Caritas Crne Gore | |
 | |
| Predecessor | part of Caritas Yugoslavia, then Caritas Serbia and Montenegro |
|---|---|
| Established | 2011; 14 years ago (2011) |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Registration no. | 6679[1] |
| Purpose | social welfare,social justice |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 42°05′34″N19°06′55″E / 42.0927°N 19.1152°E /42.0927; 19.1152 |
| Services | social services,humanitarian aid |
President | BishopRrok Gjonlleshaj[2] |
Director | Marko Đelović[3] |
| Affiliations | Caritas Europa,Caritas Internationalis |
| Website | caritascg |
Caritas Montenegro (Montenegrin:Caritas Crne Gore) is a not-for-profitsocial welfare organisation inMontenegro. It is a service of theCatholic Church in Montenegro and is a member of both the globalCaritas Internationalis and the regionalCaritas Europa networks.
The origins of Caritas activities in Montenegro trace back to the1979 earthquake, which devastated large parts of theSocialist Republic of Montenegro. However, significant organisational development only occurred in the 1990s, following thebreakup of Yugoslavia and the subsequentYugoslav Wars. During this period, Caritas in Montenegro provided humanitarian aid to internally displace people and to refugees fromBosnia and Herzegovina,Croatia, and laterKosovo, continuing this support until around 2003.[4]
In 2011, Caritas Montenegro became an independent organisation, having previously functioned under CaritasYugoslavia and later CaritasSerbia 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, supportingRoma communities, and establishing social services for the elderly and people with disabilities.[4]
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Caritas Montenegro consists of a national office located in the coastal city ofBar and of the two autonomous,diocesan Caritas organisations: Caritas of theArchdiocese of Bar, registered in 2002, and Caritas of theDiocese of Kotor, registered in 2014.[1]
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.[5][6][7] This effort includes promotingsocial enterprises, leading to the establishment of several such initiatives. In 2016, Caritas Bar opened a laundry service and a toy and souvenir workshop in Bar, followed by copy shops inBar (2016) andBerane (2018).[8][9]
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.[3][10]
In the social field, Caritas has also been active inhome care for the elderly.[11] Additionally, the diocesan Caritas of Kotor operates a soup kitchen inTivat.[12][13]
Humanitarian action remains a key pillar of Caritas Montenegro's work. The organisation provided emergency assistance to refugees transiting Montenegro during the2015 European migrant crisis and offered support to Ukrainian refugees following the2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[14][15] Caritas also raises funds and collects humanitarian goods for its partner organisations in neighbouring countries responding to local disasters, such as the2019 Albania earthquake or the2024 Bosnia and Herzegovina floods.[16][17]
Caritas Montenegro funds its work through donations and financial contributions from international partner organisations. It has also participated in severalEU-funded regional and cross-border projects.
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