OUR STORY
80's
The origins
Ethiopia was in the grip of a serious famine when Don Arnaldo Baga, then director of Caritas Parmennse, with a group of doctors and nurses left Parma for Addis Ababa. The volunteers worked to improve sanitation facilities and provide medical care in the Salesian missions. Once back in Italy, Don Baga set up the “Long Distance Adoption” project.
80's
90's
Growth
The local Caritas organisation headed by Don Franco Minardi relaunched the initiative which was supported by the Bishop of Parma, Benito Cocchi, and widely promoted in the world of football (Parma Calcio and Lega-pro).
December 21, 2004
Turning point
The project continued to develop until in 2004 a non-profit organisation, Caritas Children, was set up. Caritas Children replaced the local Caritas parish organisation and took up the running of the whole project.
December 21, 2004
2023
Today
Today, after 18 years since its establishment, Caritas Children, which became ETS in September 2023 in order to comply with the regulations, has become an important Italian non-profit organisation operating in 19 countries in the South of the World, pursuing exclusively social solidarity aims through International Cooperation projects, in particular Distance Support. Thanks to their projects, many children and young people living in Africa, Asia and South America can enjoy the right to education, health and adequate food. The Association accompanies their psychophysical growth and is committed to guaranteeing them a better future.