The aim and task of Caritas

Caritas is a humanitarian-charitable organization of the Catholic Church that extends to all people, and not only to members of the same faith, who are closely connected in Christ and the Holy Spirit and are "closer" to each other in a special way. At the same time, charitable work requires that we love everyone, not just relatives, family members, friends and co-workers. But also "if anyone does not take care of his own, especially his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Tim 5:8).

Caritas refers to the whole person with body and soul, and primarily aims at earthly and eternal salvation. In its overall operation, Caritas focuses its activities on health, economic and educational pastoral care.

These mainly include care for the sick, care for those with a physical defect, care for epileptics, and help for the mentally ill. Then there is the care for the blind, the deaf and the sick. Caring for families and helping the poor in families, helping the elderly, exiles and refugees, travelers, detainees and prisoners, and the punished are also inevitable. Care for academics, care for children, young and old is of special importance.

That is why you can find Caritas hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, homes for retirees, homes for abandoned and rejected children, various counseling centers and institutions with other activities all over the world. Special care goes to specific areas that are affected by various disasters.

Establishment of the national Caritas of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The bishops of Bosnia and Herzegovina were aware of their responsibility for the best possible operation of Caritas, not only at the diocesan level, but also at the various levels of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was supposed to unite the Caritas of four dioceses in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Caritas of the Archdiocese of Vrhbosna with headquarters in Sarajevo, Caritas of the Mostar-Duvanje and Trebinje-Mrkan dioceses with headquarters in Mostar, and the Banjoluc diocese with headquarters in Banja Luka.

Already at the first session of the newly formed Bishops' Conference of BiH, which was held in Mostar from January 27 to 29, 1995, the bishops of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on January 28, 1995, founded Caritas under the name Caritas of the Bishops' Conference of BiH. Then its first Statute was approved. The Bishops' Conference of BiH, at its 65th regular session held in Sarajevo on November 4 and 5, 2015, approved the new third Statute and changed the name of Caritas of the Bishops' Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Caritas of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

At the level of the general Church, Caritas is organized in seven regions with 167 members, i.e. national Caritas in 167 countries through Caritas Internationalis based in the Vatican, in Europe with 49 members in 46 countries through Caritas Europa based in Brussels (Belgium), in Bosnia and Herzegovina under the leadership of the Bishops' Conference in Caritas Bosnia and Herzegovina with headquarters in Sarajevo and arch/diocesan Caritas: Caritas of the Vrhbosna Archdiocese with headquarters in Sarajevo, Caritas of the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno and Trebinje-Mrkan with headquarters in Mostar and Caritas of the Diocese of Banja Luka with headquarters in Banja Ports. It should be noted that there are numerous parish communities that have built and are active in parish Caritas.

Vision

A society at the center of which is man with all his dimensions, and in which, in the spirit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, social justice and a civilization of love in truth reign.

Mission

Caritas BiH is a pastoral institution of BK BiH established to promote effective Christian love through:

•        Providing support to Caritas institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina;

•        Encouraging the entire public and every individual to charity work and solidarity;

•        Cooperation with governmental and non-governmental institutions, civil society organizations and the Caritas network abroad at all levels.

BRAT activities:

Activities related to result 1.: Participation in trainings with the proposed project, selection of training participants and study visits from the area of Sarajevo and Tuzla. Initiation, organization and management of new services in the community in the area of Sarajevo and Tuzla: Two safe houses and two day centers. Training and monitoring of the staff who implement these services, contacts with local authorities, contacts with beneficiaries. Contacts with municipal, cantonal and state institutions on migration issues, participation in consequent advocacy activities, identification of local speakers during seminars.

Activities related to result 2.: Organization and management of psycho-social activities promoted in two social corners in the Temporary Reception Centers Ušivak and Blažuj. Training and monitoring of the staff of the above services, contacts with local authorities and bodies responsible for the management of Temporary Reception Centers, contacts with users.

Activities related to result 3.: Organization and implementation of information and awareness-raising activities foreseen by the project in the area of ​​Sarajevo Canton. Organization of communications and awareness raising campaigns in Bosnia and Herzegovina, contacts with local media. Organization and implementation of support activities for the local population in the area of ​​Sarajevo Canton.

Contact:

Caritas Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mehmed bega Kapetanović Ljubušaka 6

BiH-71000 Sarajevo

Phone: +387 33 206-441, 206-442

Fax: +387 33 206-668

E-mail: caritas@caritas.ba

Web: www.caritas.ba

BRAT contacts:

Program Manager: Miroslav Valenta (email: m.valenta@caritas.ba)

Program Coordinator and Head of Finance: Daniel Eror (d.eror@caritas.ba)

Project Assistant: Amela Ajanović (a.ajanovic@caritas.ba)