Address : n. 438, Via Portugal, São Tomé e PrÍncipe
Telephone : +239 2222 565
Email : caritas_stp@cstome.net

São Tomé and Príncipe is an island country off the coast of Gabon, in West Africa, the smallest country in Africa after the Seychelles. It gained independence from Portugal in 1975, but economic independence is still a long way off, given the high poverty rates that place it among the poorest countries in the world.

In 2007, it was agreed to cancel São Tomé and Príncipe’s external debt, which amounted to USD 317 million, or about USD 2,000 per person. The cancellation was achieved in part through pressure from various organizations, including Caritas.

Caritas São Tomé and Príncipe was founded in 1981. It consists of a diocese that encompasses the whole country, with 14 parishes, 13 in São Tomé and 1 on the island of Príncipe.

Early projects included a food program to help the most needy, a program to promote agricultural practices among youth (the country is primarily agricultural), sewing classes, and a home for vulnerable children up to the age of seven called ‘La Maison des petits enfants.

A mini-project, entitled “A Bridge of Hope”, is currently being implemented with the support of Caritas Portugal, which provides for the remote adoption of children at risk. By joining this project, each ‘sponsor’ commits to donate a minimum amount for a child in São Tomé and Príncipe.