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LVIA – Service for Peace LVIA

From more than 50 years

LVIA – Lay Volunteers International Associationis an Italian association which deals with international solidarity and cooperation, committed to fostering ways of local and global change to overcome extreme poverty, reinforce equitable and sustainable development and enhance dialogue between Italian and African communities.

LVIA was founded in 1966, inspired by the reformist thrust of the Second Vatican Council and the values of justice and peace. Since then, LVIA has been professionally committed to promoting principles of common good and active and responsible citizenship.

LVIA is active in 10 African countries and in 50 years, in collaboration with international and local partners and with the backing of thousands of supporters, it has ensured water, healthcare and food, improved family agriculture and natural resource management, strengthened small businesses, improved the quality of the environment, and has supported the inclusion and social innovation for the benefit of millions of people.

During humanitarian crises, LVIA has tackled emergencies to safeguard the lives and dignity of the people and has worked towards enhancing the ability of the peoples and local institutions in addressing the crises.

In Italy, LVIA offers opportunities for education and active citizenship, training for international cooperation, field trips to Africa, youth exchanges, and undertakes inclusion and sociability activities in disadvantaged urban environments.

LVIA promotes interculture and volunteering as personal and social growth, operates in schools and, with young people, participates in campaigns for human rights and for the common good.

LVIA has the support of thousands of citizens, foundations, businesses, associations, regional and local governments, the European Union, the UN, Ministries, among which the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and international cooperation agencies.

The Association is a founding member of FOCSIV – Volunteers in the world; Link 2007 – Cooperation on the network; COP – Piedmont NGO Consortium.

LVIA has received the score of 100% of transparency by the portal Open Cooperazione, a guarantee for those who donate!

Mission and Statute

LVIA seeks to promote responsible citizenship based on the principles of solidarity, to act effectively to promote change, to sustain dialogue and mutual understanding among peoples for building a more just and united world.

A global society in which the dignity of every person is safeguarded and promoted, in which each individual person may enjoy fundamental liberties, have access to resources and services, have the possibility to live in a healthy environment and improve the quality of life in all aspects; a global society in which every single individual and all communities have the right of self-determination consistent with the cultural rights of other peoples and every man and woman on earth.

WHAT WE DO

We encourage and strengthen social change processes in the countries that host us, focusing on sustainable development, social inclusion and the fight against poverty.

We support the efforts of local communities, organizations and institutions in identifying and setting up intervention programs.

We are committed to researching and condemning the root causes of injustice and marginalisation, in order to elaborate appropriate proposals for intervention.

We highlight the contribution of different cultures in the setting up of intervention programs, in the solving of controversies and in the building of peaceful and fair societies.

We implement programs in connection with Italian organisations and institutions, from the public and private sector, by promoting their active involvement both at local and national level.

LVIA is a non-profit organisation, independent from political parties, local, national and international institutions, churches or religious associations, foundations or private enterprises, both in Italy and in the hosting countries. To all of them we address our proposal for partnership, cooperation, fundraising in full respect of each other’s independence.

We are committed to a medium to long-term presence in the countries where we work, to maintain an uninterrupted dialogue and working relationship with the local, national and international players.

In case of war or disaster we offer our skills in humanitarian aid.

We are committed to full accountability. We share each step of the intervention with those who financially support us, our partners and our beneficiaries, from its setting up to its evaluation. Our yearly financial and activity reports are publicly available.

Our intervention sectors:

Water is life

Clean and accessible water for drinking, washing and cooking, for growing crops, for livestock farming and for the start-up of small businesses: water, the first human right. The LVIA’s water programs – wells, aqueducts and water collection systems – are the basis for all developmental processes. The goal is the local governance of water resources, through technical and managerial training. Water also means hygiene, consequently the attainment of water infrastructures is complemented by hygienic-sanitary training and the construction of toilets.

Sustainable agriculture and food sovereignty

We support the farmer associations and the establishment of producer networks; we endorse the family farming model as it produces good quality food, generates employment, respects the environment and helps to maintain the vitality of the cultural traditions and the social networks of the rural world; we sustain agricultural supply chains with the improvement of production and business techniques and with the start-up of small businesses, also thanks to microfinance; we promote agricultural production systems resilient to climate change and economic imbalances.

A healthier environment

Facing an often uncontrolled urban growth, we work with the local authorities, associations and local businesses to improve waste management and exploitation promoting waste sorting, recycling and environmental education. We also promote sustainable energy solutions for homes, hospitals and schools in marginalized areas.

Social inclusion

LVIA’s attention is centered, in all its areas of activity, in Africa and in Italy, on improving the living conditions of disadvantaged people in order to make them socially active and economically independent. Street women and children, but also poor families, children who cannot attend school, migrants  are some of the categories involved.

The health of children and mothers

We support institutions in improving health services through training of medical and paramedical personnel and the strengthening of healthcare facilities. We promote social change from the point of view of infant and young child feeding and caring practices in the villages, thanks to the efforts of mothers and community leaders.

Humanitarian emergencies

Drought and famine have become frequent and in fragile social context they cause humanitarian crises. Moreover, conflicts put at risk the life of people but also their health and livelihood . In addressing these humanitarian crises, LVIA, in addition to the emergency activities – distribution of food, access to water, medical and veterinary healthcare, etc. – strengthens local expertise to deal independently and in a less traumatic way future crises: it is the Resilience.

