THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL CHARITY WORKS
Background
The department of charitable activities was born with Caritas because it is even its reason of being. It came as a response to the miseries of 1959 happened in Rwanda. The bishops of the time created “Le Secours Catholique Rwandais” (Catholic Relief Services Rwanda) and in 1960 it became Caritas Rwanda. In 1963 Caritas Rwanda received its legal status, while on September 8, 1965 Caritas Rwanda joined Caritas Internationalis Network.
Its objectives are rooted in the mission, vision and values of Caritas Rwanda which are based on the restoring human dignity without discrimination.
Funding
The Department of charitable activities works thanks to the generosity of Caritas Rwanda’s partners, starting with Christians and other people of good will. Activities are carried out in all the Dioceses, Parishes, Sub-Parishes, and Basic Ecclesial Communities in daily life. In the General Assembly of Caritas Rwanda held in 1997, the Catholic Bishops declared “the Month of Charity” which takes place in August every year. The harvest from this activity supports the needy of all kinds:
-The schooling of vulnerable children;
-Assist street children;
-Assist the most vulnerable people to have home;
-Regular assistance to the vulnerable;
-Assist people with physically and mentally disability;
-Assist young mothers;
-Assist the elderly;
-Assist prisoners;
-Assistance to refugees;
The assistance to all these cases leaves a very significant impact in the Community. The number of our beneficiaries in 2021 is 118,868 with a budget of 1,950,513,764 Rwandan Francs.