where your faith takes you

JOURNEYSO F H O P E

JOURNEYSO F H O P E

where your faith leads you

JOURNEYS OF HOPEAs a supporter of Catholic Relief Services, you know that your compassion transforms lives. A CRS Journeys of Hope trip provides a rare opportunity to see how your solidarity with some of the poorest and most vulnerable people around the world is helping them overcome adversity.

Immersed in a culture, you will see up close how people are involved in activities that help them grow food, access clean water, raise healthy children and overcome disaster. You will be at the frontlines, watching CRS in action and witnessing the reach of the Catholic Church. You will interact with CRS field staff and partners, understand the challenges we face, and observe the measures we’ve taken to ensure we have a lasting effect on people’s lives.

Most important, you will meet those touched by your compassion and engage with communities that are often invisible and unheard.

“A CRS trip demonstrates how CRS is providing world-class programming in the most optimal manner. There is nothing like observing our programming firsthand, and interacting with the beneficiaries of our programs.” —Gerry Carolan, CRS Foundation Board member on her trip to Lebanon

Photo by Oscar Durand for CRS

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

CRS PROGRAMS AND PROJECTSOur staff will immerse you in a schedule of meaningful activities: cultural workshops, sightseeing, and sharing meals and ideas with interesting local people. You will witness programming that brings the CRS strategy to life through health, agriculture and livelihoods, and emergency response.

PREPARATIONOnce you’ve decided on your destination, you will receive a step-by-step planning guide, including information on visa requirements, vaccines, packing and other recommendations. CRS will also share opportunities for those interested in participating with others in voluntary, faith-filled activities as part of their trip. A comprehensive briefing book, as well as a phone call with country staff and fellow travelers, will provide you with in-depth information about the field, programs, trip itinerary, contact information and an opportunity to ask questions.

LOGISTICSCRS will provide all logistical planning and support within the country. We will host all guests—from the time you arrive at your destination airport to the time you depart.

FOODAll meals will be provided. We will work to meet your dietary and personal needs.

ACCOMMODATIONSThroughout the trip, you will stay in comfortable quarters and hotels with standard Western conveniences. In some countries, you may stay in a CRS guesthouse or residence of the local priest or bishop.

SECURITYCRS takes security seriously. You will travel only to countries considered safe by the most trusted sources, and you will always be in the company of CRS staff. CRS has strong relationships with the communities and partners in the countries you will visit, and they will go out of their way to ensure your safety, comfort and peace of mind.

POST-TRIP EXPERIENCECRS will provide an opportunity for debriefing and reflection, as well as ideas for participants who would like to share their experience with others. For those that would like to share their experience, CRS will offer materials to support these efforts.

where your faith takes you

JOURNEYSO F H O P E

JOURNEYSO F H O P E

2019 DESTINATIONS

JANUARY 27—FEBRUARY 1: HAITI

The name “Haiti” comes from the native Taino/Arawak

word “ayiti” or “hayti,” meaning “mountainous” or

“highland.” The Republic of Haiti occupies the western

third of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea.

The Republic of Haiti includes several small islands

and covers 10,714 square miles, making it slightly

larger than the state of Maryland.

Children from Notre Dame de Lamerci de Robillard school in Nord Department, Haiti, enjoy break time. In partnership with the Catholic Education Commission, CRS is implementing Haiti Reads, which provides children with new workbooks for reading and writing practice. Photo by Oscar Leiva/Silverlight for CRS

The two main languages of Haiti are Haitian Creole and French.

All Haitians speak Haitian Creole, while 20 percent of the population

speaks French.

For more than 60 years, CRS has worked in Haiti to tackle poverty

and create a more stable and just society. We help communities

develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to empower

Haitians to drive their own recovery and development. Partnering

with the local Catholic Church, the government of Haiti, and more

than 200 faith-based and community-based organizations, our work

includes: emergencies and resiliency, education, health and social

services, agricultural livelihoods and youth and urban programs.

Visit Haiti and experience the people’s resilience. While the itinerary

of the trip may change, possible destinations include:

■ Jeremie, Located in the Grand’Anse Department, CRS opened an office there in 2016 after Hurricane Matthew. Sites you’ll visit may include our agricultural livelihoods project, as well as an education project that focuses on early childhood literacy.

■ Cayes, Located in the Sud Department, where CRS opened its first office in 1954 and where the first Cardinal of Haiti, Cardinal Chibly Langlois, resides. Sites may include our health project, which focuses on maternal child health and nutrition, as well as our resiliency program that focuses on disaster risk reduction, shelter, household sanitation options, reinforcing livelihoods, and increasing access to clean water.

