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What we do in Italy

 What we do In Italy


The dream of LTM is “to make poverty history” . In order to achieve this goal, besides the international development cooperation projects, “Gruppo Laici Terzo Mondo” coordinates five main activities:  

-  Development Education

- Training

- Information

- Immigration Services

- Long Distance Sponsorship

 

Development Education
 
According to LTM, development education (DE) is a discipline and a participatory practice intentionally aimed at facilitating the awareness and the critical individual thinking linked to the values of international solidarity, development cooperation and sustainable development. 
 
In the process of eradicating poverty and iniquity,  people’s active engagement  represents the main point. This is based on the belief that every citizen’s local actions, considered in their complexity, are able to produce global changes and to affect development processes (economic, social, political) of the international system.
 
DE is a medium-long term process addressed to develop and integrate people values and their emotional and cognitive dimensions, with particular regard to critical thinking in matter of international priorities, sustainable development, human rights, environmental issues, social justice and differences between the North and the South of the world.
 
Through the application of several educational methodologies (non-formal and informal), DE intends to build a culture of respect, an understanding of global interdependences and an active involvement in the resolutions of contemporary issues.
 
Training
“I want to go to Africa. When can I leave?!?”
Almost every day we receive phone calls, emails or letters from potential volunteers: their only wish is to leave for Africa, ripping the heavy veil of hypocrisy and powerlessness in order "to do something".

However, to help Africa, and all the other developing countries, it is not enough to pack up and buy a ticket. Frequently the wish to provide assistance, although highly motivated, may hide the necessity to meet a personal need. The assessment error arises from the common belief that we are able to help people even without proper capabilities or the required knowledge.
That is why the training is of vital importance for departing volunteers as well as for youths,  students, LTM members and all of those willing to deeply learn about volunteering and  international cooperation topics.
Every year we organize several courses according to the target needs. In this way we provide the crucial knowledge and technical expertise to be engaged in volunteering activities with emerging countries.
 
Information
Because of the nowadays issues occurring in Southern Italy, when we talk about the reasons of our engagement, it often comes a legitimate question: “With all the issues Naples has to face , why do you care about Africa?”
Actually  the two are not mutually exclusive, on the contrary they are connected much more than appearances can demonstrate.
Indeed, the gap existing in every urban reality, divides wealthy citizens from the poorest ones, and from a local phenomenon  it has became a global one.
In this way it makes the South lacking of  the ability to ensure a response to its basic needs, despite its big resources and potential.
Therefore, with our work we aspire to a social justice process which may level the iniquity between the North and the South . This represents the starting point for the guarantee of the fundamental human rights.
 
Poverty has many faces but only one matrix : the indifference of the civil society.  Because of this the information campaigns are necessary. Indeed our information activities are devised to spread a culture of solidarity towards the poorest people on the planet through several activities like : results publication of studies and research, meetings, seminars and conferences dealing with the issues of the South, and the realization/dissemination of audio-visual materials.

 
Immigration Services
LTM carries out linguistic and cultural mediation, advice and guidance to services for immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, by networking with local authorities, immigrant associations and trade unions.
In 2008 LTM published a new and comprehensive mapping of all the services devoted to the migrants living in Naples and around.
To request a copy please contact us !!!
Long Distance Sponsorship
The Long Distance Sponsorship is not only a simple economic aid, but it is a commitment requiring active participation and responsibility on the part of the supporter. It works like a bridge representing  a mutual understanding between the North and the South and  it encourages the development of local populations in their countries of provenance.
 
Sponsor a child
The sponsorship of a child is one of the most effective forms of aid which brings real benefits not only to the adopted child, but to his entire family.
How we will use your help
Every contribution is used by the Dehonian Congregation, which operates in place, to help children and their families. Firstly  it will be met the needs for sustenance, such as food aid and health care, secondly it will be given a special attention for the children schooling expenses such as fees, uniforms, pens and folders.
Sponsor a university student
In a context where most households have difficulties in their daily sustenance, the bravest boys who decide to move from villages to cities, where universities are, have to face alone the costs to living and studying expences. This means that they often drop out or resort to gimmicks to obtain the necessary steps to continue their studies, while education and training are very important to let Africa " walk alone" with the support of technicians and professionals trained in African countries.
 
How do we use your help
For several years, with the help of the Dehonian Congregation, we have set up a college fund to help young people in their studies, that includes tuition fee payments, mandatory trainings, texts and handouts searching.