A ZENIT DAILY DISPATCH
A ZENIT DAILY DISPATCH
International Association of Charities
Founded by St. Vincent de Paul
VATICAN CITY, 22 MAY 2006 (ZENIT)
Here is the description of International Association of Charities which appears in the Directory of International Associations of the Faithful, published by the Pontifical Council for the Laity.
* * *
Official name: International Association of Charities
Acronym: AIC (Association Internationale des Charites)
Established: 1971
History: The AIC dates back to 1617, the year in which St. Vincent de Paul gathered together a group of women at Châtillion-lesDombes, France, creating the first attempts to provide assistance to the needy families in the parish.
It was from this experience that a number of different groups were created, and rapidly spread throughout Europe and beyond. In order to encourage the unity of these groups called "Confraternities of the Ladies of Charity," later to be known as "Charities," the founder laid down common rules based on the imitation of Jesus Christ, boundless Gospel-based love, organizing activities, creativity, all designed to find ever new means of assisting the poor.
Even though the Charities work completely independently in their respective countries, they are very closely linked by the common heritage of the Vincentian spirit. It was precisely this bond that led them to enthusiastically welcome the proposal to set up a federation to gather together the national movements: This was done in 1971 with the founding of the International Association of Charities.
It was recognized by the Holy See as a Catholic International Organization, and is a member of the Conference of International Catholic Organizations (ICOs).
In its capacity as an NGO, it has consultative status with ECOSOC and the Council of Europe, and has working relations with UNESCO.
Identity: AIC is concerned with different forms of poverty and marginalization, and its work is based on the social teaching of the Church, under the motto "combat poverty working together." The operational guidelines of the association are set out in a basic document agreed internationally, committing it to be present in three dimensions of charity: through individual work, collective action, and action on structures.
The interpersonal dimension of charity, community action and political action are therefore experienced in the light of the Gospel. The basic and specific feature of the Vincentian "style" is the personal meeting with the poor in their own homes and environments, which demands serious and continuing formation, based on and nurtured by a relationship with Christ and witness of life.
The AIC volunteers do not merely meet the physical needs of the poor, for they also accompany them spiritually and help them to recover their dignity, hope, self-confidence, and to be re-incorporated into society.
Organization: The AIC is governed by the assembly of delegates which meets every two years with decision-making powers on major issues such as the election of officers; the executive council, whose composition reflects the geographic distribution of the member associations and which is convened by the president and the secretary-general; the standing committee, made up of the president, four vice-presidents, the secretary-general and the treasurer.
AIC has full members, which are associations or federations of associations from the same country with deliberative vote at the assembly of delegates; and associate members, which are local associations or groups of local associations that are not organized at the national level, with a consultative vote at the assembly; and groups under formation.
Contacts between the member associations are maintained by the regional animators.
Membership: AIC has 47 member associations and 10 groups under formation, and is present in 51 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, North America, and South America.
Works: The AIC member associations run homes for the elderly, vocational training schools, and food cooperatives; they organize literacy courses; they finance the construction of schools; they support projects to give disadvantaged and deprived groups access to work, and they work in the field of educating and training marginalized women.
Publications: "AIC Infos," published semiannually
Web site: www.aic-international.org
Headquarters:
Association Internationale des Charites
23, Rampe des Ardennais
1348 Louvain-la-Neuve — Belgium
Tel. (32) 10456353 — Fax (32) 10458063
E-mail: contact@aic-international.org
© Copyright 2006 — Libreria Editrice Vaticana [adapted]
ZE06052228
This article has been selected from the ZENIT Daily Dispatch
© Innovative Media, Inc.
ZENIT International News Agency
Via della Stazione di Ottavia, 95
00165 Rome, Italy
www.zenit.org
To subscribe http://www.zenit.org/english/subscribe.html
or email: english-request@zenit.org with SUBSCRIBE in the "subject" field
