CAUSE – Confiscated Assets Used for Social Experimentations
Partners Albania for Change and Development
Project Ahead Societa Cooperativa
Comitato Don Peppe Diana
18/02/2016 - 17/06/2020
Overall Objective
- To contribute to the effective and sustainable re-use of confiscated assets from organised crime by civil society organisations based on the analysis and adaption of the successful and advanced international practices in the management of the confiscated assets
- To strengthen local CSOs in managing the confiscated assets from organised crime to benefit the communities as a whole
Summary of the Project
The main objective of the CAUSE project was to establish a good model of sustainable reuse of confiscated assets from organised crime, for the benefit of the community. The project supported civil society organisations (CSOs) in Albania in the use of confiscated assets from organised crime to offer services for the communities that are affected or can be affected by organised crime. The project also provided support to the Agency for the Management of Sequestered and Confiscated Assets (AAPSK) in the preparation of the procedure and protocols for giving in re-use and monitored entrustment of confiscated assets to non-profit organisations.
The project approach benefited the local CSOs with the expertise developed internationally, and mainly in Italy, a country where this model is being used since 1996 and where many successful experiences of confiscated assets managed by Italian CSOs, in particular social cooperatives, are already in place. This know-how in sustainable re-use of confiscated assets and the support to strengthen Albanian CSOs in the management of confiscated assets are the overall objectives of the project activities. This approach contributed to the promotion and increase awareness about the re-use of confiscated assets and their transformation by Albanian grassroots organisations into spaces for local communities to be used for social, cultural or rehabilitation purposes. The approach contributed to educating the general public in Albania about the positive impact of correct management of such assets and the damages that an illegal approach has on long-term developments in terms of competitiveness, employment and economic development. It is also a way to provide the policy-makers with a new development scheme and a more effective approach to managing confiscated assets.
Activities
Under the project, 3 sub-grants were granted:
Title of the project: “KeBuono! Social Pastry: legality, inclusion, and awareness as
ingredients for a better community”
Total Budget: 150,000 EUR
EU Contribution: 142,500 EUR (95%)
Implementation period: 16 January 2018 – 31 July 2019 (18.5 months)
Implementing organisation: Enti Kombetar i Josefineve të Murialdos ENGIM in
partnership with Qendra Sociale Murialdo
“KeBuono” is a social pastry running its activity in a confiscated asset from the organised crime in Fier. It offers a variety of pastry products, as well as aggregation activities with children, adolescents, and students, women, and parents aiming to build a culture of legality and non-violence among youth. Vocational Educational Trainings are provided to young people who were former convicts or families of actual prisoners that are facing harsh socio-economic living conditions.
The majority of personnel (75%) are people endangered by or victims of crime in the socio-economic life of the community in Fier, especially young people and girls and women.
Combining various and different elements such as addressing social conflict due to organised, crime, employment of vulnerable people and promotion of values and rights within the community, KeBuono has contributed to overcome the doubts about the re-use of confiscated assets from organised crime in Fier.
Some of the results achieved:
- Four (4) women and girls endangered by or victims of crime in the socio-
economic life of the community are employed - Sixteen (16) youngsters are qualified through Vocational Educational Training out of whom 7 youngsters are employed
- Collaboration with nine (9) schools and centers in Fier has contributed to engage
over 700 children in aggregation activities; 1000 youth are informed about social
issues in order to build a culture of legality and non- violence among youngsters - Four (4) awareness campaigns were organised to promote Roma culture,
prevent drugs and alcohol abuse, include people with personal needs and raise awareness on gender –based violence
Title of the project: KinFolk Coffee Library – social initiative as a measure to counter crime involvement in the city of Durres
Total Budget: 89,717.250 EUR
EU Contribution: 85,231.37 EUR (95%)
Implementation period: 3 May 2019 – 2 May 2020 (12 months)
Implementing organisations: Fondacioni Arsimor Shqiptar in partnership with Civil Society Development Center Durrës
“KinFolk Coffee Library – social initiative as a measure to counter crime involvement in the city of Durres” is an initiative aiming to transform the confiscated asset from the organised crime in the city of Durres into an adapted and friendly environment for young people, their families and citizens, and engage them in social, cultural, and education activities. The project targets youth who are at risk of juvenile delinquency, by engaging them in social and cultural activities that counteract the involvement into illegal activities and criminal life.
Kinfolk Coffee Library is a multicultural centre, offering a wide range of activities such as:
trainings, acting courses, reading while having a coffee, discussion groups, chess course,
languages course, summer and winters schools, etc.
Results after one year of project implementation:
- A comfortable environment in which young people can work, interact and learn established
- Four (4) young people employed
- Over 150 youngsters and students participate and engage in educational, artistic and cultural activities
Title of the project: Social Crafting Garage Saranda
Total Budget: 59,978.86 EUR
EU Contribution: 56,979.92 EUR (95%)
Implementation period: 3 May 2019 – 2 May 2020 (12 months)
Implementing organization: Institute of Development, Migration and Integration (IDMI)
The Social Crafting Garage Saranda (SCG Saranda) is a crafting workshop focused on the production of stone handiworks. It is implemented on the premises of a confiscated asset in Saranda. The raw material used for the craftwork will be natural stones from the beach (colourful, flat, rock, glassy, etc.) – that are painted, drilled, carved and wired in order to create various handiworks, and ready for the market. The stone designs are linked to the cultural heritage and folklore, making these products unique, valuable and competitive in the artisan market in order to provide long-term income.
Results after one year of project implementation:
- Eight (8) women and girls who are victims or at risk of organised crime methods
such as human trafficking, forced prostitution, sexual abuse and domestic violence employed after an initial Vocational Education Training on crafting with
stones - SCG Saranda will serve as a platform for social activities (such as crafting festivals,
exhibitions) and will be transformed into a Social Hub supporting trafficking
victims’ integration in the economic and social life of the city
Expected Results
- Increased level of knowledge and awareness in the community, at national level and particularly in the areas where confiscated assets are available, on the re-use of confiscated assets , the role of the AAPSK, and the possibility of the management of these assets by non-profit organisations, as specified in the Albanian legislation
- Detailed operational protocols for giving in use and monitoring the entrustment of assets to non-profit organisations are officially defined and applied by the AASPK
- Increased activism, know-how and technical capacities of CSOs in the field of management of confiscated assets and implementation of activities from which the local communities at large will benefit
- Establishing the ground/ opening the opportunities for the preparation of a future generation of highly educated professionals in the management of confiscated assets, based on the MBA curricula developed and managed by the University of Naples in Italy
