Fidesco is a Catholic NGO that provides professional volunteers to some of the world’s most challenged communities. Fidesco USA (d/b/a of American Compassion Services) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit charitable organization listed in the Official Catholic Directory.
Fidesco Belgique • Fidesco Deutschland • Fidesco France • Fidesco Nederland • Fidesco Polska • Fidesco Portugal • Fidesco United States
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News and announcements
This young couple is with their baby working the Rural Farm School established by the Jesuit priests in the 1950s. Jean [John] and Florence bring their skills of management to the cheese producing sector and for the financial planning of this school.
Fidesco USA is actively recruiting candidates for a 2021 departure. Use the non-binding application found at the Volunteering with Us tab to let us know of your interest in a Fidesco service mission.
On June 10 at 2 pm (EST), there will be a Fidesco Information Webinar for people who are considering a departure with Fidesco and the webinar is open for people from all over the world! Register for this free webinar at: webinarfidesco@yahoo.de . You will receive a link before it begins.
In this period of confinement linked to the global COVID-19 epidemic, all Fidesco employees remain mobilized in the service of volunteers in the field. Here are some answers to the questions you may be asking yourself.
Are volunteers continuing their mission?
All our volunteers have a contract with the French government. In consultation with the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, as well as with all the organizations sending international solidarity volunteers, and with our partners in the field, we have kept – except in special cases – our volunteers at their place of mission.
Nevertheless, we still evaluate with each individual volunteer, to adjust this general measure to each situation, depending on the state of health of the volunteer and the potential risks, the progress of the epidemic in their country of mission, and local capacities to deal with a health emergency.
How is Fidesco coping with the current global crisis and its evolution?
Fidesco set up a crisis unit at the start of the crisis, to analyze each situation and to support volunteers on missions around the world.
With great concern for each volunteer and their children in the field, we are monitoring this situation very closely. It is different in each country. We are always in very close contact with the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Ministry’s crisis and support center and the local French Embassies.
How are volunteers dealing with the crisis on the ground?
The needs on the ground and the development projects are still immense, and our volunteers continue to support them: the mission continues. However, we called on the volunteers to exercise special health vigilance in this risky situation, to very strictly respect both the instructions of each country, and also the social distancing measures, which would not be required locally. Be certain that we are in close contact with each volunteer and constantly watching.
Are Fidesco meetings and sessions maintained?
Due to confinement, all meetings and sessions, as well as interviews, are adapted to current constraints. However, as the needs are still immense in the field, recruitment continues. We ran one virtual discernment meeting and will host an in person discernment session then a separate send-off training session in France this July.
Is the Fidesco team still available?
All Fidesco employees remain mobilized in telework, respecting the confinement instructions. The offices are beginning to reopen and everyone can be reached by email or by phone. For any request, send an email to: info@fidescousa.org
This invitation-only Discernment gathering will be held in France this July. Send in your application NOW so that you may be included in this time of discerning one’s call to work with the poor at a Fidesco project site abroad.
Louis and Heidi will be serving orphans in Concepcion, Chile for the next two years. Taking their children on such a mission has been a desire that they have nurtured for many years and their support base extends to the United States. Their work will be to create workshops for children as well as fundraising to continue the success of this foundation Ciudad del Nino that was started in 1960.
When 85 volunteers gathered for the final training session in France, all of the staff was present as well as many former volunteers and country coorespondants. Bishop Emmanuel Gobilliard, auxiliary bishop from Lyons, France, is the spiritual godfather of this group. In addition to the French nationals, volunteers from the Netherlands, Portugual, Germany and Poland were taking notes to best prepare for their two years of service.
God is not calling us (I don’t know about you) to break away from the world, abandoning societal advancements. God is calling us to take a look at the world we live in, and how we live in the world. He is asking us to balance our lives — use technology to enhance our life, not overtake it. To examine our lives, and value what we have, and learn to live simply, controlling unreasonable material desire. God is not asking us to isolate ourselves, but to change the world by being genuine in our world. This may be as simple (and challenging) as leaving our phones by the door, shutting off the computers at 8:00 PM, choosing one day per week to use Facebook or personal email. It may mean wearing out the clothes in our closet a little bit more, resisting the urge to try StitchFix, and responsible sharing of things we don’t need. It may be adding the “free” date night (think creative rather than a restaurant or show) to keep our “couple” at the top of our priorities. It may be replacing a movie or TV show with prayer time. I think the ideas are easy, the practice challenging, and our attitude with which we embrace it all, paramount to all.
Can I do it with a smile on my face? Can I do it without needing 50 replies of reassurance from my husband? Can I approach this situation with renewed perspective? As our mission in the Philippines comes to an end, I feel as though I am finally finding the true mission beneath it all: to live simply, to love better, and to embrace the challenges in the world… with God to guide and Dave at my side.
CF
Check out the most recent news from the volunteers at their blog:
Here is the yearly video of our missions around the world. Enjoy.