How vulnerable families find refuge and hope in Albania
A struggling mother finds food, friendship, and hope through a caring community.22nd June 2026
Carrying the Weight Alone
Every day, Klodiana wakes up knowing that four children depend on her—and that she must face life's challenges alone.
After her husband abandoned the family, the 35-year-old mother from Lapraka, Albania, was left to care for their four children by herself. Three of them live with disabilities, creating challenges that can feel overwhelming. Her seven-year-old twin daughters have fragile bones and require constant care, while her sons also depend on her protection and support.
Some days, simply providing enough food for her children is a struggle. Yet despite the hardship, Klodiana keeps going, drawing strength from the people she loves.
Her 10-year-old son, Valentino, loves drawing.
"They reflect the hope that we hold onto, even in the toughest of times," Klodiana says of the bright colours he uses in his pictures.
A Place Where She Feels Valued
For Klodiana, the Soup Kitchen run by Mission Without Borders and the Rilindja Church is far more than a place to receive food.
When life feels overwhelming and loneliness creeps in, it is a place where she is welcomed, known, and cared for. The hot meal she receives each day helps feed her family, but the kindness she encounters nourishes something deeper.
In a world where poverty can make people feel invisible, Klodiana has found a community that sees her struggles and walks alongside her.
“I feel good here at the Soup Kitchen. They value me. It’s not just about the food for me and my children, but it’s also the peace that Alma, Bardha, Pastor Fitori, and everyone here provide.”
For Klodiana, that sense of belonging is just as important as the meal she carries home each day.
Hope for Today, Strength for Tomorrow
Every day, around 125 people facing poverty, loneliness, and hardship come to Mission Without Borders' Soup Kitchens in Albania. Many arrive carrying burdens that extend far beyond hunger.
That's why the team provides more than meals. Through practical support, friendship, prayer, and genuine care, people like Klodiana find comfort, dignity, and hope.
Alma, the centre's coordinator, explains:
“At the Soup Kitchen, we strive to provide more than just meals. We offer a community where she and others can feel valued and find the emotional and spiritual support they need.”
For Klodiana and many others, the Soup Kitchen is a reminder that they are not alone.
Your support helps provide meals, care, and community to vulnerable families and their children. Will you help more families like Klodiana's find a place of refuge, belonging, and hope?
