Map of world help

A new web application entitled “The map of help in the world” has been recently launched by the Czech Bishops’ conference, Caritas, Pontifical Mission Societies and Czech Leprosy Relief in the Czech republic. Its aim is to concentrate the information about help provided by the institutions of Catholic Church abroad and inform in details about 145 humanitarian, social and educational projects currently under way. Education and social work. The largest number of activities and projects of aid run by the Catholic Church focuses on education and formation – 31%. This area includes building of schools, concrete help to poor or handicapped pupils and students, or professional training of teachers. The Pontifical Mission Societies provide educational and supporting services in Papua New Guinea. According to coordinators of the project, pupils in this geographical area have to face problems hardly imaginable to the Europeans – danger of acute malnutrition, difficult transport to schools, high level of humidity destroying all school equipment, or simply lacking toilets at school. Efforts in the area of social work cover 26% of overall help of the Czech Catholic institutions abroad. Attention is paid to children on streets, socially week families or seniors – a group of people often emarginated even in the developed countries. The Pontifical Mission Societies support orphanages and centers for children with the experience of abuse in several countries. A special attention is paid to the area of human rights. In Mongolia, the Caritas Czech republic has been working on a project aimed at their protection in 24 prisons with almost 6,000 detainees. “Torture, inhuman and humiliating treatment and punishment represents a persisting problem in these institutions. It’s caused mainly by insufficient professional training of the personnel in prisons, as well as by low level of awareness of the prisoners about their rights”, explains Megan King from the Department of Humanitarian Aid and Development Cooperation of Caritas Czech republic. Its program aimed at prevention of torture, cruel and humiliating treatment and at strengthening and protection of the most vulnerable groups of the society will culminate in April 2015. Missionary efforts and promotion of faith. 18% of the projects supported by the Czech Catholic Church abroad are dedicated to “promotion of Christian faith”, with orientation both on its material and spiritual dimension. Construction of churches and parish centers, education and formation of missionaries, catechists and candidates for priesthood. Some of the best-established projects for youth are run by the Salesians of Don Bosco. Volunteering programs aimed at service involving spiritual formation of socially disadvantaged, emarginated and troubled young people are under way for example in Germany or Great Britain, but many salesian volunteers help in more exotic countries like Mexico, where – although the life standard is generally lower than in most European countries – the local culture and tradition bring also positive surprises. “I was fascinated by the faith of Mexicans. When they pass by the church, they automatically make a sign of cross, even when they are riding a bike, and it’s natural. I can’t imagine doing it while passing by the church at the Wenceslaus’ Square in Prague”, testifies Václav Neruda, one of the volunteers. Living and health. Another area of interest is aimed at reaching of agricultural and economic self-sufficiency in poor countries (14%). In Ethiopia and dry north-African states, the efforts of Caritas Czech republic focus on protection of natural resources of water and support of sustainability of existence and work of local farmers. “If they follow our recommendations, the soil renews faster, we support planting of trees and reinforcement of strands to avoid their erosion”, explain the employees of Caritas Czech republic. Healthcare activities of Czech charitable organisations (10% of overall aid abroad) focus on fight with diseases in developing countries like AIDS or leprosy. In some – mainly African and Asian countries – they try to cover the need for basic healthcare and medical products. If we speak about geography, people in need in Africa and Asia “consume” around 65% of overall help provided by the Czech institutions, followed by Europe (24%) and America (11%). According to analysis, Sri Lanka, India, Ukraine, Uganda and Haiti occupy the first five positions of the “aid ladder”. Complete map of help of the Czech Catholic institutions in the world and other details can be found here: www.cirkev.cz/cirkev-pomaha/mapy-pomoci-ve-svete.