General Information

„Caritas“ – What does it mean?

“Caritas” is Latin and means “merciful love”. The organization “Caritas” was founded by the German catholic priest Lorenz Wertmann. Up to now it is active in 154 countries in the world.

In Russia Caritas supports the following groups of needing people:
- Homeless children and Teenagers
- Young mothers and pregnant women
- Old people and invalids
- Dieing people and their relatives
- Victims of natural catastrophes
- People in prisons
- Drug-addicted people
Most of the seminars in the “Caritas Education Centre for Social Services” are concerned with these themes.

The report about the work of the Caritas Education Center from 2001 to 2005 can be found here.

The History of „Caritas Education Centre for Social Services“

“Caritas Education Centre for Social Services” was founded by the German catholic priest Hartmut Kania to support the staff of catholic social organizations in Russia within their work.
Because of the expansion of the work of the education-centre the Catholic Bishops Assembly decided to make it an independent institution within the Russian Caritas, and in April 2004 the “Caritas Education Centre for Social Services” was registered as a legal, persistent education institution.
During her 4 years of existence 110 seminars were held out in St. Petersburg and other regions of Russia, more than 2100 people from 49 towns participated.

Who can participate at the seminars?

All, which are actively engaged in the Social Work of the Catholic Church (staff and volunteers of Caritas, people from the parishes, priests and clerics).
Most of the seminars are also opened to members of other confessional charitable organizations or governmental organizations.

Principles of our education

- Christian values, especially the respect of human life in every situation
- Active and praxis-orientated methods; we do not teach how to solve problems, but we en-courage them to deal with these problems in an active way
- Educate together people from different confessions and organizations, to make possible a later cooperation of these people

How much do the seminars cost?

Thanks to the support of many sponsors the seminars are in general free of charge. Beyond this we ask for a little support.

Ask for contribution

We are very thankful for every donation that helps us to organize our work.

We are also very glad for every other support of our work. If You are interested in participating our program as volunteering teacher please contact us!

„Caritas Education Centre for Social Services“

St. Petersburg, 197349
ul. Rjabinowaja, d. 18
Tel.: (812) 304-34-98
Fax: (812) 304-29-41
E-mail: mail@rasso-auto-moto.info
Homepage: http://wwwrasso-auto-moto.info

Members of staff of „Caritas Education Centre for Social Services“

Lada Ismailskaja,
Director of the Education Centre,
Dipl. Social Work

Radik Galijachmetov,
Deputy director,
Psychologist

Marina Melkaja,
Secretary,
Journalist

Tadeuz Kudrik
Publications, System administrator, Chauffeur, Repairs Psychologist

Regina Elsner
Volunteer,
Translations Theologian