Stories

Minga overcame drought and built a future for her children through farming
September 11, 2025 News

Minga overcame drought and built a future for her children through farming

Farming in the face of recurring droughts is never easy. For Minga, a 33-year-old single mother of three living in Meheba, the struggle to feed her family became even harder as climate change brought unpredictable rainfall and repeated crop failures. Despite these challenges, with support from Caritas Czech Republic, she has been able to turn her small farm into a thriving business that provides both food and income for her family.

Hamiyanda purchased his dream bike thanks to growing sorghum seed
January 5, 2026 Humanitární pomoc a rozvojová spolupráce Charity ČR

Hamiyanda purchased his dream bike thanks to growing sorghum seed

Forty-two-year-old Hamiyanda from Zambia used to rely on growing maize as his main source of livelihood. However, due to the impacts of climate change, this way of farming has become unsustainable. Thanks to Caritas Czech Republic, Hamiyanda gained knowledge of organic farming and became a sorghum seed grower. Once established in his new career, he was able to purchase his dream bike, which greatly simplified his work. Hamiyanda and other farmers in Zambia are supported by Caritas Czech Republic, even through donations collected in the Three Kings Collection.

Caritas Czech Republic's worldwide achievements in 2025
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. 

 Kikasa's-journey-to-self-reliance
December 15, 2025 News

Kikasa's-journey-to-self-reliance

When Kikasa fled conflict in Moba District of the Democratic Republic of  Congo in 2017, he arrived in Zambia with little more than hope for safety and a  better future for his family. Settling in Mantapala Refugee Settlement, the 59-year-old father of six faced endless challenges as he struggled to meet the basic needs of his household due to the absence of sustainable livelihood opportunities. Like many refugees, Kikasa found it difficult to secure a stable source of income. Providing food, education, and other essentials for his family was a daily struggle without workable livelihood activities. The situation left him vulnerable and uncertain about the future.   

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?
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.