosovo.

There are two main Albanian dialects – Gheg in the north and Tosk in the south. The Tosk dialect is the literary standard. The Albanian alphabet uses the Latin script with some additional letters like ë, ç, and ş. In the past, Albanian had its own unique alphabet.

How safe is it serve as a volunteer in Albania?

In general, 93% of volunteers felt safe or very safe where they lived in Albania. And 94% felt safe or very safe where they worked. 15% of volunteers early terminated mostly due to medical reasons or resignation. But more detailed information about safety compared to other Peace Corps countries can be found in the Albania Crime, Harassment, and Early Termination of Service Data.

Most of the medical problems seen in Albania are also found in the United States, such as colds, diarrhea, skin infections, headaches, minor injuries, sexually transmitted infections, adjustment disorders, and emotional problems. For Volunteers, these problems may be more frequent or compounded by life in Albania because local factors raise the risk of or exacerbate the severity of certain illnesses.

The medical problems specific to Albania are colds, flu, diarrhea, skin infections, headaches, minor injuries, dental problems, sexually transmitted infections, Hepatitis A, B, and rabies. Health problems also can result from local environmental factors, such as dust, humidity, insects, and disease- producing microorganisms. But more detailed information about health related issues at Peace Corps Albania can be found in the Albania Health and Medical Care Summary.

Peace Corps Albania volunteer and her host sister, standing together in a picturesque countryside, overseeing a flock of sheep.

What do volunteers think of serving in Albania?

Since 1975, the Annual Volunteer Survey has been a source of information on the state of the Peace Corps (PC) program for the agency, Congress, researchers, the media, and the general public. In 2019, 82% of volunteers found their overall Peace Corps service rewarding or very rewarding. 78% of volunteers would still make the same decision to serve with the Peace Corps today. 73% of volunteers would recommend Peace Corps service to others. More information can be found in the Albania Annual Volunteer Survey Satisfaction Results.

Where can I learn more about Peace Corps Albania volunteer experiences?

PCV blogs and YouTube channels offer a unique look into the daily life of volunteers serving in Albania. These blogs and channels can help you understand the challenges and triumphs that come with being a volunteer. Explore these links for inspiring stories and practical advice from current and past volunteers.

Blog and YouTube Channel Links:

Here is an alt text for an image of the flag of Albania on a blog post about Peace Corps Albania: The flag of Albania with its distinctive double-headed black eagle on a bright red background. The red stands for strength, bravery, and valor, while the eagle represents the sovereign state of Albania looking both to the west and east. The flag embodies the resilience and national spirit of the Albanian people, who have overcome occupation and isolation to form an independent nation aligned with the West. As home to over 800 Peace Corps Albania volunteers since 1992, the flag also represents an emerging democracy supported by American friendship and exchange.

If you’re interested in learning more about serving in Albania, I’ve got you covered! Click here to see all of my posts about Peace Corps Albania with details on the experience, culture, food, packing tips, and more.

How can I connect with Returned PCVs who served in Albania?

Peace Corps Albania volunteer engaged with a group of enthusiastic children in a community activity.

And where can I find official information about Peace Corps Albania?

"Peace Corps Albania Welcomes You" book cover

This is an old PC publication called “The Peace Corps Welcomes You to Albania“, published in 2013. In the past, before the internet, this is how volunteers learned more about Albania. Even though it is many years old, there is still a lot of good information there. You can download it here but remember it is just for informational purposes. For up-to-date information, always check with you Peace Corps contacts and staff.

Conclusion:

This blog post has provided you with information to help you decide if serving in Albania is right for you. You have gained insights into the cultural, linguistic, and developmental aspects of the country. We have also touched on the safety considerations and health-related information relevant to volunteers. And, you learned how to connect with returned Peace Corps Volunteers. For more information about Peace Corps Albania, you can visit the Peace Corps website or explore the provided resources. We hope this post has been helpful in your quest for information on Peace Corps Albania.

Map by TUBS and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.