Stories from the places where we help

 

Story from Gaza: She was dependent on help from her family. Now, she dreams of walking on her own
April 22, 2026 News

Story from Gaza: She was dependent on help from her family. Now, she dreams of walking on her own

As a little girl, Rafah learned what it felt like not to have her own freedom. She was born with cerebral palsy and a foot disability. As a result, she was unable to move without her family’s help. Her mother had to carry her everywhere, and Rafah could not play with her peers. With the beginning of the war in Gaza, her family was displaced to a refugee centre, where she received support from Caritas Czech Republic. Our social worker provided her with psychosocial assistance and arranged for her to receive a wheelchair, so she could become more independent. This story, with a happy ending, is about a girl who did not lose her brave spirit despite war or health difficulties.

At 14, Rana from Syria plans to become a doctor. She was encouraged by a programme supporting girls and women
April 15, 2026 News

At 14, Rana from Syria plans to become a doctor. She was encouraged by a programme supporting girls and women

Rana was born at the beginning of the civil war in Syria. When she was just a few months old, she had to flee her hometown of Hayan in Aleppo with her parents and four older siblings. For a long time, they searched for a safe shelter. They moved from villages to towns and faced many difficulties. Eventually, they settled in the village of Kaljibrin in the countryside of Aleppo. But even there, they did not find the stability so necessary for young Rana. Hope arrived thanks to the programme supporting girls and women in Syria, implemented with assistance from Caritas Czech Republic. Rana began attending the sessions regularly and, gradually, she gained confidence and great ambitions for her future.

In one minute, they lost everything – the stories of people from eastern Ukraine
March 18, 2026 News

In one minute, they lost everything – the stories of people from eastern Ukraine

Humanitarian aid can be measured in food packages, litres of water, or tons of firewood. But behind those figures, real people’s stories are hidden  stories of those from Eastern Ukraine who, like us today, once owned houses, worked, and raised children. In 2022, they lost everything in a matter of minutes. Many decided to leave their hometowns and move to the relative safety of western Ukraine, such as Ivano-Frankivsk. One of them was Iryna: “People came here with small suitcases. They packed their entire lives into one bag. They constantly follow the news from home. They live in hope of returning, no matter what.” These are their stories. 

Caritas Czech Republic transforms Moldovan schools into a safe, comfortable and inclusive environment
March 13, 2026 News

Caritas Czech Republic transforms Moldovan schools into a safe, comfortable and inclusive environment

In the Moldovan countryside, people often face problems stemming from outdated infrastructure and limited access to clean water. An uneasy situation is reflected in the local educational system as well, because it is difficult to set hygiene and sanitary standards under such conditions. Therefore, Caritas Czech Republic improves them and also organises awareness-raising programmes for parents and teachers, so they can subsequently educate their children and students. These activities in Moldova are supported by the European Union and the Czech Development Agency. 

Inspiring stories of women who refused to give up
March 7, 2026 News

Inspiring stories of women who refused to give up

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.

The bombing blew out windows and doors. The shelter's residents in Kryvyi Rih found comfort with Caritas Czech Republic
March 6, 2026 Caritas Czech Republic in Ukraine

The bombing blew out windows and doors. The shelter's residents in Kryvyi Rih found comfort with Caritas Czech Republic

On the eve of winter, damp and cold prevailed in the rooms of the Polytechnic College dormitory in the frontline town of Kryvyi Rih. A drone attack damaged the windows of the building, sheltering more than 120 evacuees from the combat zone. Most of them are single elderly people and people with disabilities. As part of a life-saving aid project, we replaced the windows so that the shelter's residents could stay warm.

Access to water transformed the lives of Ethiopian families
March 2, 2026 News

Access to water transformed the lives of Ethiopian families

In the village of Banka Kebele, in southern Ethiopia, Caritas Czech Republic established a water system that now supplies 9,000 residents. Thanks to this activity, the community has become more self-sufficient. People’s health has improved, new income-earning opportunities have opened up, and they are now better prepared to face the impacts of climate change, which are strongly felt in the area. Between 2024 and 2025, Caritas Czech Republic operated here together with the Ethiopian Catholic Church Social and Development Commission Coordination Office of Soddo (ECC-SDCO/S) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. 

Thanks to Caritas Czech Republic, Georgian children with special needs now have a better school environment
February 23, 2026 News

Thanks to Caritas Czech Republic, Georgian children with special needs now have a better school environment

For three years, Caritas Czech Republic helped strengthen Georgia’s early childhood development and inclusive education systems. We supported the establishment of centres for children with special needs and trained professionals in early childhood development. We also assisted in kindergartens, which helped improve inclusive education in the country.

From Kitchen Hustle to Registered Enterprise
February 17, 2026 CCR-Zambia

From Kitchen Hustle to Registered Enterprise

What began as a small home-based catering effort has grown into a formally registered and expanding enterprise, thanks to entrepreneurship training, a grant, and determination.  

Electronic boxing pad, drums, and a bubble wall. What does the first school psychological relief room in Transcarpathia look like?
February 13, 2026 Caritas Czech Republic in Ukraine

Electronic boxing pad, drums, and a bubble wall. What does the first school psychological relief room in Transcarpathia look like?

Ukrainian childhood during the war means daily stress, danger, relocation, and loss of family and friends. That is why Caritas Czech Republic has joined efforts to support mental well-being in school communities in western Ukraine. In cooperation with the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Programme ‘How Are You?’, local and regional authorities, we have created the first school psychological relief room in Transcarpathia. This experience can be spread to other schools in the region.