The starting point for our aid is a close dialogue with local churches.
At 30.2%, Africa was once again the priority region for our aid projects in 2024. The situation is particularly dramatic in places where Islamist terror is spreading and Christians are victims of persecution and displacement, such as in Mozambique, Burkina Faso and Nigeria. At the same time, the number of faithful and vocations to the priesthood and religious orders continues to rise. These efforts are part of Aid to the Church in Need global projects in close dialogue with local churches, ensuring that support is tailored to the unique needs of each region.
18.7% of our aid was devoted to Asia (including 0.9% for Oceania), where Christians form a minority in most countries and are discriminated against or even persecuted. For example, we increased the level of our aid to Pakistan.
The funding volume for the Middle East represented 17.5% of our total aid. The focal points in 2024 continued to be Syria and Lebanon. By providing emergency aid and strengthening pastoral care, our aim is to help ensure the survival of Christian communities and counteract the massive exodus of Christians.
Latin America accounted for 16.8% of our total aid, as rural exodus, migration, sects and governments hostile to the Church are major challenges here.
In 2024, we continued to receive a large number of requests for support from Ukraine, where the Church, in the midst of war, is trying to alleviate the spiritual, psychological and material needs of those who have fled and are in need. Therefore, in 2024, 8.9% ofour funds went to Ukraine. Our aid in close dialogue with local churches for Europe totalled 15.9%.
Recent Projects
Lebanon : Help for the chaplaincy outreach in Baabda University
Ever since 2019 Lebanon has been going through one of the gravest economic crises in recent history. Such is the collapse that somewhere between half and three quarters of the...
Indonesia : A chapel for the village of Golo Popa
A little while ago we received an appeal for help from Indonesia. The Catholic faithful in the village of Golo Popa on the island of Flores had no church of...
Madagascar : A new village chapel in Morafeno
Ankililoaka Mission is set in a remote and underdeveloped rural region of southwest Madagascar and is run by the Salesian Fathers. The people here have only recently encountered the Gospel...
Kenya : Host-baking equipment for the Carmelite Sisters in Machakos diocese
Since the year 1999 there has been a Carmelite convent in the diocese of Machakos, in southern Kenya, and over the years it has been blessed with numerous vocations. It...
Ethiopia : Ongoing training for 300 catechists in the apostolic vicariate of Hawassa
Ongoing training for 300 catechists in the apostolic vicariate of Hawassa The apostolic vicariate of Hawassa (Awassa) is situated in the south of Ethiopia and covers a vast region of...
This is how donations become concrete aid for Christians in need
For 77 years, our professionalism, transparency, effectiveness, and efficiency have ensured that our benefactors’ donations have the best possible effect precisely where they are most urgently needed: among local churches in need.
- The need for project aid arises in a place where the Church sufers from poverty or persecution. The diocese or parish forwards the project to ACN (Aid to the Church in Need) headquarters in Königstein, Germany, with a recommendation from the local bishop or supervisor.
- The head of section for the region analyses the project. If necessary, he or she then asks for further information. Within a maximum of three months, ACN headquarters confirms whether the project has been approved or not.
- ACN headquarters informs the national offices about projects for local fundraising and financing through benefactors.
- The offices organise information and awareness-raising measures so that donors may support the projects.
- Benefactors feel inspired to join in and donate.
- ACN’s national offices transfer the charitable contributions to ACN headquarters.
- ACN decides on projects and their funding, then tracks and monitors their implementation.
Between one and six months after the approval of the project has been granted, ACN assumes the costs for the approved project. In emergencies, ACN headquarters provides immediate funds.