IRSH has undertaken a variety of projects, the majority of which feature use of interpersonal communication, in the following areas of focus:

• Human rights department, which concentrates on Albanian legislation, advocacy, consultancy trainings, and promotion of women and children rights, etc. Example activity: Through a collaboration with the Threshold Foundation, IRSH's project "Contributions for Civil Society, Education and Democratic Participation in Northern Albania" sought to provide information about topics such as: how to promote democratic structures and citizen participation in villages in the region of Northern Albania; one element of this project involved training people on how to get free and independent information from newspapers and other information sources.
• Social-economic department, which analyses socio-economic problems in the region. Example activity: In collaboration with the Soros Foundation, IRSH organised a course in economics and marketing for women in Shkodra in order to increase their job prospects.
• Education department, which pursues such activities as organising professional courses and trainings for teachers. Example activity: In May 2005, IRSH organised "mock elections" in secondary schools and trainings for first-time voters.
• Media department, which had prepared a newspaper called "Identity" (discontinued in 2005 due to a lack of funding), and which continues to keep in contact with journalists in the region who are working to promote the free and independent flow of information. Example activity: Trainings for young reporters and journalists have been held.
• Environmentalist department, which addresses environmental issues. Example activity: In July 2003, IRSH organised (with support from the United States (US) Embassy in Tirana) an international conference called "Environmental Peace across Borders.
• Art-Culture and Sport department. Example activity: A photo exhibition on Albanian-Italian relations from 1900 to 1950.
• Youth department, which deals with youth problems and activities. Example activity: IRSH worked with high school students to organise a street theatre event featuring 5-minute pieces designed to illustrate negative phenomena such as corruption, trafficking, and violence against women.

To elaborate on the last item in the above list, and to illustrate the organisation's advocacy approach, at IRSH's youth centre (established in 2000), trainings are held on topics such as how to organise a public relations/action campaign. As part of this initiative, a group of young people took part in a one-month computer course; then identified one issue about which they wanted to sensitise the public. The result was a public campaign lobbying against trafficking that featured leaflets, posters, and brochures they had created themselves. Also, in November 2007, members of IRSH's Albanian Youth Parliament used animation methods to organise a protest in the city centre against what they viewed as the indifference of the Municipality of Shkodra with regard to their requests for the creation of public parks and a recreation centre for youngsters.

Along the lines of the latter example, IRSH pursues some of its educational activities through the use of artistic means to raise awareness and to spark dialogue. For example, the organisation works closely with young adults regarding prevention of HIV/AIDS by using methods such as picture drawing exhibitions. And, in areas of the countryside where the poverty rate is high, IRSH implements what is described as "proliteracy for social change to make people work in groups by using FAMA (Facts Association Meaning Action) method. The principle is that usually people work together by viewing a picture which show[s] a problem in their life and then they start discussing...solutions."

Youth, Rights, Democracy and Governance, Environment, Economic Development, Women, HIV/AIDS, Education, Conflict.