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Caritas Montenegro (Montenegrin: Caritas Crne Gore) is a not-for-profit social welfare organisation in Montenegro. It is a service of the Catholic Church in Montenegro and is a member of both the global Caritas Internationalis and the regional Caritas Europa networks.

History

The origins of Caritas activities in Montenegro trace back to the 1979 earthquake, which devastated large parts of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro. However, significant organisational development only occurred in the 1990s, following the breakup of Yugoslavia and the subsequent Yugoslav Wars. During this period, Caritas in Montenegro provided humanitarian aid to internally displace people and to refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and later Kosovo, continuing this support until around 2003.

In 2011, Caritas Montenegro became an independent organisation, having previously functioned under Caritas Yugoslavia and later Caritas Serbia and Montenegro. Over time, its focus shifted from humanitarian relief to providing social assistance and services to impoverished and marginalised groups in Montenegro. Its initiatives now include developing civil society and the social economy, youth engagement, mental health advocacy, supporting Roma communities, and establishing social services for the elderly and people with disabilities.

Caritas Montenegro consists of a national office located in the coastal city of Bar and of the two autonomous, diocesan Caritas organisations: Caritas of the Archdiocese of Bar and Caritas of the Diocese of Kotor.

Work

Since becoming independent in 2011, Caritas Montenegro has concentrated on various fields, including enhancing technical skills for people with disabilities to facilitate their societal integration. This effort includes promoting social enterprises, leading to the establishment of several such initiatives. In 2016, Caritas opened a laundry service and a toy and souvenir workshop in Bar, followed by copy shops in Bar (2016) and Berane (2018).

Addressing youth unemployment and emigration is another priority for Caritas Montenegro. The organisation aims to create job opportunities for young people and prepare them for the labour market. Cooperation with the national Employment Agency of Montenegro began as early as 2000.

In the social field, Caritas has also been active in home care for the elderly.. Additionally, the diocesan Caritas of Kotor operates a soup kitchen in Tivat

Humanitarian action remains a key pillar of Caritas Montenegro's work. The organisation provided emergency assistance to refugees transiting Montenegro during the 2015 European migrant crisis and offered support to Ukrainian refugees following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Caritas also raises funds and collects humanitarian goods for its partner organisations in neighbouring countries responding to local disasters, such as the 2019 Albania earthquake or the 2024 Bosnia and Herzegovina floods.

Caritas Montenegro funds its work through donations and financial contributions from international partner organisations. It has also participated in several EU-funded regional and cross-border projects.

References

1. "Македонски Каритас дел од регионалната програма за вработување на млади". Vatican News (in Macedonian). 3 March 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
2. ^ "Wie Caritas die junge Generation in Montenegro halten will". Markus Schönherr. 6 August 2024. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
3. ^ "Craitas Montenegro". Devex. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
4. "Montenegro". Caritas Italiana (in Italian). Retrieved 25 December 2024.
5. "Persons with disabilities still lack equal access to education, employment, and social services". European External Action Service. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
6. Radomir Petrić (20 November 2017). "Međunarodna konferencija Caritasa u Baru: Podržimo socijalna preduzeća". Vijesti (in Montenegrin). Retrieved 25 December 2024.
7. "Script Berane". caritascg.me (in Montenegrin). Retrieved 25 December 2024.
8. "The University "Fehmi Agani" is presented at the "Cross-Border Job and Networking Fair", organized by Caritas Kosova". University of Gjakova. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
9. "Caritas u saradnji sa ZZZ zaposlio 11 osoba koje brinu o starima". Vijesti. 21 February 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
10. "Crnogorska porodica iz Berlina obezbjedila 100.000 eura za Caritas Crne Gore". Vijesti (in Montenegrin). 7 September 2024. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
11. Siniša Luković (16 December 2024). "Zahvaljujući velikoj solidarnosti, 70 korisnika svakodnevno ima obrok". Vijesti (in Montenegrin). Retrieved 25 December 2024.
12. "Montenegro: delegazione di Caritas Marche a Bar, "collaborazioni per migranti e rifugiati". Progetti a sostegno delle Caritas locali". agensir.it (in Italian). 20 May 2024. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
13. "Vrijwilligerswerk Montenegro". bouworde.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 25 December 2024.
14. "Poziv na pomoć susjedima iz Albanije". caritascg.me (in Montenegrin). 30 December 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
15. "NVO „Caritas Kotorske Biskupije", DVD „Tivat", NVO „Naša Akcija" i volonterski centar Herceg Novi pokrenuli su zajedničku akciju prikupljanja pomoći za ugrožene stanovnike BIH". Radio Titograd (in Montenegrin). 5 October 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.

External links

• Official website

• Charities based in Europe
• Organizations established in 2011
• 2011 establishments in Montenegro
• Catholic Church in Montenegro
• Caritas Internationalis
• Social justice organizations