The Albanian Organization of the Order of Malta (Malteser Albania) has recently inaugurated a multidisciplinary centre for individuals with special needs, and in particular for Roma and Egyptian people.

The centre comprises a building, a football field and a playground for children and offers day care for preschool children and after school programmes for young students who need assistance, as well as a sports centre. Psychological and legal consultancy is also offered. Based in the city of Lezha, in the northeast of Albania, the multidisciplinary centre is supported by the local municipality and by private donors.

The centre was inaugurated by Fran Frrokaj, Mayor of Lezha and Franz Salm-Reifferscheidt, Ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the Roma population and has among its donors the Global Fund for the Forgotten People.

Malteser Albania in the last 25 years has managed a range of projects in the medical, social and civil defence fields. These include the organization of first-aid courses in schools and assistance to some 4000 people living in remote areas without medical coverage.

In the north of the country it runs a centre for autistic children from 3 to 16 years and has extensive experience in assistance programmes for the Roma people to help them integrate into society.