Catholic Relief Services: 80 years of humanitarian service
By Kevin CheruiyotThe Catholic Relief Services (CRS), which is the official international agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has marked eight decades of unwavering service to humanity across 100 countries, Kenya being one of them.
As the official international agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, CRS continues to serve our brothers and sisters in need, regardless of creed, ethnicity, or nationality.
The commemoration underscores CRS’s deep commitment to its Catholic faith, fruitful partnerships, and dedication to working alongside our global human family.
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In his speech during the ceremony, Robert Mgeni, who is the Head of Programmes at CRS, said that the organization is focused on youth programs.
“We have youth programs in various counties that ensure the youths are employed and included in our activities. We have specific personnel mandated with the work of monitoring and evaluating the activities we do, to see if they are going as planned and, if not, what needs to be changed to better them,” Mr Mgeni said.
The Executive Vice President of Mission and Mobilization at CRS, Bill O’Keefe stated that Kenya is a model for the success of development,
“We are proud of the continuing progress going on here. We value the solidarity of everyone involved so that we can work as one and move forward together in the same direction,” Keefe said.
It was founded in 1943 with a mission to assist survivors of World War II in Europe. Still, CRS has evolved into a symbol of compassion and empowerment, touching the lives of countless individuals worldwide.
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Deputy Chief of Party for USAID Nawiri Margaret Kahiga, who attended the event, said that the fight against malnutrition has shown positive results with a decrease in the number of malnutrition cases.
“We have put measures such as drilling boreholes to ensure people in semi-arid areas have access to clean water.”
As the mission marks its 80th anniversary, the mission has committed to creating platforms for constructive dialogues to raise awareness of its ongoing projects in Kenya.
The central theme, “Globally Rooted; Community Led,” underscores CRS’s commitment to collaborating closely with communities to address their unique needs.
“To ensure clear and consistent messaging during the CRS@80 event and beyond, CRS is actively developing a messaging framework and seeking opportunities to enhance visibility, build relationships with stakeholders, and inspire confidence and motivation among partners.”
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