Who we are
The Humanitarian Aid and Development Cooperation Centre of the Diocesan Caritas Ostrava-Opava (Středisko humanitární pomoci a rozvojové spolupráce Diecézní charity ostravsko-opavské) was established in 2005 as part of the Diocesan Caritas Ostrava-Opava. The focus of its activities lies in foreign development and humanitarian aid in Ukraine. The Centre followed up on the small humanitarian activities in Transcarpathia which were, until then, carried out by volunteers, and on the project Distant Adoption (Adopce na dálku), carried out by the Charity of St. Alexander (Charita sv. Alexandra) in Ostrava-Kunčičky.
At present it is the implementer or co-implementer of long-term projects in Ukraine: Distant Adoption, Dignified Life (Důstojný život) (helping the elderly and the disabled on the principle of distant adoption), the Ust Chorna Home of Peaceful Old Age (Domov pokojného stáří Usť Čorna) (helping the elderly in retirement homes), and the St. Nicholas Children’s Home in Ivano-Frankivsk (Dětský domov sv. Mikuláše v Ivano-Frankivsku). It also engages in helping the victims of the conflict in Ukraine (food packages, aid to the wounded, material aid). These projects are carried out in cooperation with the main local partners – Caritas Tiachiv in Transcarpathia, the Congregation of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word in Ivano-Frankivsk and Caritas Melitopol in Zaporizhia, but also with other partners as needed. Besides the listed basic projects, the Centre in Ukraine also secures supplies of material humanitarian aid, organises part-time jobs and practical training of Czech volunteers as well as the Journey of Adoptive Parents (Cesta adoptivních rodičů) – a tour of the donors to see those they support.
Since 2014 the Centre has also been focusing on a new country of its operation – Moldova. It carries out two projects in this country – the Home Care Centre (Centrum domácí péče) (nursing and home care field service) and Dignified Life (personalised financial aid to a specific elderly or disabled citizen in the vicinity of the district town of Sîngerei). In the Czech Republic the Centre’s activities are focused on public enlightenment activities.
Humanitartian aid
Humanitarian aid is material and logistic assistance to people who need help. It is usually short-term intensive help until the long-term help (development cooperation) by the government and other institutions replaces it. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity. Humanitarian aid is typically provided first days right after natural or man-made disasters (floods, earthquake, wild fires, war, construction catastrophs, etc.).
The goal of humanitarian aid is to provide:
- water
- food
- shelter
- health care
Development cooperation
Aid given by governments and other agencies to support the economic, environmental, social, and political development of so called developing countries. It can be further defined as "aid expended in a manner that is anticipated to promote development, whether achieved through economic growth or other means". It is distinguished from humanitarian aid by focusing on alleviating poverty in the long term, rather than a short term response.
The main goal is reducing poverty and developing by:
- financial assistance
- material support (e.g.: constructions of schools, hospitals, infrastructure)
- sharing know-how (e.g.: education, proffesional trainings, know-how for local government, NGOs etc.)
- partnership
