In one of the most fragile countries in the world
Irene feared poverty would define her life
She faced hardships no one should ever endure, leading to her becoming a single mother while she was still a schoolgirl. Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), every day was a struggle to survive.
Your gift can help provide life-saving tools, support and training to those who need it most.
Irene helps her son Dominique to do his homework at home. Photo: Arlette Bashizi/Caritas Australia
Irene's path out of lifelong poverty
Irene’s childhood was marked by hardships – her father was killed in conflict when she was a child. With very little support, Irene's family lived a difficult life. Every morning, her mum would go to the fields to grow yams. Sometimes that’s all they ate.
“We survived thanks to my mother’s sacrifices,” Irene explained.
Irene’s mother often went without the basics to send Irene to school when she was young. But it was at school that Irene was sexually assaulted by a classmate and became pregnant while she was still a child herself.
Unite against poverty this lent. Donate Now
Donate NowYour support is crucial
Irene Transporting Items In Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photo: Arlette Bashizi/Caritas Australia
Widespread Poverty:
Over 70% of the DRC's population lives below the national poverty line, with limited access to education, healthcare, and clean water.
Irene harvests in her field Kongolo, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photo: Arlette Bashizi/Caritas Australia
Food Insecurity:
Chronic food insecurity is widespread, as conflicts, poor farming practices, and limited market access lead to unstable food supplies. Many families rely on subsistence farming but struggle to grow sufficient food.
Irene stands with her children in Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photo: Arlette Bashizi/Caritas Australia
Gender Inequality:
Women and girls in the DRC face significant barriers, including lower educational attainment and restricted access to employment. On top of that, the country has one of the world's highest rates of sexual violence.
Help people like Irene tread their path out of lifelong poverty. Donate Now
Donate NowWhat we can achieve with your support
Here is the impact we have made in the past year. But the need is still great, so we can't stop there. With your generous support, we can reach the lives of more people who urgently need our support, more than ever, to forge their path out of poverty.
514,000+
people have been directly supported
Across 23
countries in total
44,631
women participated in 15 projects across Africa.
93%
of our partners are local
Where the funds go
78%
of funds are spent on implementing Local and International Programs, including important education and advocacy in Australia to amplify the voice of our partners.
15%
of funds are spent on Fundraising, so that we can maintain and expand the scope of our humanitarian and development partnerships and work across the globe.
7%
of funds are spent on infrastructure, systems and people that make the work we do possible.
General Questions:
The first national appeal for overseas aid was held in 1965. This initiative drew inspiration from Lenten appeals at a Parish and diocesan level in Adelaide the two previous years. The Australian Bishops agreed to a proposal for a nationwide appeal while in Rome for Vatican II in late 1964.
A pastoral letter was drafted by the Episcopal Committee for Overseas Relief (the forerunner of Caritas), to be signed by each bishop, calling on all Catholic families to donate any money saved in Lent through self-denial to poverty relief. That year, over £50,000 was raised.
Roy Boylan, president of the Sydney Diocesan committee for Catholic Overseas Relief, proposed calling the Sydney appeal Project Compassion in mid-1965. The name was adopted nationally and in 1966 the national Lenten appeal was rolled out as Project Compassion.
Project Compassion is Caritas Australia’s main annual fundraising campaign. It mobilises Australians to raise much-needed funds to help alleviate poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity in the most vulnerable and marginalised communities in the world.
Held during Lent, the six-week period before Easter, Catholic schools, Parishes, and the wider Australian public participate in a diverse range of fundraising activities and events to support Caritas Australia’s programs both overseas and here with our First Australian partners.
Project Compassion is an extraordinary demonstration of the faith, empathy and generosity of our supporters. It is the lifeblood of Caritas Australia; without it, we could not do the vital work that we do.
The theme of Project Compassion is Unite Against Poverty this Lent. This year, we focus on the stories of three remarkable, resilient people from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Samoa and Vietnam.
Each of these stories demonstrates the powerful impact that each one of us can have on alleviating poverty. Together, we can create lasting change for people living in some of the most vulnerable and low-income regions in the world.
Along with your generous support, this program is also supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
Along with your generous support, this program is also supported by the Australian Government, through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
Your donation will go where it is needed most. You are helping families living in poverty and together, we can transform lives and create a better world for all.
