Interviews

Independence means remaining human despite circumstances, says the director of Caritas Czech Republic in Ukraine
August 24, 2026 News

Independence means remaining human despite circumstances, says the director of Caritas Czech Republic in Ukraine

On August 24, residents of Ukraine celebrate Independence Day. In the past, it used to be a common public holiday with concerts and a parade in the capital city. However, during wartime, it has become a day that unites people and celebrates the heroism of fallen soldiers and those protecting the country at the front lines. In this interview with Nataly Matskova, the director of Caritas Czech Republic in Ukraine, we take a closer look at the meaning of Independence Day in Ukraine as well as Caritas’s work in the country and the current needs of local people.

We are an oil country, and people cannot put oil in their cars, a journalist from Venezuela says
August 14, 2026 News

We are an oil country, and people cannot put oil in their cars, a journalist from Venezuela says

In the first half of the last century, Venezuela began to build its reputation as an oil empire. However, due to corruption and political instability, it gradually turned into a non-democratic country experiencing one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time. This year, the South American state has caught the attention of global media twice – once in January, when the United States arrested the authoritarian president Nicolás Maduro. Then in June, two strong earthquakes took the lives of more than 6,000 people and homes of nearly 20,000. You can read more about the historical context and the everyday life of people in Venezuela in this article, accompanied by the commentary of local journalist Alejandra Otero.

Invisible crisis and incredible resilience. Caritas's social worker describes the life in Gaza
July 20, 2026 News

Invisible crisis and incredible resilience. Caritas's social worker describes the life in Gaza

The loss of relatives, repeated displacement, lack of food, and never-ending fear. That is what life in Gaza has looked like for months and years. How does the current situation affect the mental health of local people? That is what the social worker of Caritas Czech Republic discusses in this interview. Although she also deals with daily obstacles of living in the Gaza Strip, she helps others manage the psychological burden and find hope again.

Trust is behind the success of Czech development cooperation, says country programme coordinator Filip Tlapa
July 16, 2026 News

Trust is behind the success of Czech development cooperation, says country programme coordinator Filip Tlapa

Caritas Czech Republic has been working in Georgia for more than ten years. Over the past decade, it has built the trust of local communities and institutions, and continues to nurture that trust today. A significant part of its activities focuses on healthcare – from cancer prevention and support for paediatric oncology to the development of mental health care. Filip Tlapa, Programme Coordinator for Ethiopia, Georgia and Moldova, speaks about the challenges, achievements, and ongoing changes within Georgia’s healthcare system.

Czech agricultural technologies are heading to Zambia
June 10, 2026 News

Czech agricultural technologies are heading to Zambia

Why connect Czech agricultural innovations with the needs of farmers in Zambia? Martin Jurkovič, the secretary general of the Czech Agricultural and Forestry Machinery Association (AZET), addressed this question in an interview with Caritas Czech Republic. In cooperation with Czech Development Agency, we aim to bring Czech technologies and know-how to Zambia in order to support more efficient and climate-resilient agriculture. Domestic companies will provide their innovations, while their collaboration and the transfer of solutions into practice are coordinated by AZET.

Testimony from Gaza: Increasing numbers of rodents are threatening the health of local people, says a doctor in an interview for Caritas Internationalis
May 19, 2026 News

Testimony from Gaza: Increasing numbers of rodents are threatening the health of local people, says a doctor in an interview for Caritas Internationalis

Amid the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, a new devastating public health emergency is breaking: a massive rodent infestation that is spreading diseases. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 70,000 cases of ectoparasite infections and rodent -borne illness have been reported in Gaza since the start of 2026 alone. We publish the following Interview with one of Caritas Jerusalem’s staff working on the ground in Gaza, the doctor wishes to remain anonymous for security reasons.

Caritas Czech Republic sets new safety standards for humanitarian and development workers
December 29, 2025 News

Caritas Czech Republic sets new safety standards for humanitarian and development workers

Helping others is only possible when those who provide the help are safe themselves. That is why Caritas Czech Republic places great emphasis on protecting its staff and creating a secure environment for their work. This year, we launched a systematic review and development of safety management within our humanitarian and development programmes. The aim of this strategy is to prepare staff for potential crisis situations arising from security threats and accidental or natural risks. According to Kristýna Kvasničková, Learning & Policy Coordinator, safety standards were updated this year at Caritas Czech Republic’s offices in Ukraine and Zambia. In the coming year, these procedures will also be implemented in other regions where Caritas operates. This activity was funded by the Czech Aid. 

Laos confronts rising waste accumulation with Caritas Czech Republic’s support and Czech expertise
December 23, 2025 News

Laos confronts rising waste accumulation with Caritas Czech Republic’s support and Czech expertise

In the capital of Laos, the issue of emissions is so pressing that electric cars are being adopted here more rapidly than in Europe. Nonetheless, the country continues to grapple with the unsustainable problem of waste accumulation. Recently, experts from the BioResources & Technology Division, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU) visited Laos. Supported by Caritas Czech Republic, the dean, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hynek Roubík, Antoine Bercy, M.Sc. and Jan Staš, M.Sc., PhD, contributed to an analysis aimed at helping local institutions address the nationwide problem. Among all Southeast Asian countries, Laos has experienced the fastest growth in waste. However, the local infrastructure is unable to process it, says Hynek Roubík in an interview with Caritas Czech Republic. 

Caritas Czech Republic helps manage the impacts of climate change in Ethiopia, Jan Líska and Barbora Ludvíková share in a joint interview
December 8, 2025 News

Caritas Czech Republic helps manage the impacts of climate change in Ethiopia, Jan Líska and Barbora Ludvíková share in a joint interview

Ethiopia spans across the so-called „Horn of Africa“, which is the easternmost point of the continent, cut off by the Arabian Sea into the shape of a rhino’s horn. According to Jan Líska, the Institutional Funding Coordinator of Caritas Czech Republic, Ethiopia has been placed on the list of priority developing countries that the Czech Republic supports in its Development Cooperation Strategy. In a joint interview, Barbora Ludvíková, Senior Humanitarian and Development Advisor, adds that Ethiopia was not included on this list by accident. “Czechoslovakia collaborated with Ethiopia already in the past. Ethiopian students studied in Czechoslovakia, and Czechoslovakia imported technologies to Ethiopia. We established several breweries and a tannery there,” Barbora explains.

Gaza´s healthcare system has been set back by centuries: Interview with Caritas Czech Republic Staff on the Situation in Israel and Palestine
October 10, 2025 News

Gaza´s healthcare system has been set back by centuries: Interview with Caritas Czech Republic Staff on the Situation in Israel and Palestine

“Surgeries are performed without anaesthesia. There are no antibiotics, and painkillers are missing,” describes Jan Líska, staff member of Caritas Czech Republic. After two years of conflict in the Gaza Strip, the civilian population is facing extraordinarily difficult conditions.