Serving the Poorest
VATICAN CITY, 2 JUNE 2006 (ZENIT)Here is the description of the
International Movement ATD Fourth World which appears in the Directory
of International Associations of the Faithful, published by the
Pontifical Council for the Laity.
* * *
Official name: International Movement ATD Fourth World
Also known as: ATD Fourth World
Established: 1957
History: The movement was founded by Father Joseph Wresinski (1917-1988)
in an emergency housing camp for the homeless in Noisy-Le-Grand on the
outskirts of Paris. He had also been born in dire poverty, and he
devoted his life to bringing the poor back into the Church and to
reintroducing them into society.
Father Wresinski exposed the so-called Fourth World: exiled families in
every continent, people beyond the poverty threshold in which the
destitute are no longer able to undertake any responsibilities or to
exercise the rights enjoyed by those around them. Others must come along
to help restore their self-confidence and their trust in humanity and in
God.
The movement has thousands of supporters from every ethnic, social,
cultural and spiritual background who are present to the very poor. At
the center there is an interdenominational and international corps of
volunteers who share their lives with them in totally deprived areas.
The movement cooperates with the Church authorities at the local and
international levels, and has regular contacts with the various
departments of the Roman Curia and with the permanent missions of the
Holy See to the governmental international organizations.
As a nongovernmental organization, ATD Fourth World has consultative
status with the United Nations, UNICEF, UNESCO, ILO and the Council of
Europe.
Identity: ATD Fourth World is based on the following basic principles:
Every person has an inalienable fundamental value and is called to
contribute to the good of all; poverty is not inevitable, and humanity
can reject it; protecting the family is the first means of resisting
poverty; giving priority to the most deprived is the guarantee that all
human beings will truly have their dignity respected.
The work of the movement is performed in the field using programs for
infants, cultural initiatives (street libraries, courses for all trades,
cultural circles, art and poetry centers, "shared future" weeks),
continuing education and training programs for adults (people's
universities); in society, through information, campaigns, publications
and public events; with the large religious families, with reflection
groups and activities in common; with the national authorities and
intergovernmental agencies, through relations and cooperation of all
kinds, proposing legislation, obtaining funds and subsidies.
Organization: ATD Fourth World is a federation of national sections
established throughout the world along the lines of the French mother
section. The establishing of these sections requires that certain
conditions be met. It is preceded by the establishment of associations
of friends of the movement. Admission to the federation is preceded by
an appropriate trial period.
Membership: There are about 250,000 families, permanent volunteers,
supporters and friends connected with the life and work of ATD Fourth
World, in 26 countries.
Works: The movement has created the following: Tapori, a movement for
children throughout the world, rich and poor, who undertake to build
together a poverty-free world; Fourth World Youth, bringing together
young people from every social background wishing to join forces to
share knowledge and wipe out poverty; Permanent Forum on Extreme Poverty
in the World, for individuals and small associations friendly with the
poorest; the Institute for Research and Training, to support the study
and training activities; the Joseph Wresinski Foundation, which was
established after the death of the founder, to preserve and disseminate
his intellectual, spiritual and philosophical legacy throughout the
world.
Special mention should be made of the celebration of World Day for
Overcoming Extreme Poverty on Oct. 17 each year. This was the idea of
Father Wresinski in 1987, with the inauguration of the commemorative
stone in honor of the victims of poverty at Trocadero, Paris, and it was
officially proclaimed by the United Nations in 1992 as the International
Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
The stone bears the words: "Where people are condemned to live in
poverty, human rights are being violated. Joining forces to have them
respected is a sacred duty" which is also inscribed on the reproduction
stone inaugurated in 2000 in front of the Rome Basilica of St. John
Lateran, and completed with the words of Pope John Paul II: "No more
discrimination, exclusion, oppression and contempt for the poor and the
least."
Publications: Feuille de route, monthly; Quart Monde, published
quarterly; Lettres aux Amis du Monde, published three times a year for
corresponding members of the permanent forum
Web site: www.atd-quartmonde.org
Headquarters:
Mouvement International ATD Quart Monde
107, avenue du General Leclerc
95480 Pierrelaye
—
France
Tel. (33) 1-3430.4610
—
Fax 1-3036.2221
E-mail: secgen@atd-quartmonde.org
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