CARITAS INTERNATIONALIS

Caritas is the helping hand of the Church reaching out to the poor, vulnerable and excluded, regardless
of race or religion, to build a world based on justice and fraternal love.
Caritas Internationalis has its headquarters in Rome.
The first Caritas organization was established in Germany on Nov. 9,1897.
MISSION. Caritas shares the mission of the Catholic Church to serve the poor and to promote charity and
justice throughout the world.

What Caritas Internationalis do?

-Caritas is about more than daily survival. They work in ensuring the poorest and most marginalized
through their emergency response, sustainable development and peace building programs.
-To achieve this, they focus on five key areas:
Conflicts and Disasters
-Caritas has a unique worldwide network of more than 160 member organisations with the experience
and skills to respond efficiently and effectively. Caritas is there both before the emergency and
afterwards. Caritas also looks to the future, investing in its emergency preparedness and response skills
to face emergencies like floods or droughts. It is energetically focused on disaster risk reduction which
means taking steps to lessen the harm done by repeated natural disasters in the same country or area.
Caritas also forges dialogue to prevent the conflicts which cause suffering and loss and works to
transform active conflicts into peaceful settlements.
Food
-As a confederation of more than 160 Catholic organisations, Caritas focuses its joint efforts on how
climate change affects the ability of the worlds poor and vulnerable to feed themselves. Caritas
advocates for the right to food, where everyone receives nutritious and adequate food.
Health & HIV
Without good health people cannot reach their full human potential. Their countrys economy cannot
grow. Caritas delivers health care to people who need it in both emergency and day-to-day situations.
Caritas groups build the capacities of local communities to prevent the onset of illness and provide
medicines and other life-saving supplies for treatment programmes. The Catholic Church itself is one of
the biggest global health providers. It runs thousands of hospitals and dispensaries as well as houses for
people who are elderly, chronically ill or who have physical or learning disabilities. Caritas also promotes
ethical and just health policies and practices through advocacy at organisations such as UNAIDS and the
World Health Organization. Since 1987, Caritas has prioritized efforts in response to the pandemic of HIV
and AIDS. More than 100 members of the Caritas Confederation are engaged in providing value-based
prevention education, treatment, care and support to people living with or affected by HIV in all parts of
the world. It advocates with governments, international organisations and drug companies for universal
access to cost-effective and suitable medicines.
Migration
-Caritas recognises the bravery and strong spirit of people who want to build better lives for themselves
and their families. But it wants migration to be an informed choice and campaigns for migrants to be
properly protected by law. Caritas believes in a positive view of migration migrants should be
welcomed as they bring many benefits to their host countries not just those they left behind.
Development
-To Caritas, development means building a world in which we all live without fear of hunger and
injustice, peacefully co-existing, providing for ourselves and protecting our planet. We focus on the root
causes and multiple effects of poverty and on bringing the empowered voices of communities into the
political process. In this spirit, Caritas is pleased to have participated in the open and collaborative
process out of which a new development agenda was born in September 2015. Known as the
Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs the 17 goals and 169 targets, are ambitious and challenging.
But, they are also offer hope. While the SDGs are a follow on to the unfinished business of the
Millennium Development Goals of the last 15 years, they now apply universally to every country and go
further in pledging that no person will be left behind. Caritas will work through its members worldwide
to bring a visible difference to the success of the SDGs and to the lives of the poorest and most
vulnerable people.

Sustainable Development Goals

Is a set of 17 Global Goals with 169 targets between them. These included ending poverty and hunger,
improving health and education, making cities more sustainable, combating climate change, and
protecting oceans and forest.

Finance
The Caritas Internationalis General Secretariat (GS) provides coordination and support to the
confederation. It is funded by contributions from member organisations and through private donations.

Regions
Caritas Internationalis is made up of seven regions. Members of regions work together on common
issues, strengthening each other and contributing to global action. They are Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin
America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa (MONA), North America, and Oceania.

