Collaboration with AMU
By Leo Andringa
From "Economia di Comunione - una cultura nuova" n.29 - September 2009
The collaboration between the EOC and AMU, begun a decade ago, is always closer, more operative and fruitful. And since 2006, it has been significantly reinforced.
What is AMU?
The Action for a United World Non-Profit Association (AMU in its Italian acronym) was founded in 1986 with the goal of promoting cooperation projects in developing countries and spread the culture of dialogue and unity between peoples everywhere. Inspired by the value of universal fraternity, on which the experience of the Focolare Movement is founded, AMU commits itself to bringing about sustainable activities that set the stage for effective development. Whether in dealing with the local social, cultural or economic realities, the association works together with the populations involved in a spirit of dialogue and reciprocal listening. Until now, the interventions begun in various countries of Latin America, Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe regard professional formation, agricultural and artisan development, the cure and prevention of diseases, basic education, support to basic necessities (housing, food, healthcare) and other social development and formational activities.
AMU is a non-governmental development organization (NGO) recognized by the Italian Minister of External Affairs to be suitable for development projects, as well as formation and education on development, both in Italy as in developing countries. It is also accredited by the Italian Minister of Public Instruction for the formation of school personnel on global topics and human rights.
Over the years, AMU has brought about around 25 projects in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Lebanon, Croatia and the Philippines. It has also supported nearly 400 micro-projects, defining and adapting them to the level and needs of small communities in many countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
To know more about AMU, visit :
www.amu-it.eu.
EOC-AMU Collaboration
AMU contributes its experience and competence in bringing about and following development projects in developing countries, and uses it to manage a portion of the profits which EOC businesses put in common.
The collaboration with Amu is especially oriented towards developing projects which begin or consolidate economic activities which create new jobs, but it extends also to the other sectors of aid.
In tight collaboration with the local EOC representatives, AMU evaluates proposals, examines the feasibility of the projects and constantly follows their implementation. During and at the end of each project, AMU analyzes and evaluates the process through descriptive and financial reports send by the local commissions. This way, they can provide useful input to improve the project, where needed, and keep the documentation that accounts for the project up-to-date.
AMU wants to be as transparent as possible with regards to its donors – businesses or individuals – who can, in any moment, ask for news and to see documents of the projects being financed by them.
Between 2006-2008, AMU looked after the realization of 46 EOC projects and micro-actions in Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay), Africa (Kenya, Uganda), Eastern Europe (Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia) and South East Asia (Indonesia), for a total of €558,000.
During 2009, AMU followed 21 projects and micro-actions, totaling nearly € 202,000, in Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay), Africa (Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda), Eastern Europe (Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia).
The Italian legislation gave the possibility to businesses and individuals to deduct contributions to NGOs, among which AMU, from their taxable income up to a maximum amount of 10% of their income. Besides this, a recent ruling by the European Court of Justice (27/01/2009), has established that the benefits of the sanctioned fiscal deductions given by a government should also be applied on the donations made by its own citizens in favor of entities present and running in other countries of the European Union. If, for example, a German citizen makes a donation to a German NGO and enjoys the benefit of a fiscal deduction, he should also be able to enjoy such a deduction when he makes a contribution to an Italian NGO. From now on, therefore, a citizen or a business who wants to make a donation to AMU and is resident of any EU country in which the fiscal deduction is foreseen, he could deduct the contribution from his own taxable income.