■ Port-au-Prince, Capital of Haiti, where you will meet Church officials such as the Nuncio, Archbishop of Port-au-Prince, and the Director of Caritas Haiti.

*In-country travel outside of Port-au-Prince will be done via Mission

Aviation Fellowship.

FEBRUARY 17—23: KENYA

Kenya is a country of many contrasts—from its varied

landscape of wild game parks and tropical coastline,

to its diverse demographics including native tribes

and generations of Arab and Indian influence.

Perhaps its most notable contrast is social and

economic inequality. Even though Kenya is known

as an economic powerhouse, 48 million people live

below the poverty line.

However, Kenya’s young and growing population,

dynamic private sector, highly skilled workforce,

improved infrastructure, new constitution and pivotal

role in the East Africa Community has given it the

potential to be one of Africa’s great success stories.

CRS’s first recorded assistance in Kenya was 1956,

when a shipment of food was provided to the Catholic

missionaries working there. CRS built on its tradition of

Jennifer Atieno weeds her garden with her baby daughter in Kopiyo, Kenya. Jennifer is a community volunteer for the CRS THRIVE program, which provides care and support for 15,000 children under age 5 affected by HIV. Photo by Karen Kasmauski for CRS

providing relief in emergency

situations and began to seek

ways to help people break

the cycle of poverty through

community-based, sustainable

development initiatives.

These programs, which

today include agricultural

livelihoods, household

economic strengthening,

health education, and clean

water projects, ensure that

local people are the central

participants in determining

their own success.

Come to Kenya to meet its

warm and friendly people,

and witness how CRS helps those most in need rise from poverty.

Possible destinations include:

■ Turkana County in northern Kenya, where CRS has had a long and productive relationship with the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar. Learn how we provide programs to ensure clean and reliable access to water and sanitation services.

■ The area around Mt. Kenya and the Archdiocese of Nyeri, a longtime partner in agriculture programming, where we are currently working with coffee farmers to improve the quality and quantity of their coffee crop.

■ The counties around Lake Victoria in western Kenya, where CRS works with Church partners and local civil society organizations to provide health and education services to orphans and vulnerable children whose families have been affected by HIV and AIDS.

Passy Stacy, 22 months, benefits from CRS clean water projects in Kenya.Photo by Karen Kasmauski for CRS

MARCH 3-9: THE HOLY LAND

Together, Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank make

up an area no bigger than New Jersey and Delaware.

Yet the Holy Land is deeply significant to Christians,

Jews and Muslims. It is also one of the most densely

populated areas in the world, and one of the most

conflict riven.

CRS has been working in the Holy Land since the 1940s,

when we assisted communities displaced during World

War II. We first opened an office in Jerusalem in 1961,

and have maintained a continuous presence in Gaza

since 1989.

Intisar Mohammed Hassan Attallah and her granddaughter Tala Al-ba. Agricultural training programs in their region help Intisar improve her farming productivity.Photo by Karen Kasmauski for CRS

Travel to this land of rich religious history, and meet with the women,

men and children who now have safer shelters, more resilient

farmland and stronger local economies thanks to support like yours.

While the itinerary may change, possible destinations include:

■ Jerusalem, traveling to major Christian pilgrimage sites, and

meeting with Church leaders and CRS partners working to promote

peace, justice and human rights.

■ Gaza, visiting families living in CRS-built shelters, speaking with

young women and men employed by CRS cash-for-work programs,

and touring child friendly spaces CRS created to provide counseling

and education to children traumatized by war.

■ The West Bank, meeting with CRS Fair Trade workers in Bethlehem,

as well as rural families who joined our soil and water conservation

projects and microfinance groups.

Amidst devastation, two girls share smiles. CRS provides support to thousands of families in Gaza to start the long process of recovery and rebuilding. Photo by Shareef Sarhan for CRS

MARCH 26—31: GUATEMALA

Guatemala is a beautiful country with mountain

ranges and tropical lowland territories that are home

to centuries-old Mayan cultures. With a population

of about 15.5 million people, Guatemala is Central

America’s most populous country. Its economy is

heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts for

nearly 15 percent of the gross domestic product and

half the work force.

Despite its rich culture and beautiful geography, the

country is characterized by significant levels of poverty

and insecurity, coupled with social and economic

inequality. The indigenous population, which has

limited access to health care, education and economic

opportunities, is especially affected.

CRS has a rich history of over 50 years of work in

Guatemala. Focusing on the needs of the poorest

and most vulnerable, CRS and its partners have

supported programs in food security, nutrition, health,

agriculture, education, youth development, disaster

risk reduction and emergency response. CRS depends

Jacinta Marroqu’n Pablo, who participates in a CRS food security project, stands in her potato field in San Marcos, Guatemala. Photo by Oscar Leiva/Silverlight for CRS

on the hard work and dedication of more than 100 staff working out

of our head office in Guatemala City and our field office in the city of

Quetzaltenango.

