(Feb 20) The journey of ActionAid in Italy began in 1989 when ActionAid Uk founded an Italian branch in Milan. In 2001 Marco De Ponte became general secretary, and after “years of work and passion”, as explained by De Ponte, the organization has grown, garnering more than 160,000 supporters. ActionAid works with local communities in the poorest countries, in Africa, Asia and Latin America, to fight poverty and social exclusion. The organization’s approach is based on the connection between fighting poverty and affirmation of human rights: “In Italy – De Ponte explains – the prevailing culture is to help the poor, driven by a charitable spirit: we must go over the logic that people are excluded because they are unlucky, and consider the fact that social exclusion is primarily a loss of human rights. We have to go – says the head of ActionAid – to the roots of social exclusion and inequalities”. A work that the organization carries out even in our society because “poverty and exclusion are in Europe and Italy”. Therefore, ActionAid activities goes from the education of Indian children of tribal communities of Rajasthan to the preparation of the document “Principles for a responsible Italy”, which has received several influential membership, from the President of Italian Chamber of Deputies, Gianfranco Fini, to the mayor of Naples, Luigi De Magistris and the Mayor of Milan, Giuliano Pisapia. “Our organization – De Ponte explains – starts as an international cooperation but over the years has acquired a ‘dual citizenship’, acting in our own society too”. ActionAid can be considered ‘very Italian’, because Italy has given a very significant contribution to the international organization, “both in terms of resources – De Ponte points out – and intellectual capital”. Among the priority themes of ActionAid there is the affirmation of women’s rights: “Women are excluded but they may also be protagonists of a change”. Among the latest projects, a fund-raising on behalf of Ethiopian women : until March 3rd, you can donate 2 euros – sending an SMS to 45502 from mobile phones or calling from a landline, and support a project in the district of Ankober, in the Amhara region, to help improve sustainable agriculture through the valorisation and participation of women. (Roc)
THE GOAL OF A RIGHT GOVERNANCE
According to ActionAid, it is essential to achieve a greater social equality. “The goal – the organization explains – is to ensure that the voices of all the citizens are heard”. According to ActionAid “the NGOs alone can not fight poverty, because the financial resources are limited when compared to the public budgets”. “ActionAid – the organizations says – works where we can help the most marginalized communities and groups, trying to influence public policies that have the primary responsibility and financial means to overcome poverty”.
