“Offering our lives to promote life” - XXV Anniversary of VIDES International

Young people gathering from all over the world under the flags of 34 countries, the sharing of concrete experiences in the field, and the joy to be together to discover again and re-read through today reality the mission of VIDES. These were the ingredients for the success of the  X International Conference of VIDES (International Volunteerism Organization for Women, Education and Development) under the title “Recall, Rejoice, Renew”, which took place from November 1^st to 4^th, in Trevi (Italy).  Almost 200 hundreds VIDES volunteers and Salesian Sisters met to share their work on the ground, as well as to renew their   commitment with the society through the Salesian Charisma and the youth leadership. 

The conference was also the occasion to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the organization and welcome 6 new VIDES groups recently established, namely in: Switzerland, Peru, Congo, Venezuela, Colombia and Haiti.

Last but not least, the participation of the Salesian Rector Major and the General Mother of the Salesian Sisters made the conference a unique experience for all the participants.

The team of IIMA Human Rights Office participated in the four-days meeting offering interpretation service and substantial contributions. In fact, Sr. MariaGrazia Caputo (Fonder of VIDES International and currently Chief of IIMA Human Rights Office) and Maria D’Onofrio (member of IIMA Human Rights Office’s team in Geneva) participated as speakers in the panel discussion.

In her speech titled “Let’s Look Back to Cheer Up on the Way to the Future”, Sr. MariaGrazia made reference to the history of VIDES: starting from mother Marinella’s request to start a volunteer group, going through the international vocation of VIDES since its establishment, and ending with the recognition of the great work carried out by Sr. Leonor Salazar (General Director of VIDES International) who has been able to take this legacy and lead VIDES towards new borders. She also highlighted the main role played by the young volunteers who -after experiencing  voluntary service- find themselves extremely motivated to return "the trust which was reposed in them in a total commitment of their being”.

In conclusion, a Declaration of Commitment, drafted by the working groups during the conference, was unanimously adopted on November 4, 2012. This document and the Conference as a whole left in the participants the right motivation to continue, through VIDES,   to offer "a little of our lives to promote life.”