At the heart of ChildHub are its partner organisations and a coordinator in each country where we focus our work – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia.

The coordinators curate the content on the online platform, translate it in multiple languages, including with the help of volunteers, organise online events and promote ChildHub among child protection professionals. Additionally, in our priority countries, we conduct research, advocacy, networking, and capacity building initiatives.

Thanks to the country coordinators, ChildHub thrives to this day, after six years since its launch. Read an interview with Valbona Carcani-Mane, ChildHub Coordinator in Albania, Terre des hommes, to learn more about this role and the child protection challenges in Albania.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role as a ChildHub coordinator. 

My academic background is Clinical Psychology while I hold a Masters in International Development. I have worked in the social field in Albania for more than 20 years. In my role as ChildHub associate for Albania, I have been a promoter of the platform since its launch in 2015, a mean to activate key child protection professionals on actions regarding ChildHub; I act as a facilitator and ensure support for all activities concerning the local initiative.  

What are some of the most rewarding aspects of your role? 

The most rewarding part is the opportunity to get to know professionals from different areas of child welfare and protection not only in my country, but from other countries in the region as well. I appreciate the diversity and wealth that all my colleagues and other people I work with bring into my experience and professional work.

How is ChildHub addressing the child protection gaps in Albania?

I believe that working in the child protection area is very challenging in itself; many other much more developed countries face loads of difficulties. In Albania, professionals report on continuous lack of resources and support to do their job properly and I believe that ChildHub can be used to fill in some of the gaps and address many of these needs.

What are the challenges that child protection professionals encounter during the pandemic?

The isolation and the insecurity that came with the pandemic brought new and additional challenges for professionals of child protection, especially those who were working on the first line. Globally, the domestic violence and cases as well as abuse saw higher numbers and the isolation coming along with it made it very difficult for the protection workers to respond to all needs. During this hard period, ChildHub in Albania proved itself to be an efficient tool, by providing many online opportunities for the professionals to learn, exchange and get support.   

ChildHub has recently launched its new platform…

Oh, I love it. It feels dearer, much more attractive and dynamic. I encourage all to discover it.

***

The Child Protection Hub is led by Terre des hommes (Regional Office in Hungary in collaboration with country offices in Albania, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania and Greece), in partnership with Save the Children North West Balkans, Know-how Centre for Alternative Care for children in Bulgaria, Brave Phone in Croatia, and Centre for Youth Integration in Serbia.

ChildHub is funded by the Austrian Development Agency, Oak Foundation, and Terre des hommes Foundation.

 

Valbona

Childhub

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