2013 AIC International Assembly of the Delegates - Bangkok - Thailand
120 AIC volunteers coming from over 20 different countries have met in Bangkok, Thailand, for the AIC International Assembly and Training Seminar. “Education – a two-way process. Educating ourselves to work together”, is the title of this year’s gathering, which has taken place at the Assumption University’s Suvarnabhumi Campus in Bangkok, Thailand from 14 to 17 March 2013, for the first time in the Asian Continent. AIC is convinced that education, especially that of women, is key to poverty reduction. In the over 16.000 local projects that AIC volunteers are engaged worldwide, they have observed that education of women, with reciprocity at the basis of the process, has a long lasting impact on the community’s development and the future generations. With the generous support of UNESCO - Fondation de France - Compagnie des Filles de la Charité - Missio 1° Impressions March 14 : This is the first time AIC assembly ever to be held in Asia, and the co-coordinator for Asia, Joan Sarasin, is to be congratulated for all the hard work that she ans her team have put into organizing this gathering in the beautiful surroundings of Assumption University. It was good to hear about all the wonderful work being done by the AIC volunteers in Asia, in Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Philippines Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. We started the day by praying for our new elected Pope, and subsequently Fr Peralta in his talk commented on this choice of name – Francis- suggesting humility, simplicity, and a servant of God . This serves as an inspiration to our work as AIC members of AIC. In her opening speech, the international President Laurence de la Brosse used the image of a flock of geese. By flying together in a shape each goose is able to fly at least 71% more effectively than if it were flying alone. If people had as much intuition as geese have, they would understand that success depends on team work, with each person taking on responsibilities, working together and helping each others. During discussions in the afternoon, participants commented that we cannot do our work in AIC without the help of God. Everything we do is based on our Vincentian spirituality. Our busy and fulfilling day ended with a joyful and convivial folk evening of song and dance, with much audience participation. Marlene Burt, EB member. Impresiones del segundo día de Asamblea, 15 de marzo de 2013 Hoy tenemos la gracia de celebrar el día de Santa Luisa de Marillac. Su recuerdo nos va a acompañar y animar a lo largo de nuestro día de trabajo, tras la hermosa y emotiva reflexión sobre Santa Luisa en el marco del año de la fe. Comenzamos pues con entusiasmo y gozo la jornada de hoy. Hemos acogido con atención y avidez la exposición de los 4 proyectos AIC sobre la Educación, y nos ha emocionado la puesta en práctica y la evolución de todos ellos. El intercambio sobre lo que pueden aportar a nuestros respectivos proyectos ha sido rico, fluido y muy enriquecedor. También la tarde ha sido rica en emociones. El momento de la foto de grupo nos ha brindado un momento de alegría y de distensión calurosa, y ha supuesto un pequeño paréntesis en la jornada de trabajo, que hemos retomado con energía y entusiasmo. Tras el interesante ejercicio de reciprocidad que nos ha vuelto a situar en nuestras líneas programáticas, hemos trabajado intensamente en los talleres, por temas de proyecto. La idea de la reciprocidad, tratar a los beneficiarios de igual a igual, respetándolos, amándolos y haciéndoles sentir firmemente su dignidad, pedirles ayuda desde un plano de igualdad, como hijos de Dios que somos todos, hacerles sentir que los necesitamos, han sido conclusiones a las que se ha llegado en todos los grupos. La Eucaristía ha sido una celebración gozosa y festiva, por ser el día de Santa Luisa y porque vamos avanzado y compartiendo juntos esta enriquecedora experiencia. También hemos vivido con alegría y distensión el bazar solidario, con risas, calurosas muestras de afecto y fraternidad. Un precioso día por el que dar gracias a Dios Milagros Galisteo candidata al BE Report – 16/03/2013 The Asian volunteers were invited to share a workshop about AIC projects in Asia. It was coordinated by Aliette of Maredsous, AIC international Representation Coordinator, and Sumaia Sahade, E.B. member. A brief resume of workshop: Donation of food : Thailand + Laos + Japan Donation of clothes : Thailand Nutrition project for children : Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Japan. Visits to prisioners : Philippines Education projects, scholarships for children and for women : Thailand, Philippines, Japan, Indonesia. Medicines project : Laos + Thailand In the afternoon, after a wonderfull cruise to discover Bangkok by boat, Soleman Mass celebrated by Bishop Banchong Chaiyara,C,SsR. Dinner at the new Pastoral Center of Holy Redeemer Church. (AIC Thailand Headquarters) Sumaia Sahade EB Member Welcome to Pope Francis.