Governance
National Caritas organisations are each autonomous under their bishops, but they combine as part of
the Caritas Internationalis confederation, which is a body of the Universal Church.
Every four years, representatives from our member organisations worldwide meet in the Vatican City to
review work carried out and approve a strategic framework and a budget. The most recent gathering of
the General Assembly was in May 2011. The General Assembly elects the Representative Council to
serve four-year rotating terms to govern the confederations activities.
The General Assembly elects the Caritas Internationalis president, vice presidents, secretary general and
treasurer. The president and two vice presidents are ex officio members of the Executive Board which is
composed of seven members, three of which are appointed by the Holy See and one is elected by the
Representative Council.
The President is the global representative of Caritas Internationalis. The current incumbent is Cardinal
Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle. He was elected President at the 20th General Assembly in May 2015. The
Chief Executive Officer of Caritas Internationalis is Michel Roy. He was elected for a second term as
Secretary General at the 20th General Assembly in May 2015.

Member organizations
National Caritas organisations are linked to their bishops conferences. They commit to good
governance, transparency and accountability as members of Caritas Internationalis. Caritas national and
regional agencies. The full membership list of Caritas organisations includes:
Africa- 45 national agencies in Sub-Saharan Africa
Chad SECADEV (Caritas Chad) has partnered with the Canadian bishops' Development and Peace
program to provide essential aid for Sudanese refugees in Chad, including access to water, financing for
small businesses and agricultural projects.
Egypt (part of MENA regional agency )
Kenya Caritas Nairobi- operated by the Archdiocese of Nairobi
Nigeria Caritas Nigeria claims to work with local diocesan Caritas to bring relief to displaced families in
the North East region displaced because of attacks by Boko Haram.
Asia- 23 national agencies including:
Cambodia Caritas Cambodia
Hong Kong Caritas Hong Kong operated by the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong
Indonesia Caritas Indonesia KARINA
Caritas Bandung operated by the Diocese of Bandung
Cordia Caritas Medan operated by Archdiocese of Medan
Caritas Keuskupan Sibolga operated by Roman Catholic Diocese of Sibolga
Caritas Keuskupan Agung Semarang Karina KAS operated by Archdiocese of Semarang
Caritas Tanjungkarang operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tanjungkarang
India - Caritas India claimed in its Decennial Report that the organization invested US$75 million on 14
major emergencies across the country during 2014-2015 period.
Japan Caritas Japan
Korea Caritas Korea
Macau Caritas de Macau established the Family Casework & Assistance Service, Our Lady of Mt.
Carmel Home for the Elderly, St. Luis Gonzaga Center for the Disabled and Institute of Social Work, the
first Institute in Macau offering training for social workers.
Nepal-
Philippines Caritas Manila claims a focus on Education, Health, and Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management as flagship programs.
Singapore Caritas Singapore
Vietnam Caritas Vit Nam (26 members of the diocesan)
MENA regional agency Caritas MONA] with 17 national agencies including:
Cyprus
Jordan Caritas Jordan has taken part in efforts to support displaced Syrians since December 2011 and
is still active in addressing the needs of refugees.
Lebanon Caritas Lebanon works through different centers throughout the country, delivering food
parcels, hygiene kits and blankets to refugee families from war-torn Syria. There is also medical
assistance through mobile clinics and health centers.
Syria
Europe- Caritas Europa with 48 national agencies including:
Armenia- Armenian Caritas
Austria Caritas Osterreich
Belgium Caritas Catholica Belgica
Bosnia and Herzegovina Caritas Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria Caritas Bulgaria
Croatia Caritas Republic of Croatia
Czech Republic Charita esk republika
Denmark Caritas Danmark
England and Wales where there are two Caritas agencies: CAFOD and Caritas Social Action
Finland Suomen Caritas ry
France where the Caritas agency is Secours catholique
Germany Caritas Deutschland
Greece -
Hungary Katolikus Karitsz
Ireland where the Caritas agency is Trcaire
Italy Caritas Italiana
Lithuania Caritas Lithuania
Luxembourg Caritas Luxembourg
Malta Caritas Malta
Moldova Caritas Moldova
Netherlands where the Caritas agency is CORDAID
Norway Caritas Norge
Poland Caritas Polska
Portugal Caritas Portugal Caritas Portuguesa
Romania Confederaia Caritas Romnia
Russia Caritas in the European Part of Russia
Scotland where the Caritas agency is SCIAF
Serbia Caritas Republic of Serbia
Slovakia Slovensk katolcka charita
Slovenia Slovenska Karitas
Spain Critas Espaola
Sweden Caritas Sverige
Switzerland Caritas Switzerland
Ukraine - (Caritas Ukraine) claims to focus its activities in the sphere of health care
including home care and palliative care; assistance to children and youth, in activities related to migrant
processes, and assistance to individuals in crisis situations.
North America, Central America and the Caribbean
Antillas
Canada Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (Caritas Canada)[13]
Costa Rica
Cuba Caritas Cuba
Dominican Republic
El Salvador Caritas El Salvador
Guatemala Caritas Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
Mexico Caritas Mexico
Nicaragua
Panam
Puerto Rico
United States Catholic Relief Services, Catholic Charities USA, Caritas USA, formerly Caritas Christi
Health Care
Oceania- 6 regional agencies, including:
Australia Caritas Australia claims involvement in peacebuilding and reconciliation programs in Brazil,
Sri Lanka, The Philippines, Papua New Guinea and elsewhere.
New Zealand Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand
Papua New Guinea Caritas PNG
Caritas Samoa claims to give assistance to low income families, provides capacity-building initiatives for
women, help with the improvement of rural waters supplies, and provides assistance to address needs
caused by natural disasters.
South America
Argentina Caritas Argentina
Bolivia Caritas de Bolivia
Brasil Caritas Brasil
Chile Caritas de Chile
Colombia
Ecuador Caritas de Ecuador
Per Critas Per
Uruguay Caritas Uruguay
Venezuela Caritas de Venezuela

