FMSI in Dublin to thank Misean Cara

This year also, FMSI has made ​​a visit to Dublin (25-28 of June) for the Annual Meeting of Misean Cara, an Irish organization which, in collaboration with Irish Aid, a governmental agency, finances projects of assistance to and development of missionary Congregations. Br. Mario Meuti went there with John Hyland, an Irish Marist brother who acts as "Liaison Officer" for the Marist missions. First and foremost, we wanted to thank Misean Cara for all the projects funded between 2011 and 2012 that FMSI has worked on directly or with its advice, or on which FMSI has also collaborated with a co-financing program:

• Training course on the rights of children and young people, held in Papua New Guinea.
• onstruction of new classrooms and a library in the Marist center of Kalpitya, Sri-Lanka.
• Vanga, Solomon Islands: expansion of the primary school and construction of a tourist facility for self-financing of the school.
• Minibus to the Nike Center (center for the disabled and those suffering from the Hansen's disease) run by the Marist Brothers in Nigeria.
• Two other projects (in Malawi: vocational training center for the inmates of a prison and in Nigeria: training managers of all Marist centers on the protection of children against abuse) are currently being evaluated.

Among other things, during the Dublin meeting, which was attended by representatives of over 80 Irish Missionary Congregations, the importance was reiterated of coupling each project which involves children and young people, with an official document stating the commitment of local actors in the protection of children from all forms of abuse (Child Protection Policy). By this, Misean Cara intends to be fully transparent vis-à-vis Irish Aid and the Irish civil society, which is particularly sensitive to these issues. The Irish Government was also praised for it has not cancelled its contribution (unlike other European countries) to international cooperation and development programs in Global South countries, despite the economic downturn.

In Dublin, Br Mario met two other major organizations involved in development cooperation: Concern and Trócaire. Concernis an international organization dedicated to emergencies and development in 24 of the poorest countries in the world. Each of their projects is carried out in partnership with local people and aims at improving their living standards. In particular, it provides new knowledge and means to try and drive decisions at local, national and international levels, in order to significantly reduce the extreme poverty that hinders those people from developing.

Trócaireis present in 28 countries. They too support local partner organizations, helping communities and families out of extreme poverty. Both of them work in parallel in Ireland to raise awareness about the causes of global poverty and encourage people to believe that a more just and peaceful world is possible; a world where there is dignity and respect for people, and the idea of ​​common good penetrates international decision-making places.

Br. Mario spoke with both organizations of the social and human promotion work that the Marist Brothers carry out in Global South countries, and the support FMSI provides. In particular, he proposed the Marist Brothers as trusted "partners" for possible new projects in those countries where Concern and Trócaire are already operating.