October 17th, 2012 - International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
On the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the 17th of October, international INGOs of the Council of Europe organised the conference: "Building Europe through Human Rights: Acting Together against Extreme Poverty".
AIC has taken part as speaker in the round table discussion on participation, which has also seen contributions from people living in poverty from Russia, the United Kingdom, Belgium...
Here above parts of the intervention of Maritchu Rall, AIC representative at the European Council:
A l'occasion de la Journée du refus de la misère, le 17 octobre 2012, les OING du Conseil de l'Europe ont organisé une conférence sur le thème : Pour une Europe des Droits de l'Homme : s'unir contre la misère
L'AIC était intervenante à la table ronde sur "la participation" à laquelle étaient présentes des personnes vivant dans la pauvreté venant de Russie, du Royaume uni, de Belgique,...
Extraits de l'intervention de Martichu rall, représentante de l'AIC au Conceil de l'Europe:
"Notre analyse et notre diagnostic sur un plan individuel doivent s’intégrer ensuite dans un projet global de faire ensemble, comme le rappelle avec conviction Elena LASIDA, Economiste et sociologue qui nous interpelle :
« OSONS un nouveau développement avec les pauvres «
Est-ce que leur expérience de survie face à la pauvreté, leur créativité et leur imagination, leur débrouillardise n’ouvrent pas des pistes pour penser autrement le développement ?
Dans ce cas, il ne faudrait pas seulement« lutter contre la pauvreté » mais aussi et surtout, s’intéresser à ce que la pauvreté a pu libérer comme ressource nouvelle pour vivre mieux.
Il ne s’agit plus d’opposer intérêt individuel et intérêt collectif, le collectif doit résolument enrichir l’individuel dans un objectif de mieux et bien vivre ensemble pour reprendre ses termes !
En rendant la parole aux plus démunis, nous faisons d’abord un geste de reconnaissance, de respect et de dignité à leur égard
En les écoutant et en comprenant leur situation, leur pensée nous appréhendons mieux, avec nos cœurs et nos sensibilités, leur grave situation personnelle et familiale - ensuite nous pourrons plus et mieux réagir et leur apporter –avec plus d’efficacité- notre concours et nos moyens d’actions.
Considérons la personne vivant dans la pauvreté comme un acteur social qui doit pouvoir participer à un projet d’ensemble. On cherchera chez lui la capacité propre qu’il pourra développer dans le cadre d’un projet commun où il aura une pleine place et un vrai rôle plutôt qu’à un simple assistanat Cette approche de la pauvreté sollicite des lors une autre conception de la Justiceet du développement : une justice contributive plutôt que distributive
Believing in charity calls forth charity
Message for Lent from Benedict the XVI
“We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us” (1 Jn 4:16)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The celebration of Lent, in the context of the Year of Faith, offers us
a valuable opportunity to meditate on the relationship between faith and charity:
between believing in God – the God of Jesus Christ – and love, which is the fruit of the Holy
Spirit and which guides us on the path of devotion to God and others…
World Communications Day 2013
World Communications Day 2013 to Focus on Social Media" SIGNIS WEBNEWS
Why being attentive to the popularity of the social networks?
Read more: http://www.signis.net/article.php3?id_article=5364
395 years
395 years ago, 1617 - 2012, the 1st group of Charity founded by St. Vincent de Paul
in Chatillon-les- Dombes, France, was officially recognized; after the birth of
the first group in August 1617, Mr. Vincent had written detailed regulations for the
new fraternity whose members are called "servants of the poor or servants
of the Charity"; the members undertake, to help the people in need, "
materially and spiritually" each one a day, and exercise them "carefully to humility, simplicity, charity." After receiving the agreement of Sir Mechatin Lafaye, Vicar of Lyon, Mr. Vincent gave
solemnly the Regulations to the ladies of the 1st Charity, on December the 8st,
1617, feast of the Virgin Mary, in the chapel of the old hospice of Chatillon.