Caritas in Action
1.Central African Republic
Caritas is working to protect lives, build peace and help the Central African Republic recover
from months of turmoil. The country remains in the grip of unrest. Over hundreds of thousands of
people have fled their homes. They have either left the country or are sheltered in camps and places of
worship, including Catholic missions. Half the population is in need of aid. Government has collapsed.
Schools and hospitals have closed. Homes have been burned down. The Catholic Church is one of the
last functioning institutions the people have left. Caritas is providing seeds and tools, rebuilding homes,
helping children get back into school and repairing medical clinics. Caritas is working hard for
reconciliation and peace between Christians and Muslims communities, including setting up local peace
groups and supporting international diplomatic efforts. Both Christian and Muslim families are being
sheltered by Church and Caritas staff. Caritas is operational in CAR through the national Caritas and its
dioceses and through members Catholic Relief Services and Cordaid.
2. D.R.Congo
It is an all too common complaint from people displaced by conflict in the Democratic Republic
of Congo after two million of them are trying to survive after being forced from their homes.Caritas
presence in DRC for half a century makes all the difference. It has a strong local network in the diocese,
which allows it to deliver assistance in a country known for its difficult operating environment. In the
troubled north east of the country, Caritas staff live with many of the same problems as the people they
minister to the threat of rape and sexual assault, the fear of children being abducted as soldiers, the
worry about finding food and clean water. Caritas Goma runs centres where victims can come for
medical care and counselling and Caritas Congo works with former fighters and child soldiers to prevent
them taking up arms again. But aid appeals for DRC often fall on deaf ears. Donors are becoming as tired
of the cycle of conflict as its innocent victims are. Caritas works to keep donors engaged and to promote
an end to the violence.
3. Darfur
Caritas is marking ten years of mitigating the suffering in the Darfur region of Sudan despite the
enormous difficulties of working there. It has maintained the same high level of commitment to the
victims of violence during this time and remained constant, true and at their side in Darfur. The violence
which struck Darfur in the early 2000s, changed the way farmers and herders lived together. Bloody
conflicts broke out over routes and grazing, which continue to this day. Caritas works in partnership with
the ACT alliance of church-based aid agencies in a unique ecumenical initiative. Caritas members provide
emergency relief, clean water, healthcare and nutrition. Altogether more than one million people have
benefitted. More and more responsibility and management roles have been successfully given to local
organisations, following a substantial investment in capacity building. Caritas uses radio programmes
and football tournaments to build peace and provides bicycles for shuttle diplomacy. It opens free
veterinary clinics and water points to remove flashpoints. Different groups of people interact and
become friends during skills training programmes, which also help to get them jobs.
4. Ebola
When the Ebola virus began spreading across West Africa in early 2014, Caritas launched
programmes to protect families and communities. Caritas diocesan teams went to villages and towns
carrying megaphones and bringing soap, bleach and posters to tell people about basic hygiene and teach
them how Ebola is transmitted. In some parts of West Africa, Caritas has worked through dioceses for
years to stop the spread of HIV. Caritas is using the same diocesan networks of clinics and
communications outlets, such as radio broadcasts, to spread messages about Ebola. As the crisis
worsened in autumn 2014, Caritas began expanding its efforts. We are bringing food aid to people in
quarantine in Guinea and Liberia, training community mobilisers, coordinating care for Ebola orphans in
Sierra Leone, and more. Families need help coping with the economic fallout of the Ebola crisis. When
