Stories

At 14, Rana from Syria plans to become a doctor. She was encouraged by a programme supporting girls and women
April 15, 2026 Humanitární pomoc a rozvojová spolupráce Charity ČR

At 14, Rana from Syria plans to become a doctor. She was encouraged by a programme supporting girls and women

Rana was born at the beginning of the civil war in Syria. When she was just a few months old, she had to flee her hometown of Hayan in Aleppo with her parents and four older siblings. For a long time, they searched for a safe shelter. They moved from villages to towns and faced many difficulties. Eventually, they settled in the village of Kaljibrin in the countryside of Aleppo. But even there, they did not find the stability so necessary for young Rana. Hope arrived thanks to the programme supporting girls and women in Syria, implemented with assistance from Caritas Czech Republic. Rana began attending the sessions regularly and, gradually, she gained confidence and great ambitions for her future.

Majed from Syria used to buy expensive water every three days. Today, thanks to Caritas, he has his own supply
January 23, 2026 Humanitární pomoc a rozvojová spolupráce Charity ČR

Majed from Syria used to buy expensive water every three days. Today, thanks to Caritas, he has his own supply

Until recently, Majed from Syria had to buy expensive water for his entire family every three days. Today, thanks to Caritas Czech Republic, he has his own source of clean water, sufficient both for household needs and for irrigating crops. In collaboration with the organisation Takaful Al-Sham, we put into operation the local pumping station and restored the water supply network. As a result, Majed no longer has to pay for water and can save money instead. 

High water costs were a heavy burden for Kamal. Thanks to Caritas Czech Republic, he can now access water both at home and at work
November 27, 2025 Humanitární pomoc a rozvojová spolupráce Charity ČR

High water costs were a heavy burden for Kamal. Thanks to Caritas Czech Republic, he can now access water both at home and at work

It has been fourteen years since the civil war in Syria started. The locals have been facing violence, forced displacement, and severe shortages of essential goods, including food, water, and means of livelihood. Caritas Czech Republic, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, has focused its assistance on the north of the country, near the Turkish-Syrian border. This region was affected by a devastating earthquake in 2023. Following the end of Bashar al-Assad’s administration this summer, the safety situation in the area even worsened. Yet, we are still able to report positive news from Syria. The following story is one of them. 

Water brings back hope to Ali and his family in Syria
January 20, 2025 Humanitární pomoc a rozvojová spolupráce Charity ČR

Water brings back hope to Ali and his family in Syria

Despite years of displacement and harsh living conditions in northern Syria, Ali remains determined to care for his family. Forced to flee his hometown due to violence, he has endured countless challenges, from unemployment to the struggle for clean water. Now, thanks to Caritas Czech Republic, a renewed water supply is bringing hope back to his life, family, and community

12-year-old Maryam from Syria dreams of becoming a teacher and uplifting her community
November 7, 2024 News

12-year-old Maryam from Syria dreams of becoming a teacher and uplifting her community

In spite of the challenging environment of Syria, Maryam, a 12-year-old from Jeb Al Dam, remains determined to pursue her education and dreams of becoming a teacher. She hopes to be a part of the movement to rebuild her country after thirteen years of conflict and last year's earthquake have left all of Syria struggling, with millions in need of humanitarian aid.