Fidesco is a Catholic non-governmental organization for volunteering to development projects in countries in the global south, founded in 1981, and is run by the Emmanuel Community,[1] following a meeting in the Vatican City with African bishops.
[3] These partners already work for the good of disadvantaged populations, regardless of religion, ethnicity or culture, in very diverse fields: education, teaching, management, construction, health... and in varied establishments: dispensaries, refugee camps, centers for street children, agricultural schools.
[4] Fidesco is more and more present on the international stage and sends volunteers on mission from countries as far apart as Belgium, Australia and Brazil... Fidesco now has 11 offices all over the world: in France, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, the United States, Australia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
Fidesco has been granted the status of "Volunteer Organization of International solidarity" by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (VSI, statute defined by law of the 23/02/05).
In France Fidesco is rated an association of public utility and is member of the Coordination-South, CLONG-Voluntariat (Committee of Connected Volunteer ONG's) and the National Council of Solidarity.