Caris offers health care and general knowledge of health issues to people living in impoverished countries who would not normally have access to medical care. The name of the foundation "Caris" comes from the Greek word "Χάρις" meaning grace, and it is the same root from which we get the English word "charity."
The Caris Foundation Web site states that: "Our desire is to demonstrate grace to those who have the greatest need so that: "the hungry are fed, the thirsty drink, the homeless are sheltered, the naked are clothed, the oppressed are released." "
The primary focus of the Caris Foundation is medical relief. The primary focus of the Caris Foundation in Haiti is to test for and treat infants with HIV. Haiti has one of the highest rates of infants infected with HIV in the Western Hemisphere according the Caris Foundation's Web site. They also seek to empower the poor in Malindi, Kenya, so that they have the tools and knowledge to care for their own families. Their "Intake" program is specifically meant to help young, single mothers who have been marginalized by their communities.
Alongside physical amenities, they offer training in nutrition, health care, child development, sexual awareness, family planning, HIV/AIDS management, personal and spiritual awareness. They also offer training in jobs such as tailoring, hair dressing and catering for these single mothers.
