Italy: the south will take off if the third sector grows
Riccardo Bonacina (VITA) interviews Savino Pezzotta, recently named president of the Foundation for the South
di Redazione
On the 22nd of Novembre, Savino Pezzotta officially became president of the Foundation for the South (Fondazione per il Sud). The foundation should, officially, become operational in the first months of 2007. This challenge is a real example of both mutualism between various social players and solidarity between territories. Mutualism between banking foundations, the third sector and voluntary sector (all players setting aside their own personal interests) and solidarity between the North and South of the country, with on the one hand the North rich in banking foundations and on the other the needy South.
The Foundation for the South?s patrimony was generated by funds provided by the foundations from 2001 to 2004 for the Volunteer Services Centres, almost 320 million (213 of the foundations and 107 for the Volunteer Services Centres). The activities will in future be sustained by the returns on investments which are valued at about 35 million per year. Mr. Pezzotta is aware of the challenge involved. In fact it is a double challenge: governance over the new foundation (administration is equally divided between the third sector and the foundations) and having a large sum of money to deal with.
Vita: Quite a responsibility, Mr. Pezzotta. Will you be a sort of president-guarantor?
Savino Pezzotta: Certainly not! I?m no guarantor! Those who gave life to the Project for the South have proved that they have a great capacity for responsibility and are not in need of either a guarantor or a tutor. I believe to have been chosen because of my profound conviction that the South is the big issue in Italy today. It is a matter of national concern, in particular the growth of the social is important for the South.
Vita: Do you all ready have ideas about how the foundation will intervene?
Pezzotta: Our first job is to define the guidelines of our intervention. I can say that third sector organisations will be a crucial part of a pro-development infrastructure which will involve spaces for active participation, practicing democracy, spaces for the growth of a culture of solidarity and the promotion of community welfare. Strengthening third sector organisations represents one of the conditions for supporting the growth of the south. Furthermore, the capacities of the third sector cannot be assumed but must be proved. Results must be tangible to citizens and local communities. Our general goal can be made to coincide with that of increasing social capital in the southern regions as the condition for its real take off.
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