The installation of life-saving equipment for beachgoers, kitchen facilities, and the modernization of child-oriented infrastructure at the day care center in Elbasan are the outcomes of development projects funded by the “Polish Aid” program of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Tirana in 2024.
In recent years, Albania has experienced dynamic growth in the tourism sector, including record numbers of arrivals. In response to the lack of institutional water rescue services and life-saving infrastructure on beaches, Embassy of Poland, through the “Polish Aid” development program, implemented a project aimed at increasing the safety of beachgoers in Albania by installing innovative life-saving equipment. The so-called “Stojak Życia” (Life Stand) is an integrated system with a lifebuoy, featuring a sound and light alarm that alerts about the life threat of the person in the water. The stand is permanently installed on the beach, powered by a solar-charged battery, and equipped with an electronic control system. It is an innovative product designed and manufactured in Poland. Each installed Life Stand is equipped with a lifebuoy and rope. Removing the lifebuoy from the stand activates an alarm that is audible within a one-kilometer radius. The stands have been placed along a five-kilometer stretch of beach in Golem, with user instructions available in both Albanian and English. The project was implemented in collaboration with the Albanian organization – the Albanian Fire Protection and Rescue Association (AFPRA).
For years, the priority of the Polish Embassy’s development aid has been to equalize opportunities for people at risk of social exclusion. In Elbasan, Missionaries of Charity run the day care center, where several children with varying degrees of disability reside permanently, awaiting adoption. The facility also provides daily support in terms of nutrition, hygiene, and care for local children from marginalized backgrounds, including children from Roma families. The Embassy of Poland donated equipment to support the daily functioning of the facility and modernize the infrastructure dedicated to children. The facility improvements also included the installation of solar panels to enhance the water heating system and the development of kitchen facilities. The children’s areas were further enriched with renovated outdoor and indoor playgrounds, along with new bedroom and dining room furniture.
Additionally, as part of the continuation of the project to strengthen the capacity and capabilities of Albanian firefighters, with support of the Government of the Republic of Poland, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme in Albania, in 2024 three fire trucks were delivered to the Albanian municipalities of Lezhë, Fier and Pogradec, and a new fire station was opened in the city of Fier.
The Embassy is currently identifying further areas and beneficiaries for support in upcoming projects planned for 2025.
/Argumentum.al
