Fighting Human Trafficking in Albania
Direct Service Delivery and Community-Level Transformation
Sr. Imelda Poole CJ and the team of Mary Ward Loreto (MWL) have built a strong organisation dedicated to anti-trafficking. They provide direct support on the ground for victims/survivors of trafficking with trauma-informed counsellors, legal advisors, healthcare workers, employment coaches as well as community facilitators.
On of the key missions is the URAT project (“Bridges” in Albanian), conducting and supervising forty awareness-raising training seminars since 2014, reaching community educators, school principals, parents, and at-risk populations. Mary Ward Loreto directly operates five support centres providing psychological counselling, legal accompaniment, case management, healthcare coordination, and emergency crisis support for trafficking survivors and at-risk persons.
The “Empower Full Club” programme delivers twelve-week group facilitation cycles addressing women’s economic rights, safety planning, psychosocial healing, and sustainable livelihood strategies.
Sr. Imelda coordinates strategic municipal partnerships, representing MWL at government anti-trafficking coordination forums, presenting documented evidence on trafficking patterns, and advocating evidence-informed policy reforms. Her 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours MBE recognises her frontline direct-action model, combining integrated clinical service delivery, community mobilisation, and systemic advocacy into comprehensive anti-trafficking infrastructure.
40+ training seminars since 2014 in Lezha district
Facilitation with community educators, school leaders, parents
Trafficking identification and child safeguarding training
Multiplier-effect through lay trainer development
Estimated 2,000+ community members reached annually
Five operational centres across Lezha district
Psychological counselling (trauma-informed)
Legal assistance and court accompaniment for survivors
Healthcare coordination and medical referral services
Employment coaching and livelihood planning
24/7 emergency crisis telephone support
Average 400–500 survivors/at-risk persons served annually
12-week facilitation cycles addressing rights, safety, livelihood
Group work (6–8 participants per cycle)
Economic independence planning and skills development
Psychosocial support and trauma healing
Peer mentorship and sustainability leadership
Approximately 200 women participants annually
Representation at government anti-trafficking coordination forums
Evidence-based policy recommendations informed by survivor data
Collaboration with police, Ministry of Justice, and child protection services
Cross-border coordination with Italian and Greek anti-trafficking partners
Annual impact reporting and external evaluation participation
Ethical governance standards and accountability mechanisms
Regular staff training and supervision
Survivor feedback integration into programme design
Data protection and confidentiality protocols
Donor transparency and financial accountability reporting
We recognise trafficking as interconnected with systemic poverty, gender inequality, inadequate education access, and discriminatory migration policies.
As Mary Ward women, we aim to further Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) in a specific Mary Ward way – that is, in accordance with the charism of the Just Soul and its defining virtues of freedom, justice, sincerity and felicity which speak so powerfully to issues of JPIC and their integral nature in all aspects of mission and ministry.
We are working in different areas and projects – not out of ourselves, but because we allow ourselves to be sent by God. We form our sisters to be mobile and available, willing to go wherever they are sent. We expect them to strive, like Mary Ward, to have that inner freedom to respond to the call to leave all and follow Christ with passion and compassion.
