Meeting of FMSI Board
The Board of the Marist Foundation for International Solidarity (FMSI), NGO of the General Administration, convened on December 12-13, 2024, to review the year’s achievements and chart a course for the future. This meeting underscored FMSI’s steadfast dedication to its mission of capacity development, project support, and advocacy initiatives, particularly its significant contributions at the United Nations level in collaboration with the Secretariat of Solidarity-Cmi.
The session began with a warm welcome from President Br. Ken McDonald, who extended his gratitude to all board members for their commitment: Maria Inmaculada Maillo (Spain), Br. Jorge Gaio (General House), Br. Fortune Chiedzo Chakasara, (Zimbabwe) and Angela Matulli, Director of De La Salle Foundation.
Andrea Rossi, the Director of FMSI, presented an insightful report on the organization’s 2024 achievements. These included diversifying funding sources, strengthening financial sustainability, enhancing networking and collaboration within the Institute, and improving the quality of Marist programs and projects. These milestones reflect FMSI’s dedication to aligning its initiatives with its mission, producing tangible benefits for the communities it serves.
Among the notable advocacy advancements achieved alongside the Secretariat of SolidarityCmi, FMSI submitted a record-breaking 10 Universal Periodic Reviews (UPRs) to the United Nations in 2024. This achievement underscores the collaborative effort with local communities to prepare and submit UPRs advocating for children’s rights in their countries. The cumulative work in this area is showcased in the Institute’s interactive map: UPR Interactive Map.
On November 20th, FMSI and the Secretariat of Solidarity-Cmi celebrated the 35th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) with the global event “Voices of Tomorrow,” which engaged over 200 participants from more than 40 countries. The event, which can be viewed here, highlighted FMSI’s ongoing commitment to child advocacy. On the same day, FMSI signed the Renewed Geneva Declaration for Children’s Rights after discussions with the Secretariat of Solidarity-Cmi. This renewed commitment reflects FMSI’s values and emphasizes collective action to uphold children’s rights, fostering a brighter future for the next generation.
Financial data, presented by Eleonora Gastaldello demonstrated, a strong fiscal year in 2024, with revenues from fundraising fully allocated to Marist projects and solidarity initiatives. This positive trend supported the approval of the 2025 budget, which aims to further enhance resource allocation to advance FMSI’s objectives.
The Supervisory Board report reviewed during the meeting highlighted proactive measures to align FMSI with evolving regulatory frameworks and mitigate risks, ensuring continued compliance and operational excellence.
Looking forward, the Board endorsed the 2025 activity plan, which encompasses both project-based initiatives and child-rights advocacy. These plans are strategically aligned with FMSI’s mission and aim to build on the successes of 2024.
A pivotal decision was the approval of a roadmap for developing the 2026-2034 Strategic Plan, a framework designed to address future challenges with an impact-driven perspective while scaling operations to a global dimension and that will be in line with the next Institute’s chapter calls.
The meeting concluded with the scheduling of the next Board meeting for May 30, 2025.
This productive gathering reaffirmed FMSI’s resilience and its enduring commitment to advancing its mission. With a forward-thinking strategy and a dedicated approach to serving communities, FMSI is well-positioned for sustained success in supporting the Institute and championing its mission in the years to come.