Caritas Research Paper

Caritas

Lorenz Worthmann once said, “Caritas is Latin for love and compassion – two qualities which are central to our work…” Worthman first founded caritas in 1897. He believed that it’s important to help those who cannot help themselves, so he began the foundation that we all know as Caritas today. Caritas works to prevent common injustices in the world such as homelessness and poverty.
Caritas has been running for over a hundred years globally, but only for fifty years in Australia. Volunteers work tirelessly to help the unfortunate. They provide those people with warmth, food and shelter. By doing this they allow those who thought they would never find true happiness again, experience the joy and love that God has offered to us.
Since humble beginnings on November 9, 1897.
Caritas has been working towards helping those who suffer from malnutrition. Malnutrition is a hidden epidemic, which is increasing and is currently a growing issue in society today. It has been estimated to affect about 25 % to 30 % of people. Many of these people end up hospitalised. But for some of these people, a hospital isn’t an option. This is because they don’t have the money or resources to provide themselves and their loved ones with medical care. Caritas is working towards changing that with funds that are donated generously by everyday people.
Caritas is working hard across Australia with an indigenous program to help those who suffer malnutrition in our own backyard they help these people because:
• “Indigenous Australians are believed to have a lower life expectancy than the average Australian.
• The death rate among Indigenous Australian children is in their first years of life is believed to be two times higher than the average Australian baby.
• In 2004- 2005, scientists believed that Australia 's Indigenous people were three times more likely to have diabetes or high blood sugar levels than non-Indigenous
people.
• The Indigenous juvenile incarceration rate was 31 times the non-Indigenous rate in 2012.”
(Caritas Australia (2014). Aid and Development Programs in Indigenous Australia)

Caritas raises thousands of dollars each year to help these people. Most of this money comes from fundraisers and donations that have been given generously by the public. This means that every man or woman, boy or girl, old or young, rich or the ‘whenever you cans’ can have a huge impact on this important organisation.
These people who Caritas helps are just like us, they are someone’s brother or sister, daughter or son or even someone’s mother or father. There is someone out there who love these people and loves them just as much as we love our families. What if someone in your family suffered from malnutrition? Someone you care very much about…
Malnutrition has been known to affect the average person in many ways because it damages vital organs and takes a long time to recover from the horrific side effects. 1 in 4 sufferers of malnutrition that are hospitalized, 1 in 3 in care homes and 1 in 3 people living independently meaning living on their own caring for themselves. One of these people could be the girl next door or the man who lives just across the road from you, or it could even be the poor indigenous person living in the cardboard box outside of your house. We can all do something to help change these numbers, and donate to help those who need our help, who cannot afford the care of hospitals or nursing homes. We can all do something whether we believe it or not. Caritas attempts to make the world a better place for the disadvantaged by providing education to the uneducated and providing food for the hungry.
Now you may be wondering… As a catholic organisation how does Caritas apply catholic social justice teachings into their work?
Well, Caritas applies social justice teachings by defending those who are defenceless, this one relates back to the catholic social justice teaching link of love and justice. Another social justice teaching that caritas links back to is option for the poor because this social justice teaching is all about giving special attention to the poor which is exactly what caritas works towards. Another catholic social justice is stewardship. Stewardship is all about giving up your time willingly to help people out. Caritas is always giving up their time to collect funds and visit those that they strive to help.
Surely you must be wondering, for such an important organisation surely they must face a lot of problems on a daily basis. Well, some problems that Caritas faces are that sometimes they may not have enough money to help everyone that they would like to, When their travelling storms could strike and lastly, there are so many people that caritas need to help but not enough staff to fulfil their
desires.
Caritas calls for the kind hearts of stewards. Being stewards is an easy way to connect with the community and those in it, including Caritas. The choice as to whether we do something, or not about these issues doesn’t just affect us, but those around us too whether we notice it or not. Hopefully now you’re asking yourselves ‘How can I help?’ Well, the answer is simple… you can donate. By donating as little as $1 a day can change the life of one family. Donating has given people so many benefits, such as you’ll feel so much better about yourself and you could inspire many others to help out.

Have I convinced you? If you want to know more you can visit Caritas’ site at http://www.caritas.org.au/?gclid=CNbh0IKZkb0CFcddpQodOHMAMQ where you can choose the option of donating as much money as you want and seeing what your money can go towards.

Bibliography:

"About Us." About Us. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. .

"Australia." Aid and Development Programs in Indigenous. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. .

"Background of Malnutrition." - Frailty and Disease Related Malnutrition. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. .

"Social Teaching - Australian Catholic Social Justice Council." Social Teaching - Australian Catholic Social Justice Council. Web. 14 Mar. 2014.