The Bishop of the Diocese of Zamora, Fernando Valera Sánchez, began his speech at the press conference by thanking “so many people who give their donations, so many people who offer their testimony, their work, their encouragement. I believe that Cáritas is above all that project of so many people in our Diocese, and it is always like a beacon that illuminates the path of all of us. The Bishop recalled that Cáritas Española is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year “thank you and go ahead, may this celebration be an incentive for generosity, collaboration, to make charity our guide and the path of our following of Jesus. Thank you”.
Before beginning his speech Antonio, J. Martín de Lera, delegate-director of Cáritas Diocesana de Zamora, thanked the Bishop for his closeness and for being present in the reality of Cáritas alongside the poorest.
We are what we give, we are love is the motto of Caridad 2022, as Martín de Lera pointed out “the image of the poster breaking the bread refers to the Eucharist, take and eat. The Eucharist and charity have always gone hand in hand. Cáritas celebrates its great party on Corpus Christi Day, Charity Day, “we celebrate the love we receive, the love we give, the love we are. Love is what gives meaning to everything we do to everything we are. Let ourselves love and know how to love others”. As the delegate-director of Cáritas explained, “in the times we live in, it is essential and necessary to make love a beacon that becomes a reference to illuminate horizons of hope, opportunities and a new life capable of emerging in the midst of pain and sadness”.
Cáritas invites, through its Charity 2022 campaign, to reflect on what we are giving and what we can give for others. Martin de Lera has responded to this question by pointing out that much can be given to others with simple gestures such as “looking tenderly, listening patiently, taking care of fragility, sharing generously or denouncing the inconsistency that generates injustice”.
MEMORY 2021
The Cáritas 2021 activity report includes the work carried out in the Diocese of Zamora, alongside many people who are going through a difficult situation marked by health, economic or social consequences. “When we present this report, we are talking about 12,482 people attended, a very important percentage of our population”, a situation
which already announced the latest FOESSA report from Castilla y León which pointed out that exclusion in the community increased, in just over a year, from 14 to 18%.
The delegate-director of Cáritas Diocesana de Zamora commented that the entity is detecting five main problems “an increase in people in a situation of chronic poverty, conditioned by the increase in prices and inflation, secondly the lack of employment and business fabric that creates decent jobs, the third issue is the digital divide, both in minors and in families and the elderly; fourthly, unwanted loneliness both in rural and urban areas and, also and fifthly, mental health problems derived from the pandemic, but also with the model of life and society that we have. Faced with this situation, a good part of the resources of Cáritas have been invested in these aids for electricity bills, gas, rent…, but Cáritas has also invested in training courses, to facilitate social and labor insertion, achieving 111 insertions this year. . Regarding the digital divide, let us know that we are collaborating on it and with a European-funded program we will soon have several digital classrooms, also facing loneliness, we are encouraging volunteering and people who are close. It should be noted that the addiction programs see an increase in the number of people who come to them and finally that the quality seal has been achieved” in various Cáritas programs.
Arancha San José Temprano, responsible for the administration of Cáritas Diocesana de Zamora, highlighted some figures of people attended, such as the 7,631 in reception and community animation, the 609 who have gone through addiction programs, the 111 in the immigrant program or the 560 elderly cared for in the six residences that Cáritas manages in the Diocese of Zamora. San José pointed out that it would not have been possible to reach so many people without the effort and involvement of the 323 contract workers and the 810 volunteers.
The economic resources invested in the financial year 2021 by the entity amounted to 10,108,156 euros, “72% corresponds to private financing and 28% to public financing,” said the head of administration. In addition, she wanted to highlight that of the public entities, the Junta de Castilla y León is the one that contributes the most to the entity. On the other hand, she pointed out that Cáritas’ own funds correspond to collections and inheritances and legacies, another way of collaborating with Cáritas.
CARITAS WITH UKRAINE
Beatriz Riesco Hurtado, head of international cooperation, took the floor to explain how Caritas continues to work in Ukraine on the ground with two offices and more than 50 offices and parishes where “social care programs are developed, in places of support for internally displaced persons who They are fleeing the conflict, most of them going to the west of the country or to any border point. People who are waiting to leave the country at the borders are also attended to.
On the other hand, the person in charge of international cooperation commented on the work that Cáritas is doing in the province, carrying out a comprehensive accompaniment of 15 families, 41 people.” This help includes covering their basic needs, learning the Spanish language and culture through the classes taught by the immigrant program, informing them about procedures
due to their refugee status, job counseling and guidance and maintaining spaces for listening and support to detect any need that may arise. Many families have requested that their children participate in the Cáritas camps and there are some who are currently going to our child support centers”. This work is possible
to do it thanks to the solidarity of society, “Cáritas has already raised more than 80,000 euros for this cause, to which must be added the initiative of Caja Rural, which has raised approximately 90,000 euros and will continue with the open emergency with the aim of reaching at 100,000”.
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