Annual Report 2018 Contents By way of Introduction 1 Social and Health Services 2 A Future for All: Sustainable Development (SDGs) 10 Volunteers 11 Three Kings Collection 12 Important Events and Moments in Dioceses 14 Education, Projects, Campaigns 16 Training Centre Marianeum 19 Integration of Foreign Nationals 20 Humanitarian Aid 22 Development Cooperation 26 International Projects of Diocesan Caritas Organizations 34 Financial Section 38 Donors and Partners 50 Organizational Structure 52 Mission and Aims 56 Foreword by the Director of Caritas Czech Republic More than 145,000 people offered their services last year at 1,312 centres run by over opment aid workers in 29 300 local charities scattered countries abroad, in Africa, across towns and villages in Asia, Ukraine, and the volatile Dear Supporters the Czech Republic. I want to Middle East ravaged by war. of Caritas Work, thank all of our personnel for At the same time, I thank for their hard work, often outside The mission of Caritas is to be their help all our supporters, of their jobs, and their fam- close at hand, to show the way partners, donors and spon- ilies, who are often charity and to help people in a diffi cult sors, including media work- workers, as well as child situation they cannot cope with ers who informed the public carollers, thanks to whom alone or with help from their about our work. fellows. They run the risk of the proceeds from the Three social exclusion, poverty and Kings Collection exceeded Sincerely, despair. The clients of our social the threshold of hundred mil- and health services are senior lion crowns for a second year. citizens, mothers with children My special thanks go to in distress, handicapped and humanitarian and devel- Lukáš Curylo, Director homeless people, ill people, of Caritas Czech Republic prisoners, and foreign nationals. Foreword by the President of Caritas Czech Republic sional level, we established Caritas – and its operations of reality, he enlightens others bear plentiful and good fruits, with a positive spirit full of as you can see when you hope.” Dear Brothers and Sisters, read the Annual Report for For Caritas and its workers, last year. The word ‘charity’ means Chris- volunteers and supporters, tian love and expresses care for In our work we have our role I pray for an abundance of one’s fellows, in particular the models, the Saints. As Pope God’s mercies and gladly weak, the sick, the ostracized Francis writes in his apostolic bless you all. and the marginalized. For them exhortation on the call to holi- we all bear, including the Church ness in today’s world Gaudete as an integral part of society, our et exultate (Rejoice and Be part of responsibility. Therefore, Glad): “A Saint is able to live Mons. Pavel Posád, to make sure that assistance for with joy and a sense of hu- Bishop, President of Caritas people in need is on a profes- mour. Without losing a sense Czech Republic 1 Social and Health Services The primary mission of Caritas Czech Republic is to provide social and health care services and social prevention ser- homeless people, prisoners, vices to people who fi nd drug addicts, victims of themselves in pressing domestic violence and peo- need or in a grave social ple smuggling. But also, all situation, the handi- those who have been affl ict- capped and incurably ill, ed by a traumatic event such as a fl ood or fi re. 2 Annual Report 2018 FOR A BETTER AND MORE EQUITABLE SYSTEM Thanks to the wide range of and social exclusion of young The committees are profession- actions and based on its many people presented in 2018 to the al platforms for workers from years of experience, Caritas professional community and to the the same sectors and present Czech Republic participates in press. Representatives of Cari- opportunities for consulting and adjustments to the system of social tas Czech Republic also work in proposing new measures. In the and health services and legisla- action groups of Caritas Europa social and health sector there tion related to the social sector. In for social inclusion and foreign aid are nine such committees at doing so, it always seeks to defend and development cooperation. national level: the interests and benefi ts of the We care very much about the • Committee on refuges for clients with whom it works, as well quality of the services we provide mothers with children in need as other disadvantaged or vulnera- to those in need. As part of a two- ble people. Its representatives take • Committee on migration year project of methodological part in ministerial working groups support of services ‘Towards • Committee on information and cooperate with other institu- Quality’ we held a conference, centres tions and organizations, such as ‘Good Practice in Social Servic- • Committee on social activation European Network against Poverty es’, in the spring, and this autumn for families