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January 2, 2026 News

The Three Kings Collection is entering its 26th year this January

At the beginning of January, groups of carollers will once again fill the streets with a joyful message about the birth of the Saviour. They will sing or recite carols, give out small presents, write their blessings in chalk above doorways, or place a sticker with the letters C + M + B 2026. Simultaneously, the carollers will collect money in sealed collection boxes to help people in difficult living circumstances. There are many people around us who need such support.

December 23, 2025 Humanitární pomoc a rozvojová spolupráce Charity ČR

Laos confronts rising waste accumulation with Caritas Czech Republic’s support and Czech expertise

In the capital of Laos, the issue of emissions is so pressing that electric cars are being adopted here more rapidly than in Europe. Nonetheless, the country continues to grapple with the unsustainable problem of waste accumulation. Recently, experts from the BioResources & Technology Division, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU) visited Laos. Supported by Caritas Czech Republic, the dean, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hynek Roubík, Antoine Bercy, M.Sc. and Jan Staš, M.Sc., PhD, contributed to an analysis aimed at helping local institutions address the nationwide problem. Among all Southeast Asian countries, Laos has experienced the fastest growth in waste. However, the local infrastructure is unable to process it, says Hynek Roubík in an interview with Caritas Czech Republic.

December 19, 2025 Humanitární pomoc a rozvojová spolupráce Charity ČR

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.

December 15, 2025 Caritas Czech Republic in Ukraine

A lifesaving firewood stove. Little Evelina's family will survive the winter in warmth thanks to donated solid fuel

The war forced two-year-old Evelina and her parents, Yevhen and Marjana, to flee their hometown of Marganets in the Dnipropetrovsk region. The family settled in a rural house, where the only source of warmth in winter is an old wood-burning stove. Due to unemployment and the rising cost of solid fuel, it is extremely difficult to heat the house throughout the winter, so the family is grateful for the help provided by Caritas Czech Republic and the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund.

December 11, 2025 Humanitární pomoc a rozvojová spolupráce Charity ČR

Christmas ornaments shaped like spiders and their webs, or a camel taking on the role of Santa Claus. What unusual traditions are celebrated in countries where Caritas Czech Republic works?

In the Czech Republic, our unique Christmas tradition involves a golden pig. According to folklore, if we refrain from eating any food during the day, we will see the golden pig shining on the walls in the evening. This tradition might seem strange to people from abroad. Likewise, people in the Czech Republic may raise their eyebrows at Christmas ornaments shaped like spiders and their webs. Such decorations are customary in Ukraine. Let us introduce ourselves to unusual Christmas traditions from countries where Caritas Czech Republic operates.

December 8, 2025 Humanitární pomoc a rozvojová spolupráce Charity ČR

Caritas Czech Republic helps manage the impacts of climate change in Ethiopia, Jan Líska and Barbora Ludvíková share in a joint interview

Ethiopia spans across the so-called „Horn of Africa“, which is the easternmost point of the continent, cut off by the Arabian Sea into the shape of a rhino’s horn. According to Jan Líska, the Institutional Funding Coordinator of Caritas Czech Republic, Ethiopia has been placed on the list of priority developing countries that the Czech Republic supports in its Development Cooperation Strategy. In a joint interview, Barbora Ludvíková, Senior Humanitarian and Development Advisor, adds that Ethiopia was not included on this list by accident. “Czechoslovakia collaborated with Ethiopia already in the past. Ethiopian students studied in Czechoslovakia, and Czechoslovakia imported technologies to Ethiopia. We established several breweries and a tannery there,” Barbora explains.

December 2, 2025 Humanitární pomoc a rozvojová spolupráce Charity ČR

Caritas Czech Republic and Sawa: the art of listening during the conflict in Gaza

A ceasefire in Gaza was agreed almost two months ago. But the local atmosphere and the current situation of the people here, after months of siege, bombardment, starvation, and isolation, can hardly be considered peaceful. Therefore, Caritas Czech Republic continues to work on site and focuses its support primarily on health and psychosocial help. For example, we collaborate with Palestinian organisation Sawa that operates the 164 hotline for crisis intervention.

November 27, 2025 Humanitární pomoc a rozvojová spolupráce Charity ČR

High water costs were a heavy burden for Kamal. Thanks to Caritas Czech Republic, he can now access water both at home and at work

It has been fourteen years since the civil war in Syria started. The locals have been facing violence, forced displacement, and severe shortages of essential goods, including food, water, and means of livelihood. Caritas Czech Republic, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, has focused its assistance on the north of the country, near the Turkish-Syrian border. This region was affected by a devastating earthquake in 2023. Following the end of Bashar al-Assad’s administration this summer, the safety situation in the area even worsened. Yet, we are still able to report positive news from Syria. The following story is one of them.

November 24, 2025 Humanitární pomoc a rozvojová spolupráce Charity ČR

Edeby promotes organic farming in Zambia

Edeby heads Cassia Agro Enterprise Limited in the southern Zambian town of Monze. She founded the company in 2013 and today employs ten people. Thanks to training and support from Caritas, her business now focuses on organic agriculture.

November 18, 2025 Humanitární pomoc a rozvojová spolupráce Charity ČR

Aida’s story offers a look at Caritas Czech Republic’s activities in Gaza

Although the recent ceasefire stopped the imminent danger in Gaza, the peace agreement itself cannot heal the wounds, allow people to return to their broken homes, nor chase away their recurring nightmares. Caritas Czech Republic, together with the financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, helped to maintain the operation of the clinic of Caritas Jerusalem. The facility provided people with basic healthcare and psychosocial support. This activity was concluded at the end of October, but our colleagues remain on site and continue providing assistance primarily in systematic psychosocial support and crisis intervention. The people of Gaza have gone through severe hardship and they need long-term, professionally-led help. The following story is one of many.

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