Caritas Europa was created in 1971 and brings together 48 organisations that are active in 44 European countries. It is one of the seven regions of Caritas International, a confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development and social service organisations working to build a better world, especially for the poor and oppressed, in over 200 countries and territories.
Caritas member organisations include volunteers in all levels of the organisation. This ranges from local and parish level, on diocesan and national level and in different roles, ranging from organising activities for poor and/or excluded people to board member of the organisation. Caritas would be unable to function without the invaluable contribution of volunteers and for that reason organises capacity building sessions for them. Caritas also engages people suffering from social exclusion or poverty as volunteers in the organisation as a step in the process of reintegrating them into society and labour market.
