The life of many children consists of extreme poverty, unemployment, alcohol and drug addiction, neglect and violence due to excessive challenges of young parents and lack of financial support. The challenges often cause an early death for the parents.
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6 million children and adolescents in Russia grow up in an impoverished environment. Their life is dominated by violence, neglect, alcohol and drug addiction, poverty, unemployment and social stigma. They are traumatized, socially inapt and have bonding problems. Many are physicalyl and psychologically impaired.
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The care for old, sick and handicapped people is done mainly by relatives. They lack the necessary experience in home care and do not have the knowledge to prevent secondary illnesses. They do not receive any kind of support in their work. The physical, psychological, and emotional stress of the caregivers leads over time to burnout.
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In almost every Russian family you find addiction. The misery of the people with addiction is horrific. Statistically, 18 liters of alcohol is consumed per person each year. According to the WHO, a statistical consumption of 8 liters per person leads to a drastic degradation of a society. Nearly 30,000 young adults die each year from an overdose of heroin and 40,000 die from contaminated alcohol.
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Homeless people are a marginalized group in Russia who are detested in society. They are very often subject to minor assaults, aggravated assaults and even homicide; most cases are commonly not prosecuted.
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Floods, droughts, extreme cold, earthquakes, wild fires and a weak economy destroy the existence of many families.
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The Latin word Caritas means ‘brotherly love’. It is an unconditional engagement for other, based not on emotions but on the respect for the dignity of every human being.
Die Diocesan Caritas for the Bishopric "Transfiguration of the Lord” in Novosibirsk was founded in 1991 by Bishop Joseph Werth for the Asian part of Russia. A few months after the official reestablishment of church structures in 2002 Caritas Novosibirsk was charged with the coordination and support of Catholic social work in the vast territory stretching from the Ural Mountains to the Kemerover Oblast.
"Caritas in West Siberia - is the often unnoticed acts of brotherly love, the many voluntary services of the parishes, the social engagement of religious orders and the professional social work of the various centers”, says Bishop Joseph Werth. "With our professional social work we contribute to the social peace in a multicultural society, to the acceptance of other cultures and religions, and to unity and reconciliation. We try to create awareness in our society for social problems and to advocate for the interests of people in need. Of great importance is the protection of the family as the foundation of our society and as the natural place for the development of its members, especially children.
The basis of our social work is our love of God and of all people. The help for all people in need is the foremost sign of an authentic Christian life."
