Dear friends, volunteers, donors and financing entities:
As I do every year, please allow me to present to you the Annual Activity Report for the year 2021 that has already passed. I hope that it serves you to find out about the activities developed by FABRE. I hope as well that you rejoice with us for so many wonderful things that have been accomplished with the help of all of you.
When I am writing this, we are immersed in a painful situation of war between Ukraine and Russia. The poverty in which many people live will be aggravated by this conflict’s collateral damages, both in these countries and in many others around the world. It seems that the fight against poverty never ends.
In the middle of this crisis, there are many anonymous people who are an example of solidarity every day. They offer their help to alleviate the devastating effects this conflict is having on those who are suffering most directly this tragedy. War leaves behind many poor people with whom we must share the suffering to alleviate their distress, give them back their lost dignity and guarantee them the so necessary social inclusion in the receiving countries. Tackling poverty means a change of mentality, namely, facing the challenge of sharing and getting committed.
In the message addressed by the Pope Francis in the World Day of the Poor, he reminds us that, besides the tragedy of this war, there has been another plague that has brought about many more poor people subsequently: the pandemic. The pandemic is still knocking on the doors of millions of people, and when it does not bring death and suffering, brings poverty and grief. Due to this health situation, some countries are enduring severe consequences so that the most vulnerable people are deprived of essential goods. In particular, it is urgent to give specific answers to those who are unemployed. The unemployment has a dramatic effect on many parents, women and young people.
The solidarity and generosity showed by many people, along with long-term human promotion projects, are making and will keep on making an essential contribution in these circumstances. In this task FABRE, along with all of you, joins the implementation of projects that provide those who need it most with a more decent life.
We should think about what path of justice should be walked down to overcome social inequalities and restore human dignity, trampled underfoot in so many occasions. And it is said that an individualistic lifestyle is complicit in creating poverty. Poverty is not a result of fate, but a consequence of selfishness. For that reason it is crucial to bring to life development processes in which everybody’s abilities are valued, so complementarity of competences and diversity of functions result in shared participation resources.
Nobody is so poor that cannot give a bit of themselves in return. Poor people cannot be the only ones in receiving; they have to be provided with the opportunity of giving, as they know quite well how to reciprocate. It is true, these are people who lack something, usually a lot, even what is necessary, but they do not lack everything because they preserve their dignity, which nothing and nobody can take away from them.
B. Franklin said that “all mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move”. Let us hope that in Fabre, thanks to the cooperation of everybody, we are always people in continuous movement to make the world a bit better every day and who do not remain indifferent to so many realities that require our commitment.
I hope you enjoy this Report you are about to read, and I would like to thank you once again for your involvement and generosity.
All the best.
Rita Regojo Bacardi
FABRE President