Visit Guatemala and experience how CRS implements different

comprehensive programs to support those most in need. While the

itinerary may change, four possible destinations include:

■ Escuintla, where you will share with families that are participating in the Families with Dignity program that promotes transformational change within the family in favor of just relationships, improved communication and joint decision making to reach integral human development.

■ Chiquimula or Zacapa, to see the Water Smart Agriculture program where families adapting to climate change raise their crop fields, improve the way water resources are managed and increase their economic and environmental resilience.

■ Western Highlands, to see the Communities Leading Development project where communities are supported to inclusively identify and prioritize their development needs and then empowered to realize these development plans, leveraging strategic alliances with the private sector of Guatemala.

In Guatemala, the CRS project, SEGAMIL, works to enhance access to food and reduce chronic malnutrition to thousands of families. The Perez family are beneficiaries of this program.Photo by Oscar Leiva/Silverlight for CRS

MARCH 29—APRIL 5: IRAQ

Iraq, considered one of the cradles of civilization,

has been home to Akkadian, Assyrian, Babylonian

and Sumerian empires. Located in modern-day

Mesopotamia, the “land amidst the rivers” Tigris

and Euphrates, modern-day Iraq remains home to a

diversity of peoples, including Chaldean, Syriac and

Yazidi cultures. A country of notable oil wealth, Iraq

has been deeply impacted by conflict, most recently

involving ISIS.

CRS re-started operations in Iraq in 2014, working

closely with Caritas and the local Church to support

families fleeing ISIS. Since this time, CRS has provided

more than 300,000 people with critical relief items,

education and emotional support, shelter and water,

and sanitation. As families return home, CRS is

expanding support to help families recover livelihoods

and live in harmony with each other.

An aerial view of Dohuk, Iraq. Photo by Philip Laubner/CRS

Come to northern Iraq and meet families who are working hard to

re-start their lives and rebuild their communities. While the itinerary

may change, possible destinations include:

■ Erbil, where many families took refuge from the ISIS. Meet Church leaders who have worked hard to ensure that displaced families—including minorities—have the support they need.

■ Dohuk, where displaced families continue to live, and see the schools CRS built to ensure children have access to quality education.

■ Ninewa, where families have started to return, and see how Christians and other minorities are re-starting their lives through CRS’ shelter, education and livelihoods support.

Children displaced by conflict play in a government camp in Shariya, Iraq. Photo by Philip Laubner/CRS

MAY 19—26: MADAGASCAR

Situated off the southeast coast of Africa, Madagascar

is the fourth largest island in the world. Often called

the “Great Red Island” for its dark-red clay soil, it

was formed in isolation, explaining its biodiversity

and unique wildlife. In addition to the famous lemur,

thousands of other unique flora and fauna cover

the island. Despite its natural beauty, the country

has experienced cyclical political crises since its

independence in 1960, and frequent disasters have

contributed to challenges with development.

CRS began working in Madagascar 55 years ago

in 1962 and continues to work with local Church

partners to serve the most vulnerable communities.

The country program currently focuses efforts in

agricultural livelihoods, health and nutrition and

emergency response. Part of our exciting work in

agriculture is helping farmers improve their skills in

The CRS DiNER FAARM program provides seed vouchers to farmers so they can replant fields devastated by natural disasters. Here, Viviroa, a sole supporter of four children, proudly points to one of her emerging zucchini plants. Photo by Heidi Yanulis for CRS

cultivating high-value spices like vanilla, cinnamon and black pepper.

This helps farmers join forces in cooperatives, linking them to viable,

sustainable markets and increasing household incomes.

Join us on a trip to Madagascar and see how CRS helps build strong,

resilient communities. While the itinerary may change, possible

destinations include:

■ A visit to a farmer cooperative near the coast town of Tamatave, experience how CRS helps farmers link to markets.

■ Brickaville, where CRS is helping communities rebuild after three consecutive cyclones in 2017.

■ Foulpointe, where CRS supports an integrated education project that improves student literacy while providing school meals and other important improvements.

■ The Andasibe rainforest, an overnight stay to learn about efforts that teach communities about conservation and protecting the environment.

Farmers in Madagascar survey their fields. Photo by Heidi Yanulis for CRS

JUNE 23—30: CAMBODIA AND LAOS

Nestled in the heart of Southeast Asia, Cambodia

and Laos have rich histories including diverse

religious and cultural traditions. Both countries are

emerging from challenging periods and are striving

to build stronger and more inclusive political systems

and economies.

