Angola
Young people in Angola receive education about HIV through Caritas. Community leaders and educators feel that reaching children early on is critical. Photo by David Snyder for CRS
Despite Angola's rich natural mineral resources, a civil war that lasted more than 30 years devastated the country and left it in deep poverty. Since the war ended in 2002, people have resettled in their villages but have yet to fully rebuild their lives. Returning home isn't always easy, with neighbors holding grudges that continue to tear apart Angola's social fabric. The government struggles to meet citizens' basic needs, including health care, education and access to clean water. Catholic Relief Services works with the Catholic Church to help Angolans thrive in a better, peaceful future.
Stats
| Population: | 12,799,293 (July 2009 est.) |
| Size: | 481,353 sq mi; slightly less than twice the size of Texas |
| People Served: | 1,759,103 (2011 est.) |
History
Catholic Relief Services began working in Angola in 1989 at the invitation of the Angolan Bishops' Conference. Initially, CRS assisted with relief efforts during the long civil war. When the 30-year war officially ended in 2002, Angola entered an accelerated period of reconstruction. Since that time, CRS and the Church have provided emergency relief during natural disasters and long-term projects to improve Angolans' quality of life. CRS currently has 30 staff members in Angola, working out of two offices in Lobito and Luanda.
Partners
Açcão para o Desenvolvimento Rural e Ambiente (Action for Rural Development and the Environment or ADRA), a CRS partner since August 2007, is carrying out a project to strengthen people's participation in their local government and promote good governance, funded by the U.S. Department of State and CRS. ADRA is an Angolan nongovernmental organization that supports agricultural development and improved health care, offers microfinance assistance, and promotes democracy and good governance.
Programs
AgricultureCivil Society and Governance
Disaster Response
Health
HIV and AIDS
