|
|
| Library - Index |
 |
Document to facilitate the application
of the Guide Lines
In the Assembly of Querétaro, Mexico,
in 1998, we examined and evaluated our mission in the
world. We proved that although much was done to renovate
the association, still there is a lot to be done. That
is why the decision was taken to go further in the application
of the preceding Guide Lines: formation, communication,
solidarity and self-achievement. The commitment taken
was to go towards new goals, in such a way that the AIC
can be a critical and prophetic presence in society, a
multiplying agent of good news and a transforming force.
To be a critical and prophetic presence in society means
to know how to interpret the signs of the times, to give
all our actions a strong social participation, besides
the spiritual and religious values that characterize Saint
Vincent´s project.
To be multiplying agents of good news means to commit
ourselves to multiply the messages of hope, solidarity
and peace, stating with courage the ethical values in
which we believe and that we wish to spread to achieve
an efficient action to sensitize society.
Acting to be a transforming force in today´s the
world means to carry out actions that do not leave things
as they are. They must lead to a real change in the situation
of the poor and in society. This is the commitment that
the AIC wishes to assume in all the stages of its action
to one day a true transforming force: in the association,
before poverty and in society.
In the guidelines formulated in Assisi (Italy, 1990) and
in Antigua (Guatemala, 1994) the volunteers had the option
to choose any of the lines, although there was a link
among all of them. The new lines, voted in Querétaro
(México,1998) took us to star a transforming global
process, that embraces the different processes of our
actions. The guidelines are interrelated and we consider
that they cannot be applied separately.
We cannot think about transforming the association in
the different levels, and avoid that this transformation
necessarily influences our work with the poorest and therefore
there is a transformation of their lives. Also, we cannot
think that the transformation of the life of the poor
is possible if we do not promote deep changes in society.
In numerous occasions, we commit ourselves in a promotional
process and the subjects of the process find themselves
limited in the social surroundings. Many of the women
prepared in our workshops learn trades and afterwards
face the fact that they are unable to find a fair and
well paid job. In many occasions corruption stops the
progress of those that have taken the necessary measures
to arrive to self-achievement.
We could give many examples that made us arrive to the
conclusion that at the same time we promote self-achievement,
we must commit ourselves to be prophets. That is to give
testimony, to announce and to denounce. It is necessary
to propose models and ways of acting coherent with justice
and dignity. In such way we could exercise a real impact
in front of poverty. At the same time, transformation
of poverty demands the transformation of society, that
must be denounced in relation to everything that alienates
human beings and society from God´s plan. The guidelines
are, therefore, the result of a personal transformation,
that moves us to turn that transformation into a value.
AIC´s volunteers, through the formulation and acceptance
of these lines, underlined a firm conviction:
Only through a firmer spirit of belonging to the
association, the experience of the poor and the contact
with them and the participation of all society, we can
contribute to the international actions to eliminate poverty.
|
|
|
|
