Our stories

Stories of resilience, recovery and hope made possible by the generosity of people like you.

“She Heard My Voice”: Ayesha’s Journey to Safety in Cox’s Bazar

Life in the crowded, chaotic camp felt safer at first, until violence found them again in camp. “I felt trapped… I did not know how to keep my daughter safe. I felt like no one could hear me.”

“Everything changed when Ayesha met a Caritas‑supported volunteer from her own community. “She heard my voice when I thought no one was listening. She listened to me when I felt invisible,” Ayesha says.

From struggle to strength: Asilika’s story

Asilika was 23, caring for her mother, raising her young son, and living on Taveuni Island in Fiji where many families survive on less than $10 a day. Life was hard for the 23-year-old - and her dreams for a better future felt out of reach. 

“At Tutu I learned sewing, screen printing, handicrafts… and how to manage money. But most importantly, I learned to believe I could change my life,” she says. 

Turning honey into money in the Solomons

For years, Nellie worried about how to make ends meet. Work, in the Solomons Islands, where she lives, was irregular. Her family often struggled to cover the basics. That changed when she joined a programme run through a Caritas partner organisation.

“This project is the answer I’ve been looking for to pay my children’s school fees. The training was very practical and empowering,” she says with pride. 

Caritas Aotearoa Caritas Aotearoa

Hardship and loneliness in Cox’s Bazar

She fled burning villages and armed soldiers in Myanmar. But in a refugee camp hundreds of miles away, Mumtaz would face a second heartbreak, one that left her more isolated than ever. 

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Inside Gaza's Factory Making Prosthetic Legs 

As Gazans struggle to obtain the bare necessities of life, food, drink, clothing, and a place to sleep, their survival is often determined by their personal circumstances. Life is far easier for the able-bodied. 

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Caritas Aotearoa Caritas Aotearoa

Stories from Gaza: Nowhere safe to shelter 

In the early days of the war, Ahmad was helping others. He supported the emergency response for Caritas in Gaza. He helped deliver aid, from food parcels to essential medicines, and found emergency shelter for those in need. 

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