people are not allowed to go to work because of travel and other restrictions, they rapidly become even
poorer and more hungry, even if they are not infected with Ebola. Caritas is working with the World
Food Programme to give food to thousands of people.
5. Haiti
Time has passed since Haitis devastating earthquake of January 12th 2010. But Haitians
already the poorest people in the northern hemisphere will never forget how their lives and
livelihoods were crushed by the rubble. They are still battling to recover. Caritas is standing with them. It
had worked in Haiti for decades before the earthquake and will remain.Caritas Haiti works in
partnership with other Caritas members such as Caritas Spain, Caritas Czech, Caritas Switzerland,
Cordaid (Caritas Netherlands) and Trcaire from Ireland. Catholic Relief Services from the USA is
rebuilding Haitis best hospital while developing a model medical training system. The Caritas regional
organization for Latin America and the Caribbean is successfully supporting Caritas Haiti in strengthening
its capacity. Working in the hardest hit communities, Caritas builds safer schools alongside homes and
clinics which are resistant to earthquakes and hurricanes. It uses local materials and fully consults
communities so their voices are properly heard. Caritas works in the most difficult areas of Haiti,
educating people on how to avoid the plague of cholera and how to rehabilitate their land to lessen the
impact of frequent hurricanes.
6. Iraq
Their escape is rapid. It has to be. They take flight in minutes from the villages and towns that
their forefathers have lived in for millennia. More than 1.2 million people have fled their homes in Iraq
in 2014 since an armed uprising by Sunni Muslim extremists calling themselves the Islamic State seized
Mosul, Sinjar, Anbar and the Nineveh plains. Many of those who have fled are from minorities faiths,
such as Christians, Yazidis and Shia Muslims, who have been targeted by the extremists. What
belongings they managed to leave with are seized at checkpoints. When they arrive in Iraqi Kurd
controlled Erbil and Dohuk, they have nothing. They are desperate, said Nabil Nissan, the Executive
Director of Caritas Iraq. They have lost hope that the international community will act fast enough to
end this humanitarian tragedy. Forced to live in churches or parks, in temperatures of 45C, they need
food, shelter, water, medical care and the basic necessities. Caritas organisations are working through
Caritas Iraq and local parishes to deliver aid to them in Erbil, Dohuk and Zakho, irrespective of their
religious, ethnic or political background. Caritas has provided food, water, bedding and essential living
supplies, education support, trauma counselling and peacebuilding training.
7. Pakistan
Pakistans geographical location makes it vulnerable to natural disasters such as earthquakes
and floods. The floods are made worse by the countrys extreme deforestation and are leading to more
frequent emergencies. Caritas is at the frontline of the humanitarian response to relieve the suffering of
Pakistans poor who are otherwise being pushed deeper into poverty. Caritas Pakistan distributes food,
kitchen utensils, quilts, bed sheets and pillows alongside 4 international Caritas member organizations
who work in the country. To prevent diseases spread by mosquitoes and dirty water, Caritas gives soap,
antiseptic, detergent and bed nets to families. It sets up free medical camps and runs hygiene sessions
on how to avoid becoming ill. Pakistans villagers also need long term help to keep rebuilding their lives
following protracted crises. Caritas gives out seeds and fertilizers, helps farmers prepare their land in
time for the next growing season and vaccinates surviving livestock. It wants flood victims to become
self-sufficient once more.
8. Palestine
Caritas responds to the emergency needs of the people of Palestine regardless of their race or
religion. Caritas Jerusalem, Caritas Jordan and Caritas Syria were formed in 1967 to help both internal
and external refugees trying to escape conflict. Caritas run a medical centre and a mobile health clinic in
Gaza and has trained a network of 180 community health agents. Gaza is a particular priority for Caritas