Today in 2012, the AIC has nearly 200,000 members in 53 national associations. At
that time of anniversary, let us turn to Saint Vincent asking for his help and
his blessings.
DPI/NGO Declaration to prepare RIO+20
Further to the 64th Conference of the Department of Information for the Non Governemetal Organizations (DPI/NGO) that was held in Bonn, Germany in September 2011, a declaration has been published.
The objectif of which is, on the one hand, to contribute to the sessions of the General Assembly gearded toward volunteering that will be held on December 5th on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the International Year of the Volunteers. And on the other hand, to prepare the Conference of the United Nations about sustainable development (Rio+20) that will be held in Rio in June 2012.
For more information, download the complete reportTemplate for project's presentation on AIC Website
1.- Name of the project: “Salgamos adelante” (Let's go forward)
2.- Country: Mexico
3.- Explanation of the focus given to the project (WHAT, WHO, WHERE?)
- Support to blind people or those with any kind of visual impairment so that they can go forward on their own. This project is implemented by the volunteers from AIC-Puebla, in Mexico.
4. Objectives (WHAT FOR?)
- To strengthen their self-esteem, integrate them into the world of work and also to raise awareness in society so that it will support such a project. We hope that for some of the blind people and part of the society, there will be an opportunity to commercialize the products developped in the project.
5.- Possibilities – Justifications of the Project (FOR WHICH REASONS?)
- Before, a lot of the blind people from our Project were begging in the streets to survive, which is undignified as they have skills and capacities to work. That is why the volunteers spoke to them; after that, 65of them agreed to join the group and are now working.
6.- Strategies – Activities – Methods (HOW?)
- Through conversations about self-esteem ; vocational training ; micro-credits and materials to develop their products; through a revolving fund that is used for buying materials to make, among other things, handicrafts to sell, buy cleaning products and sell fruit, traditional sweets, shoes, peanuts, cookies, pinatas, etc.; by networking with other associations and the government, so that they can sell their products in commercial places; by creating a music band too: a conductor has been found and as time goes on, they will be able to liven up feasts and religious events.
- By encouraging them to play “volvol”, using a ball with little bells.
- As far as spirituality is concerned, they are preparing to receive the sacraments.
7.- Action Plan (WHEN?) From 2009
- 1st step – Observation of the context: elements of the system and how they interrelate.
- The AIC volunteers began with visiting people at home. On the basis of the socio-economic and domestic situation and information about their skills, the type of help to offer is decided, whether through micro-credits from a revolving fund, that they have to return according to the personal agreement they signed or through incomes to invest in materials for them to develop products.
- 8.- Project Coordinator: Marcela Sesin.
- Local President of the Vincentian Volunteers of Puebla, A.C.: Carolina Cervera
9.- Emails: marcesesin@yahoo.com.mx
- Presidenta local: Carolina Cervera: let.carol@live.com.mx
Template proposed by Sumaia Sahade (AIC-Brazil), EB member in charge of AIC Communication
Support to AIC Haiti
On the occasion of Saint Vincent's feast, on Sptember 27th, AIC volunteers take part in the Vincentian Family effort in Haiti: Haitian families will so get out of poverty.
Join to this effort. How?
My very dear brothers and sisters,
I am writing today about an exciting project which we will be launching on the www.zafen.org website on Sept. 27th, as part of the celebration of St. Vincent’s feast. I think that you will find it very attractive.
The project’s name, in Creole, is Chemen Lavi Miyò (CLM), “Pathway to a Better Life”. It is an outstanding program set up by our partner in Haiti, Fonkoze, with a 95% success rate in helping participants acquire the skills needed to emerge from poverty.
Participating families are the poorest of the poor in Haiti. They are among what many now call the world’s “bottom billion” people, those living on less than $1.25 a day. The program lasts 18 months. It aims to:
- provide a very simple, but decent, home with good sanitary conditions (clean water and a latrine)
- · get all the family’s children into school
- · provide training in life skills that will enable the family to begin a small enterprise, and
- · prepare the family to enter, if they wish, into a micro-credit program.
