The many social works (currently there are more than 1,000 of them between large and smaller ones, in all continents) which have arisen in the movement, or with the movement’s contribution, all place a great emphasis on reciprocity. So, the distinction between those who give, and those who receive is avoided. In its place we see concrete reciprocal love lived by all members, and this has brought about situations of true social deliverance in many cases.

These Social Works have developed in every sector of social reality, particularly in the social and health care fields. However there are also many in the cultural and educational fields; and on a general level in the promotion of human life in all of its aspects. The most developed of these are multi-sector activities.

Here we will present just some of these, by way of example, which have been chosen on the basis of their very different geographical locations, their varying fields of activity, and varying ways in which they finance themselves. Some of these have come about through the initiative of the Focolare Movement, while others have been instituted or are sustained through the personal initiative of its members.


Giorgio La Pira Centre
Florence - Italy

Courses in Italian and English language, in the history of art, preparation for political commitment; publications on the theme of intercultural education, world music; library; legal aid and information for foreigners: these are just some of the numerous activities undertaken in the last two years by the La Pira Centre. This centre was born in 1978, on the initiative of the local church, and entrusted to the Movement, with the desire to do something positive in relation to the immigration of many young people (mainly students), from Third World countries.

Such educational, cultural and recreative activities accompany and sustain hundreds of students through their academic commitments. In the last few years the strong difficulty of finding work in their home country has threatened to render useless the studies undertaken in Italy, and this in turn constitutes a motivation for them to get involved in the black market there. For this reason the Centre has extended its field of action beyond the national frontiers, and is involved in sustaining activities such as the one in the Democratic Republic of Congo, through the financing of a carpentry, a tailor’s workshop, together with agricultural and livestock raising projects.


Santa Maria de Catamarca
Valle Calchaquì - Argentina

Valle Calchaquì, in the north-east of Argentina: this is where the small village of Santa Maria is located, at the heart of a region rich in pre-columbian tradition, which is nowadays economically linked to small craft industry, weaving, ceramic, and metal work. The community, which is being eroded by emigration, due to unemployment, was in danger of becoming completely extinct: people from the New Humanity Movement have been involved for some time in activities which aim to sustain local industry, through training and professional preparation projects, and through the promotion of manufacturing activities and partnership schemes.

The accomplishment of cultural research (in association with a local ethnographic museum) has allowed the local history, folklore and archeological wealth of the region to be appreciated and valued.

These projects have the benefit of financial assistance, and technical and administrative consultancy from A.M.U. (the association "Action for a United World").


Magnificat
Northeast - Brazil

Another important development project sustained by A.M.U. is the community of Magnificat, in the Northeast of Brazil. Since the donation of some terrain on the site of an old estate a project has been developing which takes in the fields of health care, education, agriculture and manufacturing. Together with some construction work, new cultivation techniques have been introduced, accompanied by adequate work-training. New markets opportunities have been opened for local produce. The sense of community is also growing - the sharing of know-how, of structures and equipment. Other nearby communities are also linked. Today there are 12 communities with a total of more than 5,000 people connected.


Bukas Palad
Manila, Cebu and Tagatay - Philippines

Bukas Palad (which means "with open arms" in Tagalog) is a name which indicates three major social centres which the movement set up in the Philippines.

Social and health care assistance is the central aspect of this initiative, which is completely run by volunteer workers, and free contributions. Its work is largely made up of the provision of a health service which emphasises prevention (vaccinations, odontotherapy, health care education, dietary education); and social services (school for infants, schooling, scholarships, clothing, housing, training, financing).

More recently new sectors of activity have been opening up. The "adoptions at a distance" action (promoted by the New Families movement in particular) has had a particularly strong development, and through it more than 500 children are accompanied in their growth and development.


Santa Terezinha
Recife - Brazil

In 1963 Bishop Dom Helder Camara entrusted the slums of Santa Terezinha near Recife (Brazil) to the movement. This area was better known as "Island of Hell" because of the terrible squalor and the violence for which it was famous. One of the drainage canals of the city separated it from the urban centre.

"To climb to the heights of those who suffer and cry" was the goal of those who in the last years have shared all sorts of poverty, by going to live with the people there.

