Ethiopia, like many other countries, is feeling the severe impacts of climate change, which are compromising water infrastructure and leaving many without access to clean water. In Ethiopia's Abela Abaya district, locals have to travel for six hours to fetch water for their homes. Caritas Czech Republic helps people in the south of Ethiopia gain better access to clean drinking water while improving their climate resilience. Moreover, we empower women to include them in agriculture and other economic activities.

April 9, 2026 News

Cost of global conflicts: How wars impact the lives of civilians and the world around us

Whether we talk about the deepening refugee crisis or the rise in global prices of oil and fuel, the current battles in the Middle East and other parts of the world show that conflicts do not stay within borders and their consequences are felt all around the globe. Wars affect civilians, the economy, the environment, and health systems. Moreover, the concerning news about international security and the suffering of innocent civilians worsens the well-being of many of us. Therefore, at the end of this article, you can read our advice on how to protect yourself from the constant waves of bad news. 

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.

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. 

January 15, 2026 News

Almaz used to worry about her children’s health due to contaminated water. Today, she takes care of her community

  Until recently, Almaz watched her children drink water with an anxious heart. The water was contaminated, posing an excruciating risk of stomach illnesses. Almaz and her family live in southern Ethiopia, where no other source of water was available. Last year, with support from Caritas Czech Republic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, and Caritas Ethiopia (ECC-SDCO/S), access to local water was restored. Thanks to this, Almaz no longer needs to worry about her children’s safety. Moreover, she saves several hours each week because she no longer has to fetch water from elsewhere. As a result, she has been able to grow her own vegetables and support the family budget. She has also taken responsibility for managing the water spring and has become the voice of her community.

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. 

December 19, 2025 News

Caritas Czech Republic's worldwide achievements in 2025

The year 2025 brought both good and bad news. While a ceasefire was successfully agreed upon in Gaza in October, the humanitarian situation on site remains critical. People lack drinking water, food, medicine, electricity, and safe shelter. In Ukraine and Syria, people are also grappling with the consequences of long-term conflict. Caritas Czech Republic is working to improve their living conditions. For example, we are providing psychosocial care in Gaza, supporting the development of medical facilities in Ukraine, and restoring access to drinking water in Syria. We are also securing local water sources in Ethiopia, where we are simultaneously focusing on modernising agriculture, thereby enabling local farmers to better manage the impacts of climate change. However, this represents only the tip of the iceberg of our activities around the world. Let us, therefore, recall the greatest successes of Caritas Czech Republic’s work over the past year.