CAMBODIA shares a border with Vietnam, Thailand

and Laos, and is about half the size of Japan.

Following more than two decades of strong

economic growth, Cambodia has reached lower

middle-income status as of 2015. Poverty continues

to fall, albeit very slowly. About 4.5 million people

remain near-poor, vulnerable to poverty when

exposed to economic and other external shocks.

Health and education remain important challenges

and development priorities for Cambodia. As of 2015,

70 percent of Cambodia’s population of 12.3 million

Children from Nongdern village in Laos play after school. Their primary school provides students a free lunch every day so they can focus on studies, not hunger. Photo by Jim Stipe/CRS

people do not have access to piped water supply, and 58 percent

(9.3 million people) do not have access to improved sanitation.

CRS began working in Cambodia more than 25 years ago.

During this time, CRS has provided humanitarian assistance for

refugees, famine relief, health systems strengthening, childhood

education systems support and rehabilitation assistance.

While the itinerary may change, possible destinations include:

■ Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s fast-developing capital, where you’ll learn more about the challenges of the country’s growth through a visit to CRS partner Maryknoll and its counter-trafficking and HIV and AIDS youth program.

■ Takeo Province, where CRS helps educate children with disabilities.

LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC, is a small, landlocked

country of almost 7 million people. The country is one of the poorest

in Southeast Asia, without adequate education, health services or

infrastructure to support the development of its people. Thirty-four

percent of the Laotian people live on less than $1.25 per day, 75

percent of the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture and

fewer than 70 percent of children graduate from grade 5. Catholic

Relief Services began supporting Lao partners in 1997 and opened

its first office in 2007. Since then, CRS has worked primarily in the

education sector. CRS’ main office is located in Vientiane, Laos’

capital, and has field offices in three provinces.

While the itinerary may change, possible destinations include:

■ Vientiane, Laos’ capital and largest city, where you’ll learn about the country’s challenges and opportunities from CRS and our partners.

■ Savannakhet Province, where you’ll visit the Learning and Engaging All in Primary School project, or LEAPS, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food for Education program. The project’s strategic objective is improving literacy for school-age children by providing a nutritious, healthy meal that allows students to focus on their studies and not their hunger. The project serves over 35,000 preschool and primary school students in 318 schools.

SEPTEMBER 21-28: UGANDA

Known as the “Pearl of Africa,” Uganda is a

picturesque country in the eastern part of the

continent, rich in natural resources and home to

the source of the Nile River. Uganda has made

tremendous strides in recent years to overcome

regional conflict and a devastating AIDS epidemic

that has left more than 13 percent of the population

with HIV and 2 million children orphaned. Instability

in neighboring South Sudan has forced an estimated

1,380,000 refugees into northern Uganda—including

the world’s largest refugee settlement, Bidi Bidi, home

to 285,000 refugees, mostly women and children.

Now with three offices in the country, CRS programs

include health and nutrition, support for orphans

and vulnerable children, emergency response and

recovery, savings-led microfinance, peacebuilding and

governance, water and sanitation, and agricultural

livelihoods. CRS now reaches more than 1 million

people with interventions across all regions

of Uganda.

Abdhali Waiswa tends a CRS demonstration garden in Nankoma Subcounty, Uganda. Photo by Flavia Lanyero/CRS

We hope you’ll join us in Uganda to see how CRS is changing lives.

Take part in our efforts to help orphans—and all children—grow up

healthy, help families save for their futures, provide emergency care

for refugees, and empower farmers to increase their incomes and

resiliency. During your trip, possible destinations include:

■ Kampala, the bustling capital city where you will see cultural and historical landmarks.

■ Mityana, a small town where you’ll visit the farms of youth and farmer households growing coffee and other cash crops to increase their families’ well-being.

■ Moroto, a small town in the northeast to visit vulnerable rural families rebuilding their lives and incomes through sustainable agriculture. You will be able to visit a manyatta, or ‘homestead’, in one of the villages and experience the rich culture of the Karamojong people.

Ester Abau, a mother who escaped violence in South Sudan, holds her child at the Bidi Bidi camp in Uganda, the largest refugee settlement camp in the world. CRS provides water, sanitation and shelter for the residents. Photo by Hugh Rutherford for CRS

Above photo by Heidi Levine for CRS Cover photo by Hugh Rutherford for CRS

I’ve witnessed firsthand the splendid work being done around the world by the men and women of CRS — the work of Christ, which is being done in the name of American Catholics. And believe me, you should be proud of that work. —Bishop Gerald Kicanas, Bishop Emeritus of Tucson and former chairman of CRS Board.

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. We ease suffering and provide assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.

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