A new global dialogue

LVIA oversees processes of cooperation and dialogue based on reciprocity between Italian and African communities to deal with, both locally and globally, the challenges of sustainable development and the encounter between cultures. Projects are activated by Municipalities and bodies of civil society: anyone can participate and share his /her competences. LVIA is engaged to support activities with italian ad african communities.

Youth leadership and intercultural dialogue

LVIA promotes, in Italy as in Africa, initiatives that promote individual growth and active citizenship of young people, volunteering and active participation for building more inclusive, democratic and intercultural societies.

Education to global citizenship 

Training to be citizens of the world means to give young people the tools to understand the complex themes of our age (globalisation, climate crisis, migrations…), underlining the interdependence between the regions of the world. LVIA fosters educational programs in schools and with public through the  edutainment techniques (educational amusement).

Training and information

As for the issues of global reciprocity, sustainable development and migration we promote education for global citizenship in schools, meetings and events, and international exchanges; we help teachers in the implementation of interdisciplinary learning units and local institutions in promoting participatory governance; we take part in lobbying and advocacy campaigns; we propose field trips.

Annual Report

Contacts

In Italy

Forlì
Via Delle Torri 7/9 • 47121 Forlì
Tel/Fax: 0543-33938 • emiliaromagna@lvia.it

Palermo
via A. Poliziano, 40 • 90145 Palermo
tel. 328.927.34.81 • sicilia@lvia.it
Referente: Vito Restivo

Piossasco (TO)
 Via Mario Davide, 23/6 • 10045 Piossasco (TO)
Referenti:
Rosina Borgi – tel. 338.9167125
Daniele Luconi – tel. 328.2140544
Sangano (TO)
Via Rocciavrè, 24 • 10090 Bruino (TO)
tel. 338.5297333 • lviasangano@gmail.com
Referente: Andrea Ferrara
Marradi (FI)
Via A. Francini, 48 • 50034 Marradi (Fi)
tel 331.7199794 • toscana@lvia.it
Referente: Alessandro Bellini
In Africa

Ouagadougou
Rue Luili Pendé n° 256 – 01 BP 783 Ouagadougou 01
tel. +226.25363804 • burkinafaso@lvia.it
Other seats: Koudougou, Gorom-Gorom, Djibo

Bujumbura
Avenue Muyinga n° 17 • Rohero 1 • B.P. 198 • Bujumbura
tel. + 257.72326000,  + 257.22242124 • lvia.coordinationburundi@gmail.com

Addis Abeba
P.O. Box 102346 • Sub City Yeka
Woreda 08 • Kebele 13/14 House number 0905 • Addis Abeba
tel. +251 (0)116622183 • etiopia@lvia.it
Other seats:
Telalak
P.O. Box 120 • Telalak – Afar Region • Namalifen, kebele Aware & Nemelifen, Telalak Woreda • Semera • Logia/Semera Town Administration
Assela 
Oromia Region, Arsi Zone, Assela, Kebele 6, n. 225

Bissau
Avenida Pansau na Isna, Casa Nº 1423 – Bairro Santa Luzia C.P. 585 Bissau
tel. +245 955949714, +245 955849893, lviagb@gmail.com
Other seats:
Bissau – Avenida F. Mendes x Avenida D. Ramos
Bissorã – Bairro di St. Luzia

Conakry
Immeuble Résidence Micheline – 6ème étage – apt 365
Commune de Dixinn – Quartier de Cameroun – Corniche Nord
tel. +224 624774725 – guineaconakry@lvia.it

Meru
P.O. Box 1684 – 60200 Meru
tel. +254 (0)757129872 • kenya@lvia.it
Other seats:
Isiolo
Diocese of Isiolo • tel. +254 (0)741.776.910

Gao
Quartier Château • tel. +223 218.204.96 • gao@lvia.it
Other seats:
Bamako
Quartier ACI SOTUBA • Bamako • BP E 3442 • mali@lvia.it

Maputo
c/o Caritas Moçambique • Rua da Resistencia 1175 • Maputo
tel. +258.21419933 / tel. +258.822812660 / fax +258.21419578 • mozambico@lvia.it

Thiès
R.te de Khombole • B.P. 262 A • Thiès
tel. e fax +221.33.9511611 • senegal@lvia.it

Kongwa
P.O.Box 160 • Kongwa – Dodoma Region
tel. +255.(0)26.2323131 • tanzania@lvia.it

Other contacts

Asti
Stefano e Claudia Pozzetti – Vicolo Monticone, 3 – 14100 Asti – tel. 0141.355789 – pozz63@alice.it

Biella
Andrea Trivero – c/o PaceFuturo Onlus – Via Gian Battista Maggia, 2 – 13843 Pettinengo (BI) – tel. 338 9249168 – biella@lvia.it

Cesena
Luciano Cantoni – Via Assano, 56 – 47521 Cesena – tel. 0547.301824 – luciano.cantoni.cesena@gmail.com

Foligno
Giovanni e M. Concetta Serafini – Via I. Nievo, 34° – 06034 Sant’Eraclio (PG) – tel. 0742.391161 – concetta.giovanni@gmail.com

Lodi
Barbara Aiolfi – Cascina Fanzago – 26900 Lodi – tel. 0371.410274 – lombardia@lvia.it

Roma
Massimo Pallottino – Via Vasanello, 15 – 00189 Roma – tel. 06.30310932 – roma@lvia.it

Saluzzo
Bartolomeo Sola – Via Villafalletto, 19 bis – 12037 Saluzzo (CN) – tel. 0175.43511 – Cell. 349.5366374 – meo.sola@gmail.com

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