Meeting from SED and FMSI Onlus
On the 9 and 10 of December SED and FMSI Onlus met in Rome at the General House for their usual annual meeting.
This was the 6th meeting for the two organizations, who some years ago (before BIS was incorporated in FMSI Onlus foundation) started the custom of bringing together their staffs once a year, alternatively in Madrid and Rome, in order to exchange information, share experiences and develop a relationship and synergies.
On this occasion, the agenda of the meeting focused on: updates on internal or organizational matters, updates on the main activities carried out during year 2008, exchange of information on projects for funding.
In particular, FMSI Onlus illustrated to SED the steps taken in order to complete the process of institutionalization of the organization (from internal office of the General Administration to a legal and independent foundation), both at the external and the internal levels. This entailed the fulfillment of legal requirements, according to the Italian legislation regarding non-profit organizations, and the establishment of new internal procedures regarding work and financial management.
FMSI Onlus also illustrated the new activities started in order to establish a relationship with the Italian Marist schools and make the foundation known in the ?Zona Italia?.
SED provided information about the internal reorganization it has gone through recently due to a change in the personnel, its currents projects and its involvement in the ?Coordinadora de ONG para el Desarrollo-Espana? (coordination body for NGOs in Spain) focusing above all on transparency and good practices. It also illustrated AulaSED (www.aulased.org), the mini-website dedicated to education for development, and intended as a source of didactic materials and documents. AulaSED was started in the framework of SED?s new communication plan.
Talking about projects, SED and FMSI agreed to bring help to the Marist mission of Bobandana, Congo D.R., where the Brothers are assisting the refugees.
The meeting was also the occasion for SED and FMIS to receive information on the Institute?s Mission Ad Gentes in Asia. Br. Jude, the Econome for the Mission, participated in the meeting and provided the group with a very detailed update on the current situation of the Brothers in each country, listing places, communities, activities and also difficulties encountered by the Brothers in this initial phase of the Mission.
Furthermore, SED and FMSI Onlus discussed, with the contribution of Br. Emili Turu, General Councillor, their perspectives for the meeting to be held in Belem on 30th January 2009. The meeting has been organized in the framework of the Latin America Marist NGOs meeting and the World Social Forum, to present FMSI Onlus to the other Marist organizations.