Seven organizations get together to collect ideas and good practices about alternative economic models oriented towards integral human development and sustainability.

The “Change-makers” of the world of social economy and solidarity  are being invited to come together and collaborate towards new ways and means to fight poverty and  environmental crisis: this is the main objective of the Prophetic Economy event that will take place at Castelgandolfo, Rome from  2-4 November 2018. Persons experiencing exclusion and poverty will be among those present to share in this event.

This project owes its origin to an international network composed of the following organizations: Pope John XXIII Community, Nomadelfia, the Global Catholic Climate Movement, the ATD Fourth World Movement, World of Community and Family Association, the SlotMob initiative and the Focolare Movement with its initiatives of Economy of Communion and Teens for Unity.

This collaboration aims at creating a network, proposing alternative economic models and launching a platform where one can get to know and be inspired by the other. Elisabetta Sormani of  World of Community and Family says: “We shall present experiences defined by us as ‘prophetic’ and promoted by people who believe in integral human development and sustainability”. She continues: “There is also the possibility to support this initiative by taking part in a competition about good practices; its closing date is August 1. One can also present video projects and concrete initiatives that aim at promoting a more just, sustainable and supportive world. The jury, composed of entrepreneurs, economists and ecologists will evaluate the works presented and announce the winners during the November event”.

Words of great encourgement to follow the path of  collaboration among complementary realities may be traced in what Pope Francis said a few days ago when he visited the Nomadelfia and Loppiano communities, both involved in the project. At Nomadelfia he said: “Continue on this path by living fraternal love and being models of it even through visible works and signs, in the many situations where evangelical love calls you”. While referring to the Focolari small industrial park, the Pope affirmed “the incisiveness and large scale image of this promising commitment”.

Youth will be given a lot of space during the programme, which will include common and distinct moments that will involve the various generations. Paolo Matterazzo of Nomadelfia states: “Children and the future generations have something important to say; they already contribute with strong impulses and concrete examples that stimulate”. Felix Finkbeiner, a 20 year old German and a key note speaker at the event relates that he was a 9 year old boy when started planting trees to save the global environment. He has founded a children and youth organization, now spread all over the world, that has planted more than 15 billion trees. Among the projects presented by youth there will be activities set up by them to support the “Zero-Hunger” initiative promoted by FAO.

Jeffrey Sachs, an expert on environmental issues and international economist in the US and Luigino Bruni, Italian economist and international coordinator of the Economy of Communion project will be among the main speakers.

Information on the event and the competition on www.propheticeconomy.org.