The new global debt crisis: Your questions answered
"Shouldn't all debts just be repaid?" Find out the answer to this, as well as other key questions about the new global debt crisis.
We spoke with CAFOD employees in Zimbabwe and London about how people are coping in the face of coronavirus, and how volunteers are making the crucial difference.
Daphne Magidi lives and works for CAFOD in London, but she has family and friends in Zimbabwe. She told us about their experiences:
“The vulnerable are failing to cope. There’s very little food in Zimbabwe. As you know, CAFOD was already running an appeal here for hunger. The Zimbabwean economy is quite fragile. A lot of people survive from hand to mouth. If everybody is stuck indoors, they are not selling – they are not able to produce any funds to feed their families.
“The health system is quite fragile. A lot of people, even if they were to be suffering from COVID, are too afraid to go to the hospitals, because technically there is nothing for them to go to, and there is no medication.
“It’s a fragile situation and people are struggling to cope because they do not have food. No access to clean water. It’s the basic commodities that people are lacking. For Zimbabweans, they are saying lockdown is not sustainable. They want to get out.”
But in the face of all this struggle, people are still finding the strength to volunteer – to give their valuable time to help others less fortunate than themselves.
Luckson Mashiri lives and works for CAFOD in Zimbabwe. He is witness to the power of volunteers. He said:
“There was one volunteer who was quite keen on helping. This was in an area that was cut off, with no electricity, and he was crucial in liaising and identifying the beneficiaries in need.
“These things highlight to me the importance of volunteers in the work that we do, because without them it would not be possible to get items to communities.
“Volunteers have brought massive value to the work we do as CAFOD, to extend the reach to beneficiaries who are living in hard-to-reach areas.
“Volunteers, I would say, they are part of the bloodstream of what we do in CAFOD. They are very critical and very vital in terms of engaging the communities. Even in terms of Covid-19, they are very, very, very, influential and supportive.”
But why do people volunteer?
Luckson says:
“It’s a mixture in terms of what motivates volunteering. With some of the volunteers that we interact with, it’s something that stems from Catholic Social Teaching.
"But there’s a whole spectrum of reasons why people volunteer. Catholics do it because they feel an obligation or duty to help. Some of our volunteers do it because they’ve experienced the need for help themselves.”
Thousands of volunteers around the world are making a direct impact on the lives of others. We are in no doubt that volunteers are saving lives. As part of Volunteers’ Week, we want to highlight their hard work, dedication and love. Thank you.
"Shouldn't all debts just be repaid?" Find out the answer to this, as well as other key questions about the new global debt crisis.
In his message for the 58th World Day of Peace, Pope Francis speaks powerfully about the Jubilee Year theme of Pilgrims of Hope.
Join us as we take a look back at some of the events that have shaped the last quarter of a century – and the ways in which we’ve come together in hope to work for a better world.
World Day of Peace falls on 1 January and is a day when the Catholic Church encourages us to dedicate prayer and action to promoting universal peace.
This New Year why not use CAFOD’s free Will service? By including a gift to CAFOD, you can share your blessings with families around the world.
Five easy ways for you to answer Pope Francis' call for Catholics to be Pilgrims of Hope in the Year of Jubilee 2025.
A new report outlines why, following the historic success of the Jubilee 2000 debt campaign, the world once again faces an acute global debt crisis in 2025.
As we approach the festive season, here are four things we'd like for Christmas to make a better world.
The beginning of a new year is a valuable time to start afresh. Here are five simple ways you can use your New Year's resolutions to live out your faith in 2025.
CAFOD is seeking a committed individual to join the Board of Trustees and to take the role of Safeguarding Lead.