The Humanitarian Aid Fund (HAF) was established to support the overseas humanitarian work of the church in Singapore. Your donations to HAF will be used to provide disaster relief and humanitarian aid, covering natural disasters and other adverse circumstances faced by the poor and needy, especially in developing countries in the region. These include funding for food, medical aid, capacity building, and disaster risk reduction programmes for the long-term support of those displaced and in need.  Funds collected through the HAF will be dispersed either through grants or emergency appeals, and also for the operation of CHARIS.

Funds collected through the HAF will be dispersed either through grants or emergency appeals. Through the provision of grants, CHARIS provides humanitarian aid to disaster-stricken communities during their most vulnerable times, and assistance to victims of all forms of crises and adverse circumstances.

Requests for grants for the HAF go through a rigorous grant process that includes evaluation, due diligence, monitoring and reporting. The stringent process ensures proper accountability and usage of funds. CHARIS also favours high impact projects, which are able to provide measurable outcomes that change lives in enduring ways. Categories of causes funded through the grants dispersed by CHARIS include the causes below. 

Emergency Appeals go through an expedited process to respond quickly to all kinds of emergencies, which enables individuals to rebuild livelihoods, provides clean drinking water and basic sanitation services and hygiene items – from an earthquake or typhoon to famine or a refugee crisis. 

In accordance with the permit granted to CHARIS by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), please note that this request for funding is extended to the Catholic Church congregation of Singapore only. The money collected is used to provide grants to organisations undertaking disaster relief and humanitarian work and the operations of CHARIS.

Dear brothers and sisters,

In the Gospel of Luke, the story of the Widow’s Mite is a powerful tale that reminds us of the profound impact that our humble contributions can have when offered with a spirit of selflessness and love.

A widow, residing in the temple, came forward to give her offering. Though her resources were meagre, her heart overflowed with deep faith and a desire to honour God. Amid the wealthy and powerful who made grand displays of their riches, the widow approached and dropped two small coins into the temple treasury. Jesus, observing this act of sacrifice, gathered His disciples and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:3-4).

The widow’s mite teaches us a profound lesson about the nature of generosity. It is not measured by the size or grandeur of our contributions, but by the sincerity and sacrificial spirit with which we give. The widow’s offering, though small in monetary value, carried immense weight because it represented her complete trust in God and her willingness to surrender everything she had.

Let us remember the words of Jesus, who said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Through our selfless giving, we participate in the divine economy of love. We transform into instruments of God’s grace, acting as channels of His mercy and compassion to our overseas brothers and sisters in need.

CHARIS reaches out to the marginalised, the suffering, and the forgotten beyond our shores, offering them hope, healing, and restoration.

In past year, CHARIS has disbursed over S$1.4 million towards various causes like the emergency relief for Turkey-Syria Earthquake and Indonesia West Java Earthquake, providing free surgery to the underprivileged, improving access to clean water in rural areas, supporting ecological projects, and more.

For a limited time, new sign-ups of recurring donations of at least $10 monthly will receive a handcrafted handicapped Jesus. Handmade by disabled artisans in Cambodia, the handicapped Jesus symbolises their suffering and hope in Jesus. By carrying it, we are reminded to give meaning to our lives, limitations and disabilities that are attached to Christ’s passion. 

If you would prefer to contribute via an alternative method, CHARIS is able to accept the methods below as well.

• Cheque

Download the donation form and mail us the completed form with your crossed cheque, made payable to “CHARIS HAF”, bearer only (i.e. strike out “Or Bearer”) and send it to:

Caritas Humanitarian Aid & Relief Initiatives, Singapore (CHARIS)

55 Waterloo Street #07-02 Catholic Centre Singapore 187954 

• Cash

Please drop by our office to make your payment and be sure to obtain a receipt for your cash donation. Our address is:

55 Waterloo Street #07-02 Catholic Centre Singapore 187954 

• GIRO

Download the GIRO form and mail us the completed form, with the indication “Attn: FR Executive” on the front of the envelope, to:

Caritas Humanitarian Aid & Relief Initiatives, Singapore (CHARIS)

55 Waterloo Street #07-02 Catholic Centre Singapore 187954