Faith in action Section 3: CAFOD’s history and work

CAFOD is the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development. It is the official overseas development agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. It is also a member of the Caritas International Federation – a network of Catholic relief and development agencies. What is CAFOD?

1961 Catholic women organised the first Fast Day to help mothers and babies in the Caribbean 1962 After a huge response, Catholic bishops of England and Wales set up CAFOD. Jacquie Stuyt, one of CAFOD’s founders How did CAFOD begin?

Q: How many staff has CAFOD? A: CAFOD has 200 staff in the UK and 50 overseas Q: In how many countries does CAFOD work? A: CAFOD supports more than 500 projects and programmes in over 50 countries Q: How much does CAFOD spend? A: CAFOD spent over £50 million in 2006 to help people all around the world. CAFOD today

Q: On which continents does CAFOD work? A: In Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe. Q: Does CAFOD only help Catholics? A: CAFOD does not just help other Catholics! Q: How does CAFOD decide who to help? A: According to need, not race, religion, gender or politics. Who does CAFOD help?

The hopes of the poor Gospel messages Catholic Social Teaching Inspiration of faith What motivates/would motivate you to work for justice? What motivates CAFOD?

The Catholic community (that’s you!) gives 75% of the money Government – British and European Joint appeals with other agencies Can you name any famous CAFOD supporters? Where does CAFOD get money?

Q: Short-term relief – can you explain what this is? A: Responding to emergencies Q: Long-term development – can you explain what this is? A: Helping people to help themselves, making changes that will last Q: Work in the UK – can you say what sort of work? A: Education, campaigning and fundraising What does CAFOD do?

an immediate response to a crisis or disaster (like a conflict or an earthquake) providing basic needs (food, water and shelter) Short-term relief:

CAFOD does not leave when the emergency is ‘over’ Response to an immediate crisis, often leads to long-term projects. Short-term relief:

tackles the source of a problem helps people to help themselves provides a solution that lasts. Long-term development:

“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; andyou have fed him for a lifetime” Anon, China Long-term development:

Education working with volunteers speaking to schools, youth groups and parishes producing materials for schools and parishes providing training for teachers What does CAFOD do in the UK?

Campaigning using action and lobbying to put pressure on MPs and businesses using campaign actions to raise awareness. Campaigners raise awareness of how gold mining damages the poor. What does CAFOD do in the UK?

Fundraising Organising Fast Days at Lent and Harvest Helping volunteers to organise events Applying for grants Advertising for donations and legacies What does CAFOD do in the UK?

Find out more – visit Tell others and pray for a fairer world Join the campaign – take action! Raise money in new and original ways Be aware of the environment Buy fairly-traded products Set up a CAFOD group in your school or church Join CAFOD events in your local area What will you do? How can I put my faith into action?

“I salute people in the UK who support CAFOD and I hope you can continue to support our peace projects for youth in the future.” Christmar, a youth worker in the Philippines Messages from around the world

“I greet all the schoolchildren who support CAFOD. May God keep you and I wish for you to study well and have a good future.” Antoine Ove, aged 15, Congo Messages from around the world

“I think it would be very nice if young people in England [and Wales] got motivated by knowing what goes on in other countries.” Henry, Honduras, Latin America Messages from around the world

Picture credits: Annie Bungeroth, Brijesh Patel, CAFOD, Darren Zlatareff, George Swift, Jim Stipe, Kate Stanworth, Lancashire Publications Ltd, Laura Donkin, Laura Storr, Noel Gavin, Patrick Nicholson, Richard Wainwright, Simon Rawles.