From the CEO

Contribute to the work of Caritas — You can make change happen

24 million people live in extreme poverty.

Caritas Australia CEO Jack de Groot: "Thank you for your ongoing support and generosity."

Caritas needs your support to help more kids like Bongani.

Consider this: The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa will cost more than $4 billion.   Around 400,000 tourists will visit South Africa during the World Cup and will spend, on average, $4,500.  By contrast, the average household income for the poorest people in South Africa is around $2,200 per year.  It's a sad fact that more than half of the population of South Africa (24 million people) live in extreme poverty without adequate access to health care, education, food and clean water. 

Caritas Australia CEO Jack de Groot talks about how your support of Caritas can help address this devastating poverty:

It’s staggering isn’t it? Billions of dollars have been spent on stadiums, transport and airports in order to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Billions more is being spent in showcasing South Africa to the hundreds of thousands of football fans and tourists visiting the country in June and July this year.  Each of these tourists will spend almost twice as much during their stay as the average South African earns in a year. Poverty in Africa of course, is not limited to South Africa. This year at Caritas Australia, we have committed $3.7 million to development programs throughout the world’s poorest continent. It’s not enough money to build a new airport, refurbish a football stadium or build a new highway – but it is giving tens of thousands of people across nine countries there, the chance and skills to fight their way out of poverty.

We need your help

Now we need your help to raise a further $800,000 so that we can provide more funds to promote the partnership, participation and empowerment of the poorest of the poor,
and build a community of support around them. So that we can assist groups like the Creating Caring Schools Program, which provides care and support for orphans and vulnerable children in 22 Catholic and public schools across three provinces in South Africa - Limpopo, Free State and North West Province.

By making a donation you can help us to provide essentials like food, clothing, education and support to those people participating in the Creating Caring Schools program and others like it around the world.  The Creating Caring Schools program was implemented by our local partner, the Catholic Institute of Education (CIE), for orphans and vulnerable children in South Africa. From providing uniforms, to starting vegetable gardens and providing help in reporting child abuse, the Creating Caring Schools program involves the whole school and the wider community in a partnership to help vulnerable children survive and thrive.

Bongani's story

Caritas staff first met Bongani, a young orphan boy, in a shack settlement in January 2004. His mother and little brother had both died of AIDS related diseases and he was desperately ill and emaciated. His only carer was his elderly granny. It was back then that we started to help Bongani, and the fight to save the life of this little one began. Bongani was cared for by the nurses at the hospice in-patient unit and began anti-retroviral treatment. When he had gained enough strength from the medical attention, he commenced primary school. This was facilitated by the Creating Caring Schools program who enrolled him, paid his school fees and provided him with a school uniform, books and a school bag. Just like children getting prepared for school in our own towns and cities, Bongani was furnished with all the things he would need to begin a formal education. After school Bongani came to the Caritas supported after-care centre where he was given a proper meal, assistance with his homework and access to counselling and support services. Our local partner, CIE, were even able to access social grants for his grandmother to help her  purchase food and access medical treatment.

As with any of our programs, it hasn’t all been plain sailing. Bongani has had setbacks. Infections have threatened his health and he has had difficulty concentrating at school. But with the support of the Creating Caring Schools program, Bongani is receiving the help he needs. Without your donations, none of this vital, life saving work would be possible.
Your kindness and generosity can ensure the sustainability, holistic care and education of hundreds of vulnerable little girls and boys, just like Bognani. Without your help, it’s almost impossible to understand the indignity that these children may suffer.

Help us raise $800,000

While the eyes of the world are on South Africa during June and July, let us not forget Bongani and his fellow orphans who will not benefit from the billions of dollars being spent on hosting the FIFA World Cup in their country.  Please make a  donation to Caritas Australia today so that we can raise the $800,000 we need to help make a crucial difference to the lives of Bongani and others, like him, around the world.


Jack de Groot
CEO – Caritas Australia