Articles

Caritas Czech Republic launched its Caritas Cares country report on 2 February. This report describes the main challenges related to poverty and social inclusion in the Czech Republic and provides recommendations for policy makers to address these challenges.

Men dressed as the Three Kings, Balthazar, Melchior and Gaspar, rode camels in the historical core of Prague and across the Charles bridge during the traditional Three Kings Procession on January 3, 2016. The procession was organized by The Caritas of the Archdiocese of Prague.

The St. Charles Lwanga Buikwe Hospital has received the Celestýn Opitz Award, which goes to outstanding personalities or projects that set an example in care-giving to the infirm or otherwise needy. It is being awarded by the Hospitaller Order of the Brothers of Saint John of God.

The Parenting Skills Support for Single Mothers project is an innovative program concerned with the development of mothers’ parenting personalities and skills. The creator of this comprehensive program, which was first implemented in 2012, is the personnel of Caritas of the Archdiocese of Prague, who have drawn on their many years of experience working with single mothers, especially with those living temporarily in the shelter.

Many regions of the Czech Republic saw heavy flooding in June. Caritas reacted to the floods within hours. It set up a collection account and crisis centers, monitored the situation, and passed on information in the affected areas and to the general public. Caritas is a network of more than 350 Caritas entities in the Czech Republic (on the level of dioceses, cities, regions, parishes). The whole network worked together as one.

The Caritas of the Archdiocese of Prague is officially opening its new donation program, Sponsor a Hospital Bed. Donors can give directed support to the St. Charles Lwanga Buikwe Hospital in Uganda, which the Prague Caritas organization established in 2007 and has examined nearly 200,000 patients since that time. Even just CZK 300 will fund one bed in the pediatric ward for a week.

International and development aid provided by Czech Caritas has promoted the good name of the Czech Republic for 20 years already – this was the appreciation expressed by Karel Schwarzenberg, Minister of Foreign Affairs, when awarding the Gratias Agit Award to Caritas Czech Republic.