At the heart of the Church’s mission, Caritas Africa is one of the seven (7) Regions of the Caritas Internationalis Confederation. It covers 46 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and the adjacent islands of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. With its 507 diocesan Caritas, Caritas Africa provides humanitarian aid, accompaniment for integral human development, and peacemaking in the Region.
It is an organization that witnesses God’s love through works of charity and justice to the poor and needy.
The first steps of its creation date back to 1979, the year in which Africa was divided into two parts: North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa and the islands of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In the same year, the Northern part was attached to the Middle East to create the MONA Region, while the new Africa Region took into account only Sub-Saharan Africa.
In 1995, after 16 years of serving the poor in disparate ways, the 46 national Caritas of Sub-Saharan Africa and the adjacent islands of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans formed a Region. On January 20, 1995, they (national Caritas) met in Matola, Mozambique, to approve the first Statutes, thus formally constituting the Caritas Africa Network. Caritas Africa was born.
Since its constitution, Caritas Africa has its headquarters in Lomé, Togo, and a ancillary office in Nairobi, Kenya.
January 20, 1995 – January 20, 2022, 27 years of witnessing God’s love for mankind in Africa and the islands of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, in Jesus Christ.
Happy birthday to all of us.
