Thanks to the "How is your pain?" project, prisoners in Albania have benefited from support and material aid.

 Need we remind you that Saint Vincent de Paul was held prisoner for many months in Tunis and Algiers, like thousands of persecuted Christians? As chaplain general of the galleys, he alleviated the suffering of thousands of captive galley slaves.

Faithful to their vows of charity to the poorest and most marginalized, the Daughters of Charity continue this mission of protecting and listening to prisoners. 

They visit them, provide food and care, give lessons, and help them to plan their reintegration, while revealing to each of them their dignity and God's love.

It is during her visits that Lindita brings material aid and hope to prisoners incarcerated in Durres, Req and Rrogozhine in Albania, a country once infamous for its particularly harsh prison conditions.

Thanks to the "How's your sentence?" project, Sr Lindita was able to continue her weekly car journeys to the 3 prisons at a time when petrol prices had soared.

Prisoners are also provided with clothing, telephone cards, medicines and foodstuffs. Sr Lindita is particularly attentive to the exchange of correspondence and the prisoners' links with their families.

She explains:

"With this project, we have been able to alleviate the suffering and despair of prisoners (some mentally ill) and their families. They realize that they continue to be human beings with values and dignity. They often say to us: "You're the only ones who really care about us". 

"The prisoners' testimonies are always touching, so grateful are they. But I'd like to relate here the short story of 5 immigrants in Durres prison. We're talking about Amad Abushala, Zuhair Alkarafi, Zaid Aljboori from Libya, Moaied Altahir from Iraq and Badr Tizine from Syria. They were imprisoned while trying to migrate to European countries. They are in captivity, completely alone, in miserable conditions because they have no one to support them and the conditions of detention are difficult.

I didn't know these people were in prison, and just as I was closing the door to the room where I'm authorized to hold meetings with prisoners, a policeman approached me and told me about the situation of these immigrants. As soon as he finished speaking, I immediately re-opened the door to the meeting room and asked him to meet them personally. They came, and with eyes shining with joy, accepted the shoes, winter clothes and food I still had available. They left full of gratitude. 

Many thanks for your support!

With Them, Thanks to You!