Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) – Social commitments and business interests can be reconciled, and when this occurs, the fruits are many and are evident. This is one of the discoveries that was made during the convention entitled “Hope beyond the crisis: businesses for Sahel with projects of the civilization of love,” promoted by the Catholic Committee for a Civilization of Love, to spread awareness among businesses as to the various projects of development and cooperation, mainly intended for underdeveloped countries. They began in December 2007, when the Committee began collaboration with the John Paul II Foundation for the Sahel, at the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, and later dedicated itself to the needs of Africa.
This year's meeting has been useful in making an initial analysis of their work, reflecting on the importance of carrying out activity adapted to modern times – to the economic crisis and immigration – and that is useful not only to those who receive it, but also to those who carry it out, as was noted in the opening address given by Monsignor Giampietro Dal Toso, Undersecretary of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum. The new relationship between the poor population and Italian businesses has confirmed that the collaboration is, and can continue to be, a launch-pad for all those concerned, each with their own competence, knowledge, and culture. The projects offer hope and dignity to the people that benefit from them, and a chance to regain economic strength on a local level, as well as for the job market. The projects also guarantee progress for the Italian businesses that enter in these partnerships (some of them received awards during the Congress) and who are working directly in these territories.
Everything is based on the effort to give an opportunity to poorer populations, as was noted by Giuseppe Rotunno, National Secretary in Italy of the Catholic Committee for a Civilization of Love and moderator of the Congress. The main objective of the development projects is, above all, to create new markets, based on an international economic cooperation, in which the many African resources play a primary role.
The region of Sahel, an extremely impoverished area of sub-Saharan Africa, seems to be an apt area for investments, as the missionaries and volunteers of the Catholic Committee in that area are many, and they serve as a link between the local organizations and the Italian businesses. 6 of the 30 projects presented have already been financed by Italian businesses and banks: there is one for a cereal bank, one for water in Senegal, one for agriculture, one for microcredits for women in Burkina Faso, one for solar energy, and one for the construction of a mill. They are baby steps, but as Mother Teresa said in a sentence that served as the theme of the Congress: “All we do is only a drop of water in the ocean, however if we failed to do it, that drop would be missing from the ocean.” (PC) (Agenzia Fides 10/12/2008)
