January 3, 2017
News
In 2016, generous donations enabled Caritas Czech Republic to assist in foreign development cooperation, especially by supporting education, agriculture and other types of healthy living, and social and health care. Special thanks to Catholic Weekly Newspaper readers who last year contributed the amount of CZK 324,961 to the campaign called "A Bit Better Life".
In Zambia, Caritas workers taught young people (mostly descendants of former Angolan refugees) vocational professions such as tailoring, metal production, hotel management, carpentry and automotive repairs. They also provided basic business skills training. Over the past year, 227 graduates have benefitted from these programs. Apprenticeship courses were also offered by Caritas Czech Republic for socially disadvantaged people in Palestine, especially for women. Twenty female participants received extra material support to establish their own domestic business – e.g. in form of a sewing machine or iron. In addition to tailoring, women could also choose cooking, confectionery, or a graphic design course.
In Moldova, social workers devoted to young children with special needs organized training in inclusive education. A total of 1,000 people, including teachers from selected kindergartens, teachers working as psycho-pedagogical assistants and representatives of the local public administration will have completed the course by the end of 2017.
Caritas continued empowering persons with disabilities and provided training to medical staff in Cambodia. The training was focused mainly on visual care, which is practically non-existent in Takeo province. Local eye clinics also received new equipment. A mobile team reached poor remote villages and provided free eye examinations to the most vulnerable populations in Cambodia, especially poor children, widows and disabled people. About 3,500 people will have been treated by the end of 2017.
Caritas Czech Republic also established a new training centre and a social enterprise in the Cambodian town of Siem Reap, offering jobs for people with various types of disabilities. Since its opening ceremony in December 2016 to August 2017, roughly 200 people will have learned the desired skills, including computer skills, creating websites, smart phone repairs and laundry operation.
We thank all the Catholic Weekly Newspaper readers for their support.