The cost of providing these services to a participating family over 18 months is $1,500. During the 90-day period beginning on Sept. 27th and ending just after Christmas, Zafèn will offer members of the Vincentian Family and others worldwide the opportunity to help finance CLM participants. To encourage online donors, we will offer $100,000 in matching funds.
If, for one reason or another, members of the Family are reluctant to donate online, they can send a check to
Fr. Miles Heinen, C.M. Vincentian Solidarity Office 500 E. Chelten Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19144-1296
The check should be made out to “Vincentian Solidarity Office” and in the memo donors should write: “CLM project”.
I am attaching a one-page description of the CLM program, which you may want to distribute to interested persons and groups. I hope that, through this matching-fund project, we can make a significant contribution to transforming the lives of a significant number of families living in dire poverty in Haiti. Your brother in St. Vincent, Robert P. Maloney, C.M. Coordinator, Vincentian Family Board for the Haiti Project My very dear brothers and sisters, I am writing today about an exciting project which we will be launching on the www.zafen.org website on Sept. 27th, as part of the celebration of St. Vincent’s feast. I think that you will find it very attractive. The project’s name, in Creole, is Chemen Lavi Miyò (CLM), “Pathway to a Better Life”. It is an outstanding program set up by our partner in Haiti, Fonkoze, with a 95% success rate in helping participants acquire the skills needed to emerge from poverty. Participating families are the poorest of the poor in Haiti. They are among what many now call the world’s “bottom billion” people, those living on less than $1.25 a day. The program lasts 18 months. It aims to: · provide a very simple, but decent, home with good sanitary conditions (clean water and a latrine) · get all the family’s children into school · provide training in life skills that will enable the family to begin a small enterprise, and · prepare the family to enter, if they wish, into a micro-credit program. The cost of providing these services to a participating family over 18 months is $1,500. During the 90-day period beginning on Sept. 27th and ending just after Christmas, Zafèn will offer members of the Vincentian Family and others worldwide the opportunity to help finance CLM participants. To encourage online donors, we will offer $100,000 in matching funds. If, for one reason or another, members of the Family are reluctant to donate online, they can send a check to: Fr. Miles Heinen, C.M. Vincentian Solidarity Office 500 E. Chelten Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19144-1296 The check should be made out to “Vincentian Solidarity Office” and in the memo donors should write: “CLM project”. I am attaching a one-page description of the CLM program, which you may want to distribute to interested persons and groups. I hope that, through this matching-fund project, we can make a significant contribution to transforming the lives of a significant number of families living in dire poverty in Haiti. Your brother in St. Vincent, Robert P. Maloney, C.M. Coordinator, Vincentian Family Board for the Haiti ProjectUN: DPI/NGO: International NGO Conference in Bonn –
During this conference, Rose de Lima Ramanankavana, from AIC-Madagascar, AIC Project Coordinator for Africa, made a contribution about: "Civic Engagement and Voluntary Actions for Achieving Sustainability". For more information and to download Rose's text, see: open life webcast and scroll down to Roundtable III)
The full text is attached.Non-governmental organizations and civil society are invited to attend the 64th United Nations DPI/NGO conference, “Sustainable Societies, Responsive Citizens” to be held from Sept. 3-5 in Bonn, Germany.
Over 1,500 members of civil society are expected to gather to discuss volunteerism and sustainability in high-level plenary and workshop sessions. Among them, AIC that will be represented by 3 of its members:
- - Laurence de la Brosse, AIC International President ;
- - Rose de Lima Ramanankavana (AIC-Madagascar), in charge of AIC projects in Africa and former AIC Vice-president, who will speak in Round Table 3 about "Role of Civil Society in a Fast-changing World: Civic Engagement and Voluntary Action for Achieving Sustainability";
- - Anne Sturm (AIC-Germany), former AIC international president, who took part in the preparatory work of the conference.
