CRS Work in Angola
Since the signing of peace accords in April 2002, Angola has been attempting to regain some sense of normality. Over the past two years, a multitude of activities have taken place: displaced families have been returning home, demobilized soldiers have been reintegrating into society, and communities have been working hard to rebuild both their livelihoods and the country's infrastructure.
Caritas community educators use illustrations to convey a better understanding of how the HIV virus is spread. Photo by David Snyder for CRS
Isolated areas that for years had been inaccessible due to the conflict are slowly reconnecting to the rest of the country. CRS has responded by stepping up efforts to respond to the enormous humanitarian needs in these areas.
CRS delivers lifesaving support through food distributions, nutritional recuperation and recovery activities, medical support and assistance, health education, and seeds and tools distributions. CRS is also active in other areas such as:
- Capacity building of local organizations
- Peace and Justice
- HIV and AIDS awareness and education
- Agricultural recovery
Examples of our Work
Catandi Farmers Group: CRS supports Farmer Groups in four regions of the Benguela Province in order to increase food security. In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, CRS provides Farmer Groups with improved varieties of seeds, tools, and agricultural technology assistance to develop farmers' ability to meet their own food needs in the long-term. In 2004, CRS will reach over 33,000 families (150,000 beneficiaries).
CRS Learning Center: The Learning Center and Life Skills Project focuses on 27,000 youth from marginalized communities in Benguela, Cubal, Ganda, and Lobito, encouraging them to participate in learning activities meant to reduce the spread of HIV and to help build a vibrant, civil society. These activities take place in 4 learning centers located in these communities.
The objective of the project is to increase knowledge, positive attitudes, and positive behaviors with respect to HIV and AIDS, which in turn encourage peace, justice and democracy within these groups. The project also includes a component intended to increase the capacity of project partners and center staff, so they may manage, develop, monitor, and evaluate project activities.
Seed Reimbursement: CRS Angola provides seeds to local farmers are part of a project to reestablish livelihoods in resettling communities following the end of the war. Farmers reimburse the seeds they were given so that the project can then provide seeds to other farm families in need. The reimbursement of seeds in Balombo has been implemented with considerable success. By the end of June 2004, there was 100% reimbursement of carioca and manteiga beans of the seeds distributed last year.
