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Caritas Rwanda was created in 1960 by the bishops of the two Catholic dioceses of Rwanda at that time. It was officially chartered in 1962 as a non-profit organization. Over the years, as the Catholic Church in Rwanda grew in importance with the founding of new dioceses and parishes, the Caritas organization also expanded to different levels of the church structure.

Caritas Rwanda has been affiliated with Caritas Internationalis since September 8, 1965. In accordance with Law No. 06/2012 of 17/02/2012 on religion-based organizations, it has become a non-governmental organization. Today, Caritas Rwanda operates at the national level, while each of the country’s nine Catholic dioceses has its own autonomous diocesan Caritas and the 180 parishes have their parish Caritas. The structure branches out into the 980 central offices and the 30,000 Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs), each with its own Caritas structure.

Caritas Rwanda wants to give back to mankind its human dignity denied by social marginalization, indigence and injustice. It is concerned to see the poorest social categories empowered, individually or through social solidarity, and seeks to promote the fulfillment of their dignity as children of God created in his image.

Mission

• To study the problems of material, social, and moral assistance and mutual aid specific to the regions in which Caritas operates in order to promote their solution;
• To organize, initiate, direct and support all works of charity in the service of the poor and vulnerable of all categories;
• To assist individuals and families in special need without distinction of race, religion, gender or any other kind;
• To represent and safeguard its interests, works and services before public authorities and official institutions.

Caritas Rwanda has been mandated by the Episcopal Conference of Rwanda to coordinate all actions taken on behalf of the Church in the areas of social assistance, health and development. However, the activities of Caritas are carried out primarily by the Catholic faithful at the level of the Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC). The national Caritas network is active and operational in the most remote areas of Rwanda with approximately 390,000 volunteers. Only when they are unable to solve the problems identified are the Caritas at higher levels called upon to intervene.

Partners

• At the local level: The Government of Rwanda is Caritas Rwanda’s main partner through the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs.
• At the international level: Caritas Rwanda partners with USAID, the European Union, the Belgian Food Security Fund, Global Communities, the Global Fund, etc.
• Caritas network partners: Trocaire, Caritas International Belgium, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Caritas Spain, Caritas Austria, Secours Catholique-Caritas France, Caritas Italy, Caritas Japan, Caritas Scotland (SCIAF), Caritas Korea