Šiaulių vyskupijos Caritas - Diocesan Caritas Šiauliai

We visted for you the local Caritas. The idea was to better understand an important reality for the territory. The Caritas is a worldwide organization, for social thing, and is subordinate to the Lithuanian Bishops' Conference. We met Rima Vilkauskiene, responsible of local Caritas organization. She is friendly and answer with pleasure. Rima begin talking about the organization activities. "Everyone can ask for help, regardless. We cook food and people can bring it at home. We have a  children group, usually after school activities, and in the Sunday they come in the Mass for singing. We are planning now to make new thing, like assistance for sick and disable people."

Which is the role of MALTA organization?

 " MAlta give us money for soup and bread, only for old people and retired. We have 6 volunteer that help us in this work. They are students from Janonio gymanisum. Sometimes people who have free time or retired persons come to help us, they are the major part of our volunteer." A datum: In Lithuania there are 3000 volunteer and in Šiauliai Caritas are 100. Rima continues.

 " During the advent time people give us a donation for the lunch. Mostly of our money come from aid." Another  interesting thing is the work group in the hospital.

"We go in the hospitals and we try to help the people in need, just talking, by company. In addition we help whit  psychological help, girls that have pronstitution problems." 

But Šiauliai Caritas makes more. " We rent equipment for disabled people, like wheelchair. In addiction we help only the people that really need help ( lack money) mostly are families with underage children, and lonely people that call us if they need help."

Šiauliai Caritas had a children centre, but now for lack of money don't have it anymore. At Caritas also come people who need an accommodation. " We are not able to give bed, where to sleep, but we can give contacts where they can ask that", says Rima.

In conclusion of our interview, we can say that the work of Šiauliai Caritas is a great help for the community, and with the collaboration of city government and the other local organizations their mission can only grow.

Carlo Sanna

Gerda Verbickaite