Kosovo

Address: Shën Nënë Tereza 3, (Kisha Katolike), Ferizaj 70000, Kosova
Telephone: +381 290 328 110 Fax: +381 290 396 588
E-mail: info@caritaskosova.org
Facebook: Caritas.Kosova
www.caritaskosova.org

Caritas Kosova was founded in 1992 to respond to the widespread systemic poverty levels plaguing Kosovo, among the highest in Europe. Caritas Kosova’s intervention enables distribution of humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable and marginalised people in society.

Since 1999, Caritas Kosova has been able to strengthen its organisational structure through the support of Caritas members and the creation of a capacity building programme for parish Caritas groups. Caritas Kosova programmes and activities are supported by the Caritas network, operating all over the region. Acting as a “voice of the voiceless” and a protector of human dignity, Caritas Kosova is committed to its four mandates: provision of emergency relief and sustainable rehabilitation; social and health assistance; sustainable development; and advocacy and lobbying.

Caritas Kosova’s mission is to accompany people in their life journeys: the challenges, problems and needs they are facing that are still urgent, although our country is no longer in an emergency situation. Today, Caritas Kosova is close to people in need, especially those marginalised and vulnerable ones who go through life emotionally hurt receiving very little human attention.

Caritas Kosova’s emergency relief and sustainable rehabilitation sector provides emergency aid in cases of natural or man-made disaster, such as floods, landslides, extreme cold and conflict. Our interventions focus on the basic needs of victims, vulnerable people and communities, including provision of basic rehabilitation material.

The social and health assistance sector aims to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable people and restore their human dignity, improve the health conditions of people in “home care municipalities”, and enhance the social awareness and responsibilities of the general public with regard to the most vulnerable and marginalised people.

Via the sustainable development sector Caritas Kosova improves the living conditions of vulnerable groups (e.g. victims of trafficking), reduces external dependency and restores human dignity.

Via the lobby and advocacy sector we strive to raise the awareness of government, civil society and religious authorities regarding the basic human needs and rights of the marginalised and oppressed people in our society, and ultimately increasing these groups’ knowledge so that they may claim their rights.

Caritas Kosova’s headquarters is in Ferizaj, and as of December 2016, it employs over 600 people and has over 400 volunteers in five regional offices in Pristina, Prizren, Gjakova, Mitrovica, and Leposavic.

As a one of the 165 members of the Caritas Internationalis Confederation, Caritas Kosova’s operations are supported by financial contributions and technical assistance from other Caritas organisations – mainly Secours Catholique (Caritas France), Caritas Germany, Caritas Switzerland, Caritas Italy, Caritas Spain, Caritas Belgium and Catholic Relief Services (USA) – as well as by collaboration and cooperation via joint projects with municipal authorities and ministries, and contributions from the various organisations and embassies that are present in Kosovo.