Stories and Photos

CRS Education

For as long as humanity has been in existence, storytelling has been embedded in traditions of culture, religion and societies. It is the fundamental unit whereby humans understand and communicate their experiences with one another. As an art, storytelling provides a window or view that leads to deeper understanding — through words or pictures. Storytelling serves as a tool for deeper reflection, often leading individuals to connect with lives seemingly so different from their own. Storytelling pulls the individual into the world of another human, engendering awareness of and a bond with the other that fosters solidarity. In short, story transforms us because it leads us to transform information into meaning for our lives.

Recognizing storytelling and pictures as transformative educational tools, CRS offers these stories, pictures, and videos from the field, particularly those that feature the lives of youth and children overseas. Feel free to incorporate these into lessons plans and prayer services.

Stories of Global Solidarity and Partnership

A Global Solidarity Partnershipis a program of CRS whereby a Catholic diocese or cluster of parishes in the United States and a diocese overseas develop a relationship based in mutuality and shared faith. Through the Global Solidarity Partnership program, CRS engages U.S. Catholics more directly in its work and demonstrates how the agency builds capacity with its partners overseas. The program works through a team of volunteers from both the U.S. partner and the partner overseas. This team, comprised of lay people and religious, work together to implement the program within their communities. The stories below are a sampling of many that reflect the transformation that takes place between those who participate in CRS Global Solidarity Partnerships.

Renewal in Partnership
In November of 2004, the Archdiocese of Anchorage, AK and the Archdiocese of Cotabato, Philippines, with the facilitation of Catholic Relief Services, established a Global Solidarity Partnership that has led to an exploration of culture, peacebuilding and community for many involved.
Solidarity Springs from Water
The Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN and the Diocese of Kitui, Kenya, with the facilitation of Catholic Relief Services, established a Global Solidarity Partnership in 2004. In addition to sharing models of small Christian communities, fostering women lay leadership, connecting like groups in both dioceses, and offering prayers for each other, the two dioceses committed to engage together on a water project.
Giving Back Our Dignity
CRS and Caritas Norway work with local residents of Ho Chi Minh to develop the Hoc Mon Community Center in the effort to assist people living with HIV/AIDS, suffering from addiction and others trying to reclaim their dignity.

Stories of Women

Throughout the world and despite overwhelming obstacles, women persevere and often serve as the foundation of family life and the revitalization of a community. Their stories embody a commitment to the common good. Their commitment to family and children engender hope for a world that truly safeguards the dignity and life of all people. Use the stories below to share the courage, resilience and hope of women throughout the world.

CRS' Gender Programming Principles
Learn more about the principles that guide our work and capacity-building, relationships and programs instituted on behalf of and with women around the world.
A Refugee's Point of View: Sharing the Stories of Pakistan
Quhramaan is a former Afghan refugee who has been living in Pakistan since she was just 8 years old. She now works for CRS/Pakistan, supporting women in education, business and leadership development.
More Than A Title
In the village of Chirwa, Niger, Ruga Ibrahim is known simply as Kungiya Mata — the leader of women. Learn more about what this means and the difference that she has made in this small village.
Triplets Thrive in Program Called Hope
The word Lusubilo means hope in the Malawian language, Ngonde, and aptly describes the community-based orphan care program sponsored by CRS in Malawi. Read the story of two women who re-discovered hope through the care provided through Lusubilo.
Women of Mercy
An additional resource is Kathy Coffey's Women of Mercy, a compilation of prose and art reflections of women of faith throughout the ages.

Stories of Young People

The following stories shed light into CRS' work with young people, providing a glimpse of the realities, insights and resilience of young people in regions and situations torn with conflict, oppression and poverty. Each story, in pdf format, can be downloaded through its title link, below.

Amina's Story
A young woman in India escapes a life of abuse and sexual molestation only to be trafficked into a brothel. She eventually escaped and found hope through the help of a CRS partner in India, Prajwala, an organization dedicated to serving women and children who are victims of trafficking.
Children of War
In times of war, children are vulnerable both physically and psychologically. Read about CRS' efforts to help the children of Lebanon deal with the stresses of war.
Bridges to Peace
Nicolas, like many other young people living in the Palestinian territories, longs for a peaceful world. Through the CRS-sponsored Cyber Bridges program, he has found a way to work toward that dream. Learn how CRS is bringing hope to youth in the Middle East.
Afoyo, Afoyo Ba … Thank You!
To escape abduction and ongoing violence in northern Uganda, thousands of children leave their homes every night and gather in places like the CRS-supported Rural Focus Center, which provides a safe haven and educational opportunities.
Teens Making the Trek
What would make a teen leave home and try to enter the United States illegally? And what happens to these youth if they get caught? CRS is learning more about why teens decide to migrate and what happens to these young people when they are detained and deported.
The New Sounds of Peace: Laughter fills Summer Camps for Children of War
While the memories of war are still fresh in the minds of many children in Lebanon, CRS and a local partner have established camps where more than 100 youngsters, ages 9 to 16, take part in a range of activities aimed at helping erase the trauma of war.

Through the Eyes of Lebanon's Children

David Snyder has spent the last decade covering natural disasters and war, yet he is always struck by the impact on children. The accompanying powerpoint allows you to see images of children and youth during the conflict in Beirut this past summer. David's reflections are included in the powerpoint presentation.

Solidarity with Africa Stories & Photos

CRS Education

Give your students a glimpse into the lives of everyday Africans. Each of these 10 beautiful photos from Africa is accompanied by a brief profile and prayer.

Stories from Niger

The following resources are from CRS' Food Fast Program, a 24-hour hunger awareness program for youth. For more information on Food Fast and how to order your free materials, click here.

CRS Education
The Road to Lilato
This brief power point presentation illustrates how one rural village in the African country of Niger built a road that helped to connect them to the outside world and improve their lives.
Gaya Goes to School
This brief power point presentation illustrates the struggle of obtaining an education for Nomad children in the African country of Niger.

Stories from the Field

Share with your students these brief stories from CRS ' Food Fast program, a 24-hour hunger awareness program for youth.

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