There’s more happening in Albania than new hotels and beach clubs. Local organizations and international partners are helping women build businesses, restoring forests, rescuing animals, and creating opportunities for young people.
Volunteering can also help you meet people and feel more connected to life here. If you’re new to the country, see our guide to how to build a social life in Albania for more ways to find community.
Here are some charities and community projects worth knowing about, with ways to help from Albania or abroad.
Updated October 2026
💼 Projects helping women thrive
Women building independent businesses
Behind it: World Vision Albania and 🇦🇱 Forumi i Gruas Elbasan, with 🇪🇺 European Union funding.
The RISE HER project supports women and girls across seven municipalities in Elbasan County. A September 2026 update reported 103 women trained to develop business plans and five supported to launch businesses. The goal is practical: help women develop skills and income for more independent lives.
Ask the organizers about supporting their work or connecting with participating businesses. worldvision.al
Explore RISE HER and meet its organizers
Rural women turning herbs into livelihoods
Behind it: 🇦🇱 Albanian Network for Rural Development (ANRD) and VIS Albania, supported by 🇺🇳 UN Women and funded by 🇮🇹 Italy through AICS.
Women in Malësi e Madhe help grow, collect, and process medicinal herbs, but often have limited opportunities to earn more from their work. This project combines sustainable farming advice with financial-management training and individual business planning.
It runs from February 2026 to July 2027, with particular attention to women farmers, women-headed households, and women with limited economic opportunities. Contact the organizers through the project website about potential support or collaboration. anrd.al
Explore the rural women’s project
🌿 Nature and wildlife conservation
Farms, forests, and a new hiking trail
Behind it: 🇳🇱 CNVP Foundation, with Albanian communities and 🇸🇪 Swedish support for its medicinal-plant work.
CNVP has helped lavender and medicinal-herb farmers improve production and connect with buyers. Its forest-restoration work also has a visitor-friendly result: a 6 km hiking trail between Korthpulë and Gomsiqe, near Pukë, announced in October 2026. The route passes through restored land, showing how conservation can support rural tourism. cnvp-eu.org
Explore the hiking trail project
Photos from https://cnvp-eu.org/from-erosion-to-eco-tourism-a-new-trail-connects-korthpule-and-gomsiqe/
A healthier future for the Vjosa
Behind it: 🇦🇱 EcoAlbania, with partners including 🇦🇹 Riverwatch.
EcoAlbania combines science, community involvement, and advocacy to protect Albania’s ecosystems. Its Vjosa work includes research and restoration, with a planting week documented in February 2026.
Volunteers can contribute to its activities, while donations support its wider conservation work. Ask about upcoming opportunities rather than assuming past events are still open. ecoalbania.org
Volunteer or support EcoAlbania
Wildlife research you can help with
Behind it: 🇦🇱 PPNEA, an Albanian conservation organization.
PPNEA’s 2026 brown-bear monitoring initiative involves trained volunteers collecting genetic material in mountainous areas for a national population assessment. It also offers broader office and field volunteering, including wildlife surveys and awareness activities.
Contact the team about current openings, training, and the time commitment involved. ppnea.org
Find a conservation volunteer role
Bird conservation with a creative side
Behind it: 🇦🇱 Albanian Ornithological Society (AOS).
AOS connects bird research with public engagement. Its 2026 listings include bird ringing and art residencies at Vjosë–Nartë and Divjakë–Karavasta, alongside pelican-habitat rehabilitation volunteering and internships.
Its official opportunities page is a useful place to check upcoming activities and application dates. linktr.ee
Photos from https://www.instagram.com/aos_alb
🐾 Animal rescue and welfare
Help for rescued animals in Vlorë
Behind it: 🇦🇱 Protect Me Albania, an independent local nonprofit.
Protect Me rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes animals in Vlorë, alongside shelter care and animal-welfare advocacy.
You can help through donations, requested supplies, adoption, or practical volunteering. Arrange visits with the shelter first so staff can prepare. protectmealbania.org
💛 Inclusion, education, and community support
More opportunities for people with disabilities
Behind it: 🇦🇱 Jonathan Center in Tirana.
Jonathan Center supports people with special needs, particularly Down syndrome, through therapy, family support, and training. Its work also includes employment initiatives and inclusive events.
There are donation options and application routes for both Albanian and international volunteers, including opportunities to support daily activities and special events. downsyndromealbania.com
Photos from https://www.instagram.com/p/DTyGvbDiM47/?img_index=1
Small grants for local ideas
Behind it: 🇺🇸 Friends of Albania, working with Peace Corps volunteers and Albanian community partners.
Peace Corps volunteers work alongside Albanian teachers and communities on English lessons, youth activities, and local development. Friends of Albania helps fund community projects, including camps, health activities, and community improvements.
Its 2026 grant program offers up to $750 for local applicants working with eligible Peace Corps volunteers. Readers can donate toward projects, while local groups can check the grant requirements. www.peacecorps.gov
Check community grant eligibility
Routes into education and employment
Behind it: 🇺🇳 UNICEF and UNDP, with 🇪🇺 EU funding and Albanian organizations.
EU4Youth supports young people who are outside employment, education, or training, with projects across Tirana, Shkodër, and Vlorë. Its local partners include CEDI and Qendra Vatra in Vlorë, and YWCA Albania in Shkodër.
The program connects young people with guidance, preparation, and pathways toward training or work. The project directory identifies participating organizations for readers seeking local information. www.undp.org
Find EU4Youth projects and partners
How can you help?
Choose a cause you care about and ask the organization what it needs now. You could donate, apply for a volunteer role, contribute requested supplies, or share a current appeal.
If you have skills in design, translation, photography, or administration, ask if those would be useful. You don’t always need to be in Albania to contribute.
Volunteer places and project needs change. Confirm arrangements before visiting, and check eligibility before applying. Some opportunities require training or a longer commitment.