The Catholic Campaign for Human Development, a charity created by the bishops of the Catholic Church to empower the poor and eradicate the causes of poverty, is starting a program to involve youth in this effort.

CCHD gives monies to groups of poor people that try to change the institutions that perpetuate poverty. The money is controlled by the poor themselves. Often, funded projects focus on issues such as housing, community organizing, education and the environment.

Now, as part of the Campaign for Human Development/Youth Empowerment Program, student and church-based youth groups in the Archdiocese of Baltimore can apply for a grant for projects they believe will help change the structures of society that result in poverty. Up to $5,000 in grant money has been earmarked for the Youth Empowerment Program.

The money for CCHD grants comes from a second collection held in all of the nation's Catholic churches every fall. A portion of money collected in each diocese is used by that diocese for local projects, and the Archdiocese of Baltimore has decided to make $5,000 of that money available for youth projects.

"We feel the ideas of our young people are too valuable to ignore when facing such an entrenched problem as poverty," said Monsignor William F. Burke, CCHD's archdiocesan director. "We cannot tackle poverty without the idealism and energy of our youth."

Student or youth groups interested in applying for grant money must first network with an existing non-profit organization, such as a neighborhood association, housing coalition, tenant council, etc. They will target a group already dealing with the issue or cause that they would like to address. At least one member from that group must serve on the board of their project.

"Who knows better about the needs of the poor than the poor themselves?" asked Monsignor Burke.

CCHD money does not fund direct-service projects, such as soup kitchens. Instead, CCHD uses its grants for groups that are trying to promote institutional change.

"We look at the example of the saying, *Give someone a fish and you feed them for a day; Teach them to fish and you feed them for a lifetime,' " Monsignor Burke said. "We try to fund teach-them-to-fish projects."

This year, CCHD awarded $5,000 to the Students Sharing Coalition, a group of high school and college students who learn how to lobby effectively and then lobby state legislators on issues that affect the homeless.

Student groups at any high school -- public, parochial or private -- may apply, as may youth groups of any denomination.

To request an application for a Youth Empowerment grant, call Monsignor Burke at 410-235-5136.

Click here to download the application in rich text format that can be read by any word processor.