March 7, 2026
News
International Women’s Day serves as a reminder of the quiet strength and perseverance with which women support their families, communities, and even the entire world every single day. According to UN Women data from 2025, as many as 676 million women live close to armed conflict, and 376 million women and girls survive in extreme poverty below the threshold of 2.15 dollars per day, which is roughly 45 Czech crowns. Additionally, 1.8 billion people still lack access to drinking water at home, and women are responsible for its availibility in two out of three households. This year, Caritas Czech Republic aims to highlight the stories of those who, despite uncertainty and adversity, have found ways to help others – their families, neighbours, communities, and fellow women.
Almaz cares for water in her community
In a remote part of southern Ethiopia, generations of women have grown up in conditions where drinking water is scarce. Until recently, Almaz spent long hours walking to a murky spring. She would carry home heavy containers of water that caused her children frequent stomach aches, diarrhoea, and fevers. Constant worry for her children’s health and the exhaustion from daily water fetching weighed heavily on Almaz and other mothers in the village.
The lives of hundreds of families improved last year when Caritas Czech Republic established access points to clean water. And Almaz was at the forefront of this transformation. She became one of the commissioners responsible for managing the village water system. A woman who once felt powerless in the face of everyday uncertainty has become a pillar of her entire community.
Photo: Almaz cares for water in her community
Nesreen bakes bread for other families in the camp
Even before the war in Gaza started, life had been difficult for Nesreen. Two of her four children were born with brain atrophy and needed her constant care. Later, the conflict worsened the family’s situation. They had to leave their home, abandoning everything behind. At one point, they even ended up sleeping on the street without any shelter.
Help arrived through the Caritas Jerusalem clinic, which was financially supported by Caritas Czech Republic. Here, Nesreen received much-needed psychological assistance. She said she left feeling understood and respected. The clinic’s worker also helped the family secure a place in a camp.
Rejuvenated, Nesreen chose to help others as well. At the camp where her family was resettled, she constructed a clay oven and started baking bread for the entire community.
Photo: Nesreen bakes bread for other families in the tent camp
Edeby built a business that supports her entire family
In the Monze region of southern Zambia, Edeby runs a small family business that she established in 2013 after losing her husband and becoming the sole provider for four children, a granddaughter, and another relative. Edeby refused to give up. Instead, she launched a thriving company which now employs ten people, including her sons.
Edeby continues to expand her business. Thanks to training provided by Caritas Czech Republic, she has focused her efforts on organic farming, which she regards as a route to sustainable livelihoods. Like Edeby, other Zambian women also participate in training organised by Caritas. They are committed to providing for their families despite often facing difficult living conditions.
Photo: Edeby built a business that supports her entire family
Olga and Svitlana help Ukrainian women gain confidence
The mother and daughter come from eastern Ukraine. At the start of the war, their city was occupied by Russian soldiers who held them in a basement for two weeks. After this traumatic experience, their family decided to move to the west of the country, to Ivano-Frankivsk.
It took some time for both women to settle into their new home and find a source of livelihood. Then they had an idea. They decided to launch their own fashion brand with meaningful added value. Their designs aimed to help women of all sizes, shapes, and ages gain confidence. Olga and Svitlana are living proof that not even war can break a woman's strength and determination. Their business is flourishing, thanks in part to support from Caritas Czech Republic. Last year, we provided the mother and daughter with a grant that enabled them to purchase new sewing machines and expand their company.
Photo: Olga and Svitlana help Ukrainian women gain confidence
