It might seem that NGOs, whose essential task is to alleviate human misery in all those areas where governments can’t seem to be able to do so, are a rather recent social phenomenon. Nevertheless, the SOCIETY OF ST. VICENT DE PAUL, which I have the honour to be the International President General of, has been active in this respect since its foundation in 1833 in Paris.
It exists today in 142 countries where it identifies the basic needs of the population and carries out poverty alleviation as well as relief projects in areas of disaster, implemented through the efforts of over 700,000 volunteers.
Even though NGOs are authorized to cover their administrative costs through the donations collected for their charitable projects, the SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL has always aspired that the total of donations received, 100% arrive their destiny, the poor we serve and help through our projects.
                                                                                                                                  President General: José Ramón Díaz-Torremocha