January 3, 2017
How we help
Some of the funds from the Three Kings collection go to foreign projects, and in 2016, Caritas across the Czech Republic supported countries facing poverty, hunger and poor access to education or health care. The help went to the most endangered – children, seniors, handicapped people and homeless people.
Most of the funds went to Europe last year – Kosovo, Serbia, Belarus or Romania. Diocesan Caritas of Ostrava and Opava, Diocesan Caritas of Brno and Archdiocesan Caritas of Olomouc took action to help people affected by war in Ukraine. The collection supported the elderly, homeless and people with psychological problems and war veterans. The donors from the Czech Republic enabled the purchase of briquettes for heating, the purchase of healthcare products and even to form a new Caritas in the eastern part of the country.
The department of Humanitarian Aid and Development Cooperation of Caritas Czech Republic focuses on improving the situation in the poorest country of Europe, Moldavia, where many inhabitants of working age leave the country for better opportunities, and seniors and children are often left with no care and no money. In 2016 Caritas Czech Republic developed and improved social services and supported the integration of socially excluded children and handicapped children into society.
Other funds from Three Kings collection were used in Africa. Diocesan Caritas of Ceske Budejovice sent funds to a foster home in Zimbabwe, Archdiocesan Caritas of Prague supported healthcare in Uganda, the aid went to Zambia and Ethiopia, too.
In Asia are other examples. In Mongolia, the Diocesan Caritas of Litomerice ensured social and educational activities. Diocesan Caritas of Hradec Kralove contributed by the purchase of a car for parishes in outlying areas of Honduras, and in Central Africa. In South America, Diocesan Caritas of Plzen coordinated child sponsorship, helping children in Bolivia, Paraguay and Peru.
Some Caritas branches are also using funds to improve humanitarian aid in the Czech Republic. Last year it was used in Humanitarian and Development Centre in Ceske Budejovice. Archdiocesan Caritas of Olomouc attended to further education in the area of foreign development cooperation.