as it is so very poor. Half the population is under 18 and unemployment stands at 30 percent. In times of
particular crisis, Caritas distributes clean drinking water, milk formula, food and blankets, Trauma and
grief counselling is provided, as is financial support for people whose homes and livelihoods have been
destroyed.
9. Philippines
In one of its largest relief operations in years, Caritas Internationalis is helping over 800,000
people who lost homes, loved ones and livelihoods during Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. Local name Yolanda,
the storm was one of the most powerful ever recorded and left millions without food, clean water and
shelter. From shelter to replacing household good, farming and livelihoods, clean water and food, and
education and safeguarding against future diseases, over 43 Caritas national organizations supported
the emergency response led by Caritas Philippines- NASSA.
10. Sahel
A series of devastating droughts, floods, and plagues of pests like locusts have pushed the
people of the Sahel to the brink. In partnership with other humanitarian organizations, Caritas has run
therapeutic feeding and medical assistance programmes. It distributes emergency food rations and
vouchers as well as energy-saving stoves to help preserve trees in this heavily deforested region. Caritas
also helps build resilience against the hardships by establishing community granaries to help people
through the lean season. It provides training and drought resistance seeds for farmers and is working to
strengthen emergency preparedness measures in the likelihood of more extreme weather.
11. South Sudan
For decades, the Caritas confederation was part of a global prayer campaign for an end to the
war in South Sudan, working in emergency relief, development, peace building and conflict resolution.
Caritas Internationalis members from 5 other countries are working alongside Caritas South Sudan.
Conflict returned in South Sudan in December 2013. Hundreds of thousands of people were forced to
flee from their homes. Caritas is providing 100,000 people with emergency relief. The aid includes food,
plastic sheeting, blankets, mats, jerry cans, soap, mosquito nets, clean water and health care. Caritas is
striving to promote dialogue through the dioceses and by supporting initiatives like peace building
broadcasts on radio stations.
12. Syria
Syrias humanitarian crisis is the biggest emergency for Caritas right now. The vicious conflict has
forced 6million Syrian out of their homes 2million of them into other countries- and has left more than
230 000 people dead. Caritas give s them clothes, blankets and food parcels. It helps them to find
shelter, warmth and schooling for their children. Counsellors offer support to cope with depression and
bereavement.
Caritas Participation

1. Caritas Internationalis and CIDSE have organized a high level dialogue at United Nations to make
sure the faith voice rings out strong and clear in the run-up Paris COP21 climate summit in November.
Representing over 180 Catholic relief and development organizations worldwide, the two catholic
bodies will use their vast experience to ensure that upcoming climate negotiations will kead to a just
and legally binding climate agreement which will ensure the poor will no longer pay the price for global
climate change.
2. Caritas Europa acts as the liaison office to the EU Commissions DG ECHO and the networks member
organizations and ensures the coordination of project members are planning to submit to ECHO. 12
Caritas organizations are currently holding a Framework Partnership Program with DG ECHO, which
enables them to apply for financial support from EU.
3. Caritas Europa engages and tries to impact the EU-level debate on access to international protection,
resettlement and EU border management, return, detention, family reunification, labour migration and
integration.
4. Caritas Europa urges EU and its member states to respect their pledges about social goals agreed
upon in 2010 when launching the Europe 2020 Strategy. Within this political process, Caritas Europa has
been especially active in the policy debate on food for deprived and children and family poverty.

Reported by: Patricia Ann S. Arevalo

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