The conference also offers NGOs a strategic opportunity to mark the twenty-year review of the groundbreaking UN Conference on Environment and Development. The event is organized by the German government, the City of Bonn, the NGO/DPI Executive Committee, the German NGO focal group and UN Volunteers. Young people are particularly encouraged to attend. plus d'info sur ce sujet)
International Labour Organization
International Assembly of AIC Delegates
From March 30 to April 3, 2011
El Escorial – Madrid – Spain
Photo GalleryEducation, a pathway to build together
Thanks to AIC Spain, 250 AIC volunteers from 36 countries in 4 continents got together in Madrid for their 2011 international assembly on the theme of Education.
These 5 days of intense work, were an opportunity to present the AIC and Executive Board’s activities during the past mandate (2009-2010), and also for training in different topics:
- Work with the AIC Projects Service,
- Ethics in the management of the goods of the poor,
- Fundraising and finally,
- Workshops allowed us to draw up our new Operational Guidelines 2011-2013.
Some speakers, external to AIC, also came to enrich the debates:
- Monsignor Dal Toso, Secretary of the Cor Unum pontifical council
- Elena Lasida, Economist and Theologian;
- Francesca Petrilligieri, in charge of the Caritas Women program in Spain.
On the last day, during the statutory assembly, the new 2011-2013 Executive Board was elected and AIC-Indonesia became a new full-right member.
Presentation of the new EB:
Presidency:
Laurence de la Brosse, international President (France)
Alicia Duhne de Caraza, Assistant to the President, Latin America Coordinator (Mexico)
Christa Foelting, Vice-president and Europe Coordinator (Germany)
Margaret Hanson, Vice-president and USA Coordinator (United States)
Natalie Monteza, Secretary General (Panama)
Elisabeth Gindre, Treasurer (France)
Marina Costa, past president (Italy)
Members:
Marlene Burt, Support to Europe Coordinator, to Training and to Advocacy (Great Britain)
Loly Camacho del Castillo, in charge of Training, Support to Europe coordination (Spain)
Martine Haouwa, Africa Coordinator (Cameroon)
Gayle Johnson, Support to USA Coordination and Coordinator of Fundraising (United States)
Bernadette Ramaroson, Support to Africa Coordination and to Training (Madagascar)
Sumaia Sahade Araujo, Support to Latin America Coordination, in charge of Visibility and communication (Brazil)
PInvited:
Father Eli Chaves, Spiritual Adviser (Brazil)
Sister Françoise Petit, Spiritual Adviser, delegate of the Mother General (France)
Maria Eugenia Magallanes, Liaison with Vincentian Family (Mexico)
Joan Sarasin, Asia Coordinator (Thailand)
Aliette de Maredsous, in charge of the Team of international Representatives with the organizations (France)
Pascale Lepeu, Assistant of the president, Coordinator of the Advocacy Team (France)
The visit to the Monastery of El Escorial and the evenings organized by AIC-Spain offered an extra touch of conviviality.
During the daily Eucharist, a special prayer was dedicated to those who were unable to attend the assembly, particularly because of visa problems.
2011 AIC International Assembly of Delegates
"EDUCATION, A PATHWAY TO BUILD TOGETHER »
This will be the main topic of the next AIC International Assembly that will take place from March 30 to April 4, 2011 at El Escorial (Madrid), Spain.
Education in the general sense of the word, as a main tool to fight in a sustainable way the poverty situation in which a third of humanity lives, and that mainly affects women and girls. It will be the occasion for around 300 volunteers, delegates from 52 countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the U.S.A., to share best practices issued from their experience in the 16.000 local projects they lead.
With the support of: Adveniat, the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the Society of the Daughters of Charity, the Congregation of the Mission, Renovabis, Unitas.
New Spiritual Sheets
Closing of Jubilee Year - Rome, Sept 25, 2010
“Whoever loves God, must also love his brother” (1Jn 4,21) With these words of the Apostle John, I would like to join in thought and prayer the entire Vincentian Family, as it celebrates in thanksgiving the three hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the death of saint Louise de Marillac and Saint Vincent de Paul. These words were lived out in a luminous way in the lives of yours Founders. It is because they believed in love that they put themselves at the service of their brothers and sisters. May this same faith be your light and strength in yours ways of service to the most abandoned and lowly in our so often heartless societies!
