Farmers in the dioceses of Nakuru and Kericho in central Kenya register to receive vouchers. The project was funded by the European Union in partnership with Catholic Relief Services, local dioceses and CAFOD (the Caritas agency of England and Wales). The seeds allowed farmers to continue working their fields following 2008 post-election violence. Each family received about $200 worth of vouchers to purchase seeds, fertilizer, tools and small livestock from select vendors who redeem the vouchers for cash at the diocesan offices. In total, 4500 families benefitted from this project.
Photo by Debbie DeVoe/CRS

A tailor in the sub-district of Shoronkhiola, Bangladesh was able to resume his business after Cyclone Sidr battered towns near the western coast. The tidal surge took almost everything residents needed to survive and care for their families. As part of a relief and recovery project, Catholic Relief Services and Caritas Bangladesh distributed over 150 sewing machines in two sub-districts to help those who lost everything to the cyclone regain their livelihoods.
Photo by David Snyder for CRS.

Hawa has had nine children, and seven have died. Hawa was determined not to lose this one.

In Sierra Leone, giving birth is dangerous. The country has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world. That’s why CRS and local communities are constructing birth waiting homes in four chiefdoms in northern Sierra Leone. Since many women die within 24 hours of delivery, it is crucial that women access a health care center prior to going into labor, and also remain under medical supervision for one to two days after giving birth, says Suzanne Van Hulle, CRS’ health program manager in Sierra Leone.
Photo by Lane Hartill/CRS

Ramiro Rodriguez and his wife Maritza had to flee their farm in rural Colombia when guerrillas came to their house and said they had 24 hours to leave or be killed. Four decades of war have forced more than 3 million Colombians-as much as 5 percent of the country’s population-from their homes.  Along with 10 other families Ramiro and his family made their way to the capital, Bogota. With the help of Catholic Relief Services and Caritas they were able to start a new life by creating a bakery in their home.
Photo by Jim Stipe/CRS.

A mother shows off her healthy infant at a Village Nutrition Center, run by the Lusubilo Orphan Care  Center in Malawi. The program reaches about 213 orphans  and other children with critical food needs. Catholic Relief Services supports the center with food and technical staff support.

The community-based program was established in 1997 by the Rosarian Sisters in Mzuzu Diocese. Read how it changed the lives of triplets Marcelle, Dennis and Beatta, who came to the center weighing 4 ½ pounds.

Photo by David Snyder for CRS

A young child in the northern highlands of Guatemala takes a sip of milk while her family members wait their turn to receive food rations. As Guatemala has the highest levels of malnutrition in Latin America, Catholic Relief Services provides pregnant women and mothers with young children food rations and nutrition workshops. This helps promote proper childhood development in a country where infant mortality is 33 percent higher than the regional average.
Photo by Sara A. Fajardo/CRS

Lab workers at a health center supported by Catholic Relief Services and run by the Archdiocese of Mombasa in Kenya test blood samples for a variety of ailments, including malaria. This mosquito-borne disease kills more than 1 million people every year, 80 percent of them in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the United States’ U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative. Every 30 seconds, an African child dies from the disease.

With funding from generous donors, including the U.S. government, CRS has launched anti-malaria projects in a number of countries. The projects that would provide families, especially small children and pregnant women, with aggressive treatment, education and preventive care.
Photo by David Snyder for CRS

Some residents of New Jersey meet with a congressional aide (far right) at the 2009 Social Ministry Gathering in Washington, DC. Catholics from across the country were asked to urge their elected officials to increase funding for foreign aid. Catholic Relief Services co-sponsored the event. With advocacy a main component of our work in the United States, CRS staff often testifiy on Capitol Hill to address the root causes of global poverty, conflict, and health pandemics.

CRS works in partnership with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and other Catholic organizations to develop public policy positions. Above all, our work seeks to protect the inherent human dignity of all people.  Photo by Jim Stipe/CRS

Residents of Chhatisdebil in Orissa, India rehearse during a mock disaster drill. During the annual rainy season, areas of Orissa experience massive- and often deadly- flooding. Chhatisdebil is one of 75 villages along Orissa’s highly vulnerable coast. The Community Based Disaster Preparedness Project supported by Catholic Relief Services assists villagers in a comprehensive flood preparedness program.

“A key aspect of emergency response is working with high-risk communities before a disaster so they will be better able to cope when catastrophe strikes,” says CRS President Ken Hackett. In neighboring Bangladesh, CRS has similar disaster preparedness project that will reach nearly 61,000 people. See how you can support this project.

Photo by Amiran White for CRS

Thanks to a water purifying project in the Vinh Long province of Vietnam, Fran thu Bich and her child Vo Thruong Vy have safe drinking water from a faucet in their home. Clean water is considered as “liquid gold” for many in the developing world.

Previously, the community would take water directly from a canal, for drinking. Through the water purifying project, supported by Catholic Relief Services and its partners, the community was able to construct a water tank and pumping station.