CRS, founded in 1943, is the overseas relief and development agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). CRS currently works in over 100 countries around the world with offices across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.
CRS began work in Uganda in 1965 in an effort to aid refugees from South Sudan fleeing violence in their home country. In 1995, CRS opened an office in Kampala to better assist the Ugandan people during the armed conflict in the North. Since then, CRS has worked in the areas of agriculture, emergency response and recovery, health, microfinance, peacebuilding, and water and sanitation.
Sustainable Outcomes for Children and Youth in Central and Western Uganda (SOCY) improves the health, nutrition, education, and psychosocial wellbeing of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and youth, as well as reduces abuse, exploitation, and neglect among this population.