By placing this jubilee under the motto “Charity and Mission”, you have indeed wished to indicate what is at the heart of the heritage which you have received. As I wrote in my first encyclical, saints like Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac “remain distinguished models of social charity for all people of good will. The saints truly enlighten history, because they are men and women of faith, hope and love” (Deus Caritas est, 40) This is what I encourage you to be in a daring way amongst the men and women of our time, so that your involvements in favour of the human person be in fact a revelation of the love of God and not simply the expression of humanism or philanthropy.
The intuition of Vincent de Paul in getting priests, consecrated persons, and laity to work together (collaborer) is a precious good that the Vincentian Family rightly engages itself to develop for a better service of the Church’s mission. So you will be ever more effective in proclaiming the Gospel to all, so that each person might recover their dignity as children of God in the world, in unity and solidarity. May God help you to remain always faithful to the heritage you have received and to live it out with faith and generosity.
Entrusting you to the intercession of Saint Vincent the Paul, of Saint Louise de Marillac and of all the saints and blessed of the Vincentian Family, I give you all with a full heart an affectionate Apostolic Blessing.
From the Vatican, September 2010Benedictus PP XVI
Haiti Earthquake – 3d message May 18, 2010
The months pass by and even though the media speak less of the follow up after the devastating earthquake in Haiti last January, AIC does not forget its volunteers.
In Haiti the physical and psychological traumas, the destitution, the insecurity, the violence and the resourcefulness to survive is a daily reality for many Haitians. It is clear that we admire their courage and dignity.
Two visits to Haiti have taken place and a third is being carried now, and a fourth is organised for the end of September 2010.
- The first visit took place from March 7-12 by Miriam Magnoni, She is the head of AIC in Lombardy Italy and she was accompanied by a priest who is a psychologist. Their objective was to meet the volunteers and prepare a first evaluation of the damages and the needs on the ground. The president of AIC Haiti Jacqueline Casseus accompanied the visit to the Provincial Centre of Daughters of Charity (the house, the school, and hospital) which was almost totally destroyed but thankfully without causing any deaths. The daughters of Charity sleep in the shops/ warehouses at the moment as they wait for containers that can be used as lodgings and classrooms. The visit also included the head quarters of AIC Haiti, which was also destroyed as well as everything inside. Miriam Magnoni passed on to the AIC President the money collected by AIC Lombardy, and the funds from AIC Solidarity, as well as a computer and a camera. During the visit Miriam Magnoni learnt that the 17 lorries chartered in February by the AIC Puerto Rico, and Santo Domingo, to carry water and food was attacked by a desperate crowd and sadly there were two deaths, even after intervention by the police. Since then the Priests, the nuns and the volunteers take precautions.
- The second visit took place on April 17 by two representatives from AIC Dominican Republic, Melanie Gomez the National President and Ani Almonte a volunteer. They were able to give immediate help and support, and to see the real situation of their neighbours. They were struck by the courage of AIC Haiti who continues to keep their faith and hope amidst innumerable difficulties and hardships.
- The third visit from May 14-24 2010 was again by Miriam Magnoni and the psychologist priest whose objective was to follow up the wishes of projects set up by the volunteers at their first visit: reconstruction of houses, re-establishing the sewing workshop and school grants for children. This visit allowed for the concept and the budget to be worked out and the rapid implementation of projects.
- A first follow up visit of these projects will be made during the fourth visit which will be made by Anne-France Mordant, who is responsible for AIC Projects and Alicia Duhne, who is responsible for Coordination in Latin America, the visit will take place from 17 September to 4 October 2010.
Jacqueline Casseus, President of AIC Haiti sent the following message of thanks to AIC, to all who have so generously given and will continue to give support to AIC Haiti.
"For us in AIC Haiti, it is better now, with the visit of Miriam of AIC Lombardy, we have had some wonderful times. At the moment our project of sewing has stopped waiting for another location, we continue with the distribution of food for the elderly.
We had a beautiful mass on Sunday March 15 at 16:00 to commemorate the feast of St Louise of Marille with all the other branches of the family. Thank you for your support and gifts in these difficult times.
The Vincentian family decided to create another site for those that want to effectively help with confidence. Patricia de Nava previous AIC International president and member of the Commission for Systemic Change of the Vincentian family explains further below.
