Caritas found profound inspiration in Paul VI’s encyclical Populorum Progressio, where the Pontiff stated that “development is the new name of peace”.
Address: P.O. Box 42 or 1337 Gaborone, Botswana
Telephone: +267 39 56 970 Fax: +267 71 52 06 00
Email: tirisanyo@info.bw
Caritas Botswana, known as the Tirisanyo Catholic Commission, was founded in 1984 with the aim of working with local people to help to lift them out of poverty. The agency is the development arm of the Catholic Church in Botswana, with the mandate to serve as an umbrella body for its development and humanitarian organisations in the country. The agency’s vision is to foster integral human development through grassroots efforts that fight against pandemics, for the eradication of poverty, for the improvement of infrastructure in communities and to provide social services for the disabled.
Caritas Botswana’s work raises the standard of living of the poor through measures addressing education, better access to health services, more effective use of resources and by involving the community at all stages of development.
In a country where many people live with HIV and AIDS, Caritas Botswana’s intervention is critical in fighting the spread of the disease. Its work provides education, raises awareness and helps with transport for HIV patients to their treatment.
Caritas Botswana puts a major emphasis on caring for vulnerable children and orphans by operating over 20 pre-school centres that provides training to pre-school teachers and education, nutrition, welfare and health to over 700 orphans and vulnerable children.
Caritas Botswana assists communities in developing long term sustainable solutions for socio-economic development through the provision of micro financing and agricultural materials. Along with dispensing seeds and farming equipment to enhance food security, the agency also facilitates the setting up of savings and credit schemes to increase incomes.
Caritas Botswana headquarters in Gaborone guides and conducts their services through 2 Caritas diocesan offices in the country. To carry out their activities the agency employs 10 staff and 30 volunteers.
Caritas Botswana is a member of Caritas Internationalis and Caritas Africa.
Updates from Botswana