with children and Social Exclusion (EAPN CR), it was followed by a two-year Platform 10, and Union of Employ- • Committee on social workers – project ‘Towards Quality in ers’ Associations. methodologists Caritas II’. Caritas Czech Republic closely • Committee on social projects In charitable work it is essential collaborates with the umbrella • Committee on social services to share good practices and to organization Caritas Europa, for homeless people cultivate shared ideas. To this end producing inter alia the report we convene meetings of commit- • Committee on social services Caritas CARES 2017 on poverty tees at diocese and state level. for seniors • Health care committee CARITAS SERVICES A total of 1,312 services were Social and health services in 2018 provided in the ‘family’ of Czech Number of Number charities in 2018. Social servic- Type services of users es are registered under Act No. 108/2006 Coll., on Social Services, 1 INFORMATION CENTRES 69 34,860 which breaks them down into three 2 SOCIAL CARE SERVICES 373 27,797 categories: 1. Social information 3 SOCIAL PREVENTION SERVICES 373 43,982 centres, 2. Social care services, 4 HEALTH SERVICES 84 36,077 3. Social prevention services. We 5 HOSPICE SERVICES 61 3,170 include in the total: 4. Health ser- 6 OTHER SERVICES 352 no records kept vices, 5. Hospice services. Then there are other supplementary Total 1,312 145,886 and support services that do not fall into these categories. SDGs: 1 2 3 5 8 9 3 TO SHOW THE WAY SOCIAL INFORMATION CENTRES Counselling staff assist users in dealing with authorities, mediate assistance, deal with industrial relations, housing, family, people and property relations, the defence of people in need, and other social and legal matters. Caritas Czech Republic has at its disposal 69 advice bureaux that provided to 34,860 individ- imately one quarter of the clients riences Caritas Czech Republic uals a total of 125,776 interven- (2, 205) were threatened by supported an amendment to the tions (contacts). The numbers bankruptcy but they could not Insolvency Act that would remove of contacts and interventions in fi le for remission of debt due these barriers and signifi cantly different areas of counselling are to the mandatory repayment limit extend the possibilities for remis- shown in the table on the right. of 30% of the debt or because sion of debt. The amendment Two thirds of the advice bureaux of too low amount immune from came into force on 1. 6. 2019. seizure. Based on these expe- also provide debt management SDGs: 1 advice equal to one third of all the interventions provided as Služby sociálního poradenství part of citizens counselling. So- cial workers help clients to fi nd Type Number of services their bearings in their situation Citizens Advice Bureaux 60 and together they try to draw - including those with debt management counselling 46 up repayment plans or fi le for - including those for foreign nationals 6 remission of debt. Caritas Czech Bureaux for seniors 1 Republic was contacted by 8,595 people with debt prob- Bureaux for handicapped people 2 lems and on average every tenth Bureaux for victims of crime and domestic violence 1 one fi led a petition for remission Hospice bureaux 5 of debt (total fi led 914). Approx- Total 69 Number of contacts and interventions (together) in all 125,776 registered bureaux Number of users* in all bureaux 34,860 *) Number of individuals who have used this service in 2018 and who have a valid contract; one individual is registered only once for the year 2018, i.e. the fi gure does not show multiple visits or clients who have used general advisory Debt management counselling Number of contacts and debt management interven- 38,710 tions Number of debt management users 8,595 Number of insolvency petitions fi led in 2018 914 Number of debt management users from 2018, whose situation did not allow them to fi le for remission of debt 2,205.60 (repayment limit 30 % of debt, too low amount immune from seizure 4 Annual Report 2018 TO PRESERVE NATURAL HOME ENVIRONMENT TO OFFER SHELTER AND SUPPORT SOCIAL CARE SERVICES SOCIAL PREVENTION Caritas services provide support by relief services. There are SERVICES and assistance to people who also daily and weekly short cannot look after themselves stay facilities and daily service This includes 373 registered ser- because of a health limitation or centres. If circumstances do vices with a total of 43,982 users, handicap and cannot be helped not allow users to remain in nat- helping them to overcome a crisis by their families or other persons ural surroundings and a number in which they fi nd themselves close to them. These forms of of residential services exist: as a result of their habits, way of assistance come under social homes for seniors, homes with life or socially disadvantageous care services of which Caritas a special regimen and sheltered environment.