E’ in corso la conferenza europea di EFC (Parigi, 22-24 maggio 2019) che prevede, venerdì 24 maggio h 9.30-11.00, all’interno di un ricco programma una sessione dedicata alle Fondazioni di Comunità dal titolo “A quiet revolution: investing in new forms of solidarity and inclusion to make a difference“.
La sessione sarà guidata da ECFI (European Community Foundations Initiative). Per Assifero interverrà in qualità di “Table discussion leader” il Segretario Generale Carola Carazzone.
Programma
Hear from community foundation practitioners from Hungary, Italy and Northern Ireland, and from funders that invest in social capital and community empowerment.
Bring your imagination to life by participating in discussions on how community foundations are establishing and maintaining new forms of solidarity and inclusion, championing human rights, and acting as catalysts for change.
Speakers:
Claire Boulanger, Solidarity Expert, Fondation de France
Carola Carazzone, Secretary General, Assifero, Italy
Andrew McCracken, Director, Community Foundation for Northern Ireland
Franz Karl Prüller, Senior Advisor, ERSTE Stiftung
Tamás Scsaurszki, Chair, Roots and Wings Foundation, Hungary
Moderated by: James Magowan, Co-Ordinating Director, European Community Foundation Initiative (ECFI)
Session description
Imagine you have the resources. Imagine you have the knowledge. Imagine you can make a difference. Don’t just imagine – bring your imagination to life in this session where you will hear from and engage with foundations that support the community foundation movement and community foundation practitioners that are making a difference through their innovative approaches and their role as promoters of new forms of solidarity and inclusion, champions of human rights, and catalysts for change.
Background
Europe faces numerous persistent and complex challenges that cannot be resolved by any single entity alone – public, private or voluntary. Whether these relate to issues of inequality or human rights, locally-based inter-disciplinary approaches are necessary which rely on building social capital – the key currency of community foundations. Community foundations play a critical role in building trust, fostering connections, and activating productive relationships between stakeholders. This applies across Europe but is of particular relevance in countries where the space for civil society is shrinking. Across Europe the community foundation field is growing. There are almost 800 community foundations which vary in form and scale but which all have in common the fact that they are rooted in their local communities and that they utilise not only financial resources but also their wealth of knowledge, relationships, and creativity to address local challenges. In Central and Eastern Europe community foundations have a particular role in fostering civic engagement and in building trust. Their approach offers potential to get to the heart of some of the most persistent and intractable social problems.
Target audience
The session is relevant to all those who are interested in exploring the potential of community foundations as agents of change. The session format will enable participants to learn from practitioners and to contribute with their own experience. It will lead to the development of a menu of practical actions.
Key questions to be addressed
What is the role of community foundations in building social capital?
How does enhancing social capital contribute to addressing inequality?
What new forms of solidarity and inclusion have been developed and implemented by community foundations?