Care For Albania

Care For Albania is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on mental health support, trauma counseling, and aid programs for Albanians in the United States, Albania, and surrounding countries. The organization was founded by Dr. Sonila Sejdaras, a clinical psychologist, and operates from offices at 655 W Irving Park Rd, Suite 202, in Chicago. The IRS has recognized it as tax-exempt since April 2022 (EIN 88-0968878).

The group's stated mission is to enhance mental health support and build community through targeted programs in the U.S. alongside aid work in Albania and nearby areas. Its direct services include pro-bono psychological therapy and group counseling, with a particular focus on people who have experienced medical or war-related trauma, young Albanian-Americans facing financial instability, and community members navigating immigration challenges and socioeconomic strain.

Fundraising and community-building anchor the public-facing side of the work. Care For Albania hosts an annual 5K walk titled "Hope on the Move: 5K Walk for Mental Health & Cancer" along the Chicago lakefront at 601 W Montrose Ave, and a yearly gala and silent auction in Chicago. The organization states that 100% of donations and fundraising proceeds go to its current initiatives.

Within the Albanian-American landscape, Care For Albania fills a specialized niche. Where many diaspora groups concentrate on cultural preservation or civic life, this one is built around clinical mental health services and trauma care, extending outreach to Albanian communities in the U.S. and Canada as well as to Albania and neighboring Balkan countries.