The sewerage system has now been rendered safe, the level of the dwellings has been raised so as to protect them from the high tide, work is underway for the improvement of drinkable water supply, a social centre has been set up, food hygiene services and prevention of sickness schemes are provided. In time, with the help of the New Families Movement, adoptions at a distance have been launched. Government approval for projects to reconstruct the dwellings in brick has been received, a school and a clinic have been opened, a youth centre has been born. And now even those who may have the possibility of leaving the island choose to remain - a clear sign of the hope for, and belief in the possibility of social improvement there.


Valle Aurelia Social Centre
Rome - Italy

The area of Valle Aurelia used to be known to the Romans as the "Valley of Hell" because of the antique kilns located there, which can still be seen today. This valley has seen the development of a large complex of popular housing. This is where some of the committed volunteers of the Movement directed their attention, and established a day centre for old people (with the help of Rome’s "Caritas"), which was open to all of the other needs of the area. The population of this quarter is composed of people who have been uprooted from other parts of the city, and rehoused there, and so the priority is to find ways of promoting social cohesion. Now about 150 people frequent the centre and the distinction between animators and frequenters of the centre is no longer easy to see. All give and all receive and the cultural and recreative activities have become important moments of cohesion. This social reality becomes even more alive and generous when new requests for solidarity are received from immigrants, people struck by earthquakes, social projects in Eastern Europe, etc.


Stella Cooperative
Milan - Italy

The "Stella Cooperative" was born in the town of Carnago, just outside Milan in 1991 to run (with the approval of the local authorities) a school for 110 infants. Three years later, thanks to the arrival of a new team of specialists, it opened its field of interests to include other activities: consultation and the organisation of courses related to family life. There are four sectors, each of which has its own expert consultants: education in the use of natural methods in responsible parenting, individual or couple consultation service, personal and family formation and information, and legal assistance. This co-operative adheres to the "Economy of Communion in Freedom" project.


Casa Clara
Buenos Aires

In the field of art there are numerous initiatives with meetings between artists of different disciplines. Some are temporary, but more permanent projects are increasingly coming into existence, such as the "Casa Clara" in Buenos Aires, which is a true "house of art", in the heart of the city. The centre lives from the many artistic expressions which its workshops bring about, which are always full of ideas and initiatives, thus creating an ideal forum for all manner of collaborations. Debates, conferences, seminars, exhibitions, musical and theatrical shows; together with workshops on literature, dance, theatre, music, yoga and photography have also become important moments of contact with the Argentinian metropolis, and of dialogue with people of non-religious convictions. Casa Clara is becoming a prototype for similar projects in other parts of the world.


AVO (Hospital Volunteering Action)
Italy

AVO, which was born in Milan in 1975, through the initiative of a chief consultant of the Movement, today represents one of Italy’s most widespread social volunteer agencies active in field of hospital assistance. This activity has the collaboration of people of all creeds and beliefs, who have the desire to place their time at the disposition of the hospitalised and the sick, and to help them with all sorts of needs which are not the direct responsibility of health care professionals. Entirely founded on voluntary service, this initiative currently has 196 centres in Italy. These centres are also responsible for the conscientious training and formation of the volunteers who make themselves available to the agency. The project which currently has more than 25,000 volunteers, is about to see the launch of a twin activity which will operate in line with new health care thinking which tends to reduce the length of hospital stays, and will begin to provide volunteer assistance in the homes of sick or recovering patients.


Tassano Co-operative
Liguria - Italy

It was in 1985 that a drug addict approached the electrical appliance repair firm owned by Giacomo Linaro and Piero Cattani, and asked them for a job. This first in a long series of similar episodes gave rise to that which we now call the "Tassano Co-operative". This business in which 260 people, the majority of which come from difficult social situations, are employed, is involved in various sectors of the manual and craft work.
Among the services offered by the Co-operative are the running of a protected residence for the elderly "Casa Arcobaleno", home assistance (specially for the elderly), administrative work for public and private bodies, catering service for communities and canteens for businesses, the running of a printing works, together with the original sector - electrical appliance repair. This business is linked to the "Economy of Sharing" project.