HAITI EARTHQUAKE - 2d news
02-15-2010:2d message from the president of AIC-Haiti:
"Since the terrible event of January 12, the very day of my name day, it is only today that I have access to Internet to thank you all for all the prayers of the AIC International.
We received the letter and the money from AIC, brought by the Daughters of Charity. We express our thanks to all of you.
However, we rely more than ever on your prayers as threats are still hanging on Haiti, but we are sure that Almighty God will feel pity for us. There is no electricity; I have to queue for hours before having at last the opportunity to send only one e-mail. Thank you for passing on news from us to all members of AIC International Network. At present, we are always in the street because some volunteers have lost their homes, others have their homes all cracked and everybody is scared. The situation is still traumatic to everyone. I still remember having said at the very moment: “Jesus save me”. I had only just got out when I saw my house collapsing in front of my very eyes. You can imagine the shock it was. Regarding the money you sent to us, you will be receiving a distribution report later. Please don’t forget to pass on news about us. Many persons would like to have them but the time available for sending my message has elapsed.
With many thanks,
Kindest regards,
Jacqueline Casseus AIC Haiti
HAITI EARTHQUAKE
News from AIC Haiti president: “some volunteers have lost members of their families, their homes… We are living in the street and we’re lacking everything – water, food, shelter… We thank you for your prayers and all you are doing for us”
Let us help AIC Haiti to fonction for the poor again with our prayers and our generosity;
You may send your donations, mentioning “for Haiti” to the AIC account : IBAN: BE62 3100 3971 9061
BIC/SWIFT: BBRUBEBB
The Commission for Promoting Systemic Change has “decided to award just one Startup Grant this year” to the project TSIRY in Farafangana,Madagascar - “Against poverty and for education for all, acting together”. Mexico 22 - 25 February « Change the world …. Women can » Laurence de la Brosse, elected as new AIC President, congratulations ! In Mexico the AIC International Assembly got together 150 delegates from the 53 member associations. Thanks to their extraordinary welcome, AIC-Mexico managed to give a particularly friendly atmosphere to this meeting. As a follow-up of our 2-year work about the “systemic change”, the objective of this meeting was to find ways to make real changes in the living conditions of those living in extreme poverty. Father Maloney introduced the systemic approach proposing 10 seeds of systemic change inspired by the spirituality of St. Vincent. Nicola Foroni an Italian trainer then made us aware of our own mechanisms of discrimination through workshops. He led us to see how we could help the poorest to break the circle of discrimination, which they are so often locked into. This attitude will give a new dimension to our Operational Guidelines. Several associations, including Peru and Guatemala, have already used this new method during their national assemblies. The new Executive Board of the AIC was elected during a statutory assembly. For more information see the rubric “Who are we”/Executive Board. The assembly proceedings will shortly be available. The programme for the first two days began with an inaugural speech given by the President Marina Costa. This was followed by action-packed training about discrimination. This enabled the participants to realize that personal change is necessary before any societal change can take place. Lord, today we are united throughout the world, as volunteers in 53 different countries, and we pray that you will show us the paths to follow in order to relieve the poverty of so many people, especially women and children. Saint Vincent, Saint Louise, we ask you to help us once again to continue our work. For us too, the poor are « our burden and our pain ». We know that in developing countries there are 1,300 million people living below the poverty line and that breaks our heart. Download AIC Prayer 15 March 2009 On January 25th, AIC USA celebrates the official installation of a new group, one of a kind in this association. Members of this organization will be faculty, staff and students of a prestigious academic institution, St. John’s University in New York, founded on Vincetian principles in 1840.
This special event will be underlined by another remarkable moment for AIC: on January 29th, Patricia de Nava (Mexican), AIC Past-President, will receive the honorary degree from the President of St. John’s University. That same day, she will give the Vincentian Chair of Social Justice Lecture, “Vincentian Tradition and Systemic Change”.AIC Madagascar - 2009 SYSTEMIC CHANGE AWARD WINNER
Our best wishes to AIC Madagascar! May this project generate a systemic change in the communities of the South East Coast and others in the country.The 2009 AIC international Assembly
AIC Day of Prayer 15 March 2009
Outstanding events for AIC
