Indonesia

Since 1957, CRS has been working in Indonesia to help rural communities alleviate human suffering, eradicate poverty, and become self-reliant. In response to the 2004 earthquake and tsunami, CRS' presence in Indonesia extended to Aceh, where more than 160,000 people were killed or missing after the catastrophe and more than 800,000 people were left homeless. CRS' rehabilitation effort in Aceh is the organization's largest recovery effort in its 63-year history.

Southeast Asia's largest state and the world's largest archipelago (consisting of 17,000 islands, of which 6,000 are inhabited), Indonesia is home to a diverse array of indigenous beliefs, cultures, and religions. With a population of more than 241 million people, the country is at the crossroads of two oceans and two continents, a location that has influenced its culture, society, politics, and economy.

Indonesia faces enormous and diverse challenges — consolidating democracy, addressing regional conflicts, and regenerating the economy. Indonesia declared independence on 17 August 1945 after a long fight against Dutch and British colonialism, and Japanese imperialism. Since then, Indonesia has already experienced several forms of government. Today, Indonesia is seen as having made significant progress in advancing its democratic institutions and practices in a relatively short time. It is slowly rebuilding its economic and political strength.