” “A network of solidarity

Combating world poverty to defeat terrorism and opening up international trade and foreign investments to the developing countries: these are two of the main pledges made by the 171 countries that signed the “Monterrey Consensus”, the final document of the UN Conference on the funding of development, held in Monterrey (Mexico) from 18 to 22 March. “The family of nations cannot let another day slip by without concrete efforts being made” to achieve the “eradication of poverty”, said Msgr. Renato Martino, head of the Holy See’s delegation at Monterrey, in the speech he gave during the conference. “Let us act in such a way – said Martino – that those who hope for further steps towards cooperation may feel that there is hope, that there is a commitment and an honest movement towards the elimination of poverty, the development of peoples and society, and the construction of a better future for the whole of mankind”. In this perspective, over a hundred Spanish non-governmental organizations (NGOs) promoted by the religious congregations are in the process of setting up a network of missionary solidarity for cooperation and development in the countries of the southern hemisphere. The objective is to join forces to make their own voice heard and exploit their human and material resources in the best possible way. We discussed the network with Javier Sánchez , head of the aid department of one of these NGOs: PROYDE (Promotion and development of the Lasalian Brothers), and member of the commission drawing up this project. How was the idea of creating this network of solidarity hatched? “A year ago during a meeting of Caritas with the NGOs of the religious congregations, we analyzed the situation of international cooperation and diagnosed the lack of coordination between the different aid agencies. There is collaboration between missionaries and personnel in the countries that receive aid, but this kind of collaboration is in short supply in Spain, where each agency tries to pursue its own aims and objectives”. What’s the attitude of society to your organizations? “Church-run NGOs have credibility in society and people identify with our projects. But at times we are too fragmented and dispersed. During the Jubilee we joined forces to run a campaign against foreign debt, and society responded positively to our appeal because it found a united interlocutor, a powerful voice and clear objectives”. Do you have a common identity? “The NGOs of the religious congregations do have a common identity and common roots: faith, solidarity and unity. For us the main objective is evangelization through the eradication of poverty and the promotion of development. We believe that solidarity is the essence of the Gospel and that unity makes the faith more credible and charity more effective. But we’re also open to entering into partnership with other NGOs, Christian or non-Christian, if they are willing to agree on this fundamental point”. What are your objectives? “First, educating in solidarity and raising people’s awareness about the problems of the southern hemisphere. This is obvious, because the majority of the congregations work in the educational field and it’s essential to introduce these values into the curricula of children and adolescents. A second objective is that of working together on specific programmes and projects of international cooperation, for example in emergency relief and urgent humanitarian aid… But also to train volunteers and so turn society itself into a protagonist in international cooperation and in the campaign for the eradication of poverty. It’s also a way of interacting with official, state and municipal organizations to appeal to them to be more sensitive and generous in aid to development”.