Diakonia Agapes (Service of Love), the social, development and relief office of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, continues with trainings and new initiatives in various areas of the country. Only last month Diakonia Agapes provided ongoing training for health care personnel to rural areas, and undertaken new beekeeping initiatives to support sustainable livelihoods in Gjinar.
Since January 2014, Diakonia Agapes sponsored by Bread for the World Austria, has been implementing in the Librazhd Qendër commune the project, “Empowering of Women Through the Health Care.” Special attention is given in this project to the training of health care personnel, which enhances the quality of services offered in the community.
35 members of the staff (doctors and nurses) from the area, were trained at a 3-day conference on, “The Prevention of the Breast Cancer” held 31 May to 14 June 2014; and “The Prevention of the Cervical Cancer” held on June 21 – July 5, 2014″. For both of these trainings, Diakonia Agapes has received recognition for accreditation by the National Center of Continuing Education, and with their approval other trainings are being organized for the health care personnel of the commune of Shushica in Elbasan and in Rrogozhina.
Trainings of this nature are valuable for the health care staff, especially for those who serve in rural areas. As in any activity aiming for the professional development of the personnel in direct contact with the community, of particular importance has been the support received from the Department of Public Health in Librazhd, the leaders of the health care personnel and the municipal leadership of Librazhd Qendër. In the second half of 2014 the project will continue with activities that focus on the health education of the women inhabitants in Librazhd Qendër and their empowerment.
Diakonia Agapes has started also the new beekeeping initiatives in the commune of Gjinar. This initiative was financially supported by OCMC (Orthodox Christian Mission Center) in the USA. Diakonia Agapes is training the farmers of this commune for the development of beekeeping. After completing the beekeeping technical training together with other farmers, they will continue another phase of the initiative: applying the knowledge received in their own bee colonies. These colonies which were co-financed by each beneficiary will be taken care of by the trained farmers themselves. Nevertheless, Diakonia Agapes will ensure the continuous technical support by local beekeeping specialists, and when combined with correct care offered to the bees and lots of motivation from the beekeepers, promise strong bee-colonies, excellent honey and in the future sustainable livelihoods for farmers.
