FOCSIV

Established in 1972 FOCSIV is the biggest Federation of voluntary service Christian organizations, working to promote a “one world” consciousness and to carry out programmes of co-operation with the South of the world.
At present the Federation counts 70 organization members, with a membership base of 5.300 people, 398 groups and over 30.000 supporters. It employs over 600 volunteers in our current 470 projects and about 3.000 workers in developing countries. More than 5.000 volunteers cooperate indeed to carry on the initiatives promoted both in Italy and abroad.
Since its establishment FOCSIV contributes in the struggle against every form of poverty and marginalization; the affirmation of human dignity and human rights; in the human rights protection and promotion and in the growth of communities and local institutions, in agreement with evangelical values and according to the Social Doctrine of the Church.
FOCSIV headquarters is in Rome and works on the entire national territory through its associated NGOs, located in most of the Italian regions. FOCSIV goals are set forth in its Statute:
• To encourage the growth of its associated NGOs through research, training and evaluation, promoting all forms of collaboration and co-ordination aimed at making international voluntary service more effective;
• To assist and provide its members a management consulting;
• To promote international voluntary service as a specific resource for human development both at National and International level;
• To represent its associated members dealing with national and international Authorities, promoting common initiatives aimed at sustaining and making international voluntary service worldwide known;
• To raise public awareness on the themes of Development Cooperation, International solidarity, Human rights protection and MDGs achievement, starting from the Youth in particular.
To this day, FOCSIV has more than forty years experience in the field of Development Cooperation as well as in Education to Development programs. Main themes of engagement in the South of the world are the achievement of the MDGs goals, food security, environmental protection and social inclusion of people with fewer opportunities (who face educational, socio-economical and geographical obstacles). FOCSIV is involved also in the North in social awareness activities on the theme of International Solidarity, Sustainable behaviours and Lobbying activities.
In carrying out these activities, FOCSIV deals with the Italian Government, the European Union and the United Nations. It closely collaborates also with worldwide networks of similar organisations, among which it is worth mentioning the CIDSE (the European and North-American network of major catholic development organisations), the CONCORD (European Ngo Federation for Relief and Development) and the FORUM (network of International Voluntary Service Organisations). Moreover, FOCSIV is recognized as an NGO in special consultative status with ECOSOC (United Nation Department of Economic and Social Affairs) since 2004 and is designated as a UNV (United Nation Volunteers) Focal Point for Italy since 1997. Moreover, FOCSIV holds observer status with IOM (International Organization for Migration) since 2010.
EVS Coordinating and Sending organization in the previous Youth in Action Programme, Focsiv continues its engagement in the framework of the Erasmus + Programme.