Caritas Cuba is an organisation of the Catholic Church which bears witness to God’s love through actions that help to discover and protect the dignity of the most vulnerable people in society. Founded by a decree from the Bishops’ Conference of Cuba in February 1991, it is currently one of the few independent non-governmental organisations in the country.

The organisation operates via 11 diocesan Caritas and more than 600 parish and community Caritas, its staff in the national office, and a large number of volunteers who receive capacity building and training, in order to promote the professionalism and spirituality that are appropriate for the service of charity.

It implements various programmes at national level aimed at vulnerable groups in our society, with the hope that these people, accompanied by Caritas and their families, will be able to play a vital and supportive role in their own personal and social development and fully meet their own needs.

• Senior Citizens Programme
• Human Development Groups Programme for children, including those with disabilities and learning difficulties; adolescents and young people at social risk and their families
• Learning to Grow Programme for people with disabilities and their families
• HIV/AIDS Programme
• Since 1993, Caritas Cuba has also worked in emergency situations.

Caritas Cuban works in coordination with other public actors that have common interests. Its main collaborators within the confederation are Caritas Switzerland, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Caritas Spain and Caritas Germany, as well as Misereor.

It also gains access to international collaboration via the meetings of the European Commission for non-state actors in Cuba.