The Radiè Resch Network
International Association of Solidarity
This network was founded in 1964 on the initiative of the journalist Ettore
Masina; it is formed by men and women engaged in the solidarity with
oppressed people. Hence the issue of the inequality between the NORTH and
SOUTH of the world is the center of its action.
This network aims at realizing an association, as much as possible
participative and not bureaucratic, and to establish in the present some
signs of what should be humanity in the future, by implementing some small
but meaningful actions alternative to the current reality.
Radiè Resch was the name of a girl who died of hardship in a hovel
of Nazareth, while her family was waiting to be assigned a house for
Palestinian workers, houses that the network contributed to build with its
first intervention.
The network is engaged in concrete initiatives of solidarity around the
world, cooperating with men and women of the involved communities, in order
to establish a society no longer founded on oppression, but on justice,
brotherhood and peace.
It is engaged in implementing a model of
development that favour the cultural growth and raise of consciousness of
people. It aimes at realizing an interchange of friendship, values and
experiences, leading to a mutual growth, based on the awareness that
building justice and peace on the planet requires a deep change in the
NORTH countries.
Adhering to the network can be expressed in several ways:
- by getting a deep knowledge of the roots of social problems and
becoming aware of our corresponsability, in order to be a source of
information and to sensitize other people, to be "a voice at the service of
those who are not listened"
- by a periodical financial support (usually monthly), of free but steady
amount, which allows the Network to program and implement the cooperation
with the communities it is involved with.
The raised funds are immediately addressed to well defined and controlled
situations, in order to support projects of freedom, consciousness and
promotion, locally conceived and managed.
The interventions of the Network are called "operations". At present, some
tens are active, mostly in Latin America (especially in Brazil), but also
in Palestine and in Italy. For instance:
- Brasil: support to the activities of the " Earth Pastoral", to
the growth of worker unions in some areas, both urban and rural, to the
development of popular cooperation, of shelters for street children, of
women and afro-brasilian movements, of defense centers for human rights and
of popular medicine.
- Countries of the South Cone (Uruguay, Argentina, Chile):
support to medical centers, to the development of rural workers unions, to
the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, to popular schools and food distribution
places.
- Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Nicaragua,
Dominican Republic): support to the diffusion of primary schools,
professional and sanitary education, raising of popular consciousness,
farmers cooperatives.
- in Palestine: founding of sanitary structures.
- in Italy and elsewhere, the network helps political refugees and
supports orgnizations working for human rights and for the psycho-physical
recovery of victims of torture.
The network does not have any office of its own: meetings and work take
place in member's homes, church or union houses, cultural centers, etc.
It is organized, at national level, into groups (or local networks)
with their own autonomous activity.
It does not have any elective office, but only coordinating charges for its
groups.
A National Coordinating Board, expressed by the local networks,
meets every three months in order to define the intervention lines and to
perform the necessary verifications; moreover, it expresses a
Secretariat of three people - one of whom is the network speaker -
with executive duties.
Study seminars (some of whom for juniores) and regional
meetings offer occasions to meet and deepen problems.
The Network organizes also study and knowledge trips in the
communities where the operations are carried on. Periodically, some
witnesses from the South visit the local networks, in order to share
their experience, strengthen friendship bindings and bring direct
information to larger communities in the Network.
Every two years, the Network organizes a National Conference where
the commitment is renewed by confronting the witnesses of the "poors who
make history".
- A monthly letter prepared by a local network, possibly with the
cooperation of others, is sent to all members. It contains reflections and
news and is an effective tool for the common work.
- The quarterly
"Newsletter of the Radiè Resch Network" aims at giving and
deepening information on the activities and topics of the Network. It is
edited by the Network of Quarrata (near Pistoia, Italy), but it is open to
the cooperation of anybody.
Page edited by Maria Lissoni
English translation by Giuliana Dettori
For more information about the project write to:
maria@picaflor.xs4all.nl
Back to Vila Esperança Home Page.