It will take a few more years before European tourists flock to Haiti or Uganda. The reasons are simple: natural or social consequences are difficult to remove, countries recover slowly. Humanitarian workers often put their lives on the line during missions in developing countries. At least on International Humanitarian Day (August 19) these people deserve recognition. The Slovak Catholic Charity (SKCH) also highlights the work of its field workers abroad. Slovak Catholic Charity (SKCH) is actively involved in celebrating and drawing attention to the importance of World Humanitarian Day. At least once a year (August 19), the Slovak public can focus on the work and mission of humanitarian workers who intervene in times of natural disasters as well as war conflicts.

The most publicized and supported by the Slovak population was SKCH's aid in Haiti (from 2010 to the present day) or in Japan in 2011 - after natural disasters. In the countries of East Africa, the charity actively helped in 2011 and this year - thanks to the income from a public collection to help African countries affected by famine.

In Uganda (near Adjumani), an orphanage for HIV/AIDS-affected orphans is also being completed thanks to proceeds from this year's fasting-box campaign, in Kenya (in the Sigowet district of Kericho district) it is a two-year development cooperation project with the intention of improving food security, access to safe water, as well as the health status of communities, financed by SlovakAid funds.

SKCH started its mission in Haiti in 2010 and two years after the devastating earthquake, it continues to help rebuild the devastated country. Most recently, in April, in the presence of the SKCH representative in Haiti – Eva Zelinová, she opened the Alta Visita orphanage and center for children with physical disabilities from the Riviere Froide area. Currently, charity volunteers are working on the completion of a safe water supply for the boys and girls there. The Congregation of Little Sisters of St. Terézie, who also provides the DISTANCE ADOPTION® project for Slovakia. In 2013, SKCH plans to expand this education support project with a long tradition to Uganda.

Completion of the center for HIV-positive orphans according to plan

Uganda is currently ravaged by an epidemic - the dangerous infectious disease Ebola, as well as the panic of the population. The place of infection in the Kibaale region is seven hours away by car from the city of Adjumani, where SKCH carries out its mission. According to lay missionary and charity worker Margita Kačányiová, the completion of the center for HIV-positive orphans from the Adjumani area is proceeding according to plan: "The premises for children, staff and foreign volunteers have been painted, we are finishing the roof. We still need to plaster the houses and put in windows, buy farm animals for the new plot and we can open the center."

However, there will be many more children admitted to the center than the charity planned at the beginning of the project - almost every family has been affected by HIV and AIDS. "We have not observed Ebola in our area, but severe malaria has already affected us twice this year - because in the rainy season, new types of mosquitoes that transmit the disease appear. However, such a disease must not break us in our faith and efforts to help those who cannot help themselves," adds the field worker of the charity Margita Kačányiová, who also worked on missions in Kenya and South Sudan in the past.

Charities encourage people to do good deeds

"The best opportunity to publicly express our appreciation and point out the importance of the work of our humanitarian workers is the International Humanitarian Day. Without the financial support and active individual donations of the Slovak population, we would not be able to help people (and especially defenseless children) affected by the earthquake in Haiti or famine and AIDS in Uganda so quickly," explains SKCH General Secretary Radovan Gumulák.

Slovak Catholic Charity, as a member organization of Caritas internationalis, joined the efforts of the United Nations and world humanitarian organizations - to involve as many people as possible in the global campaign "I was Here" (more at: http://whd-iwashere.org). On International Humanitarian Day, a billion people will send the biggest message in history to the world through social networks - a message of hope. In this way, awareness can be raised about the importance of humanitarian aid in the world, about the importance of the work of people in the field, at the same time to think about the causes and consequences of the humanitarian crisis, as well as to support people in doing good deeds and helping the needy in real life.

Text: Božena Baluchová, Photo: SKCH http://www.charita.sk