7 December 2002 Claudia Janiszewski, an American volunteer at the University Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology #1 in Tirana, Albania, received the Albanian Presidential Award on 6 December 2002, for her work with abandoned babies, according to a news release issued by the U.S. Embassy in Tirana. Janiszewski worked for three ORT projects in Albania, and in her spare time, founded a local NGO to address the problems of abandoned babies in Albania for which she was given the Presidential Award. The Medal of Civil Merit honors Mrs. Janiszewski for her important role in strengthening Albanian non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the precious human activity she exhibited in the assistance of abandoned children. Mrs. Janiszewski founded the Organisation for the Support of Albanias Abandoned Babies (OSAAB) in 1996 after learning about the plight of Albanias youngest citizens. Since the programmes inception in 1996, more than 300 abandoned babies have been provided care by OSAAB in Albanias largest maternity hospital. Mrs. Janiszewski founded the Organisation for the Support of Albanias Abandoned Babies (OSAAB) in 1996 after learning about the plight of Albanias youngest citizens. Since the programmes inception in 1996, more than 300 abandoned babies have been provided care by OSAAB in Albanias largest maternity hospital.