“Is what we are doing
TRANSFORMING
lives?”
The Vincentian Family
Explores
SYSTEMIC CHANGE
“Charity is the Samaritan who pours oil
on the wounds of the traveler who has
been attacked. It is justice’s role to
prevent the attacks.” Frederic Ozanam
VINCENTIAN WORD
“AND”
JUSTICE AND CHARITY
RELIEVING NEED
AND
ADDRESSING ITS CAUSES
An Important and
Fundamental Distinction
Immediate assistance to those
living in poverty and systemic
change projects are:
Not
either/or options
But both/and
IMPERATIVES
VINCENTIAN WORD
“WITH”

We have been accustomed to
working FOR People…now they
are waiting for us to work WITH
them.
“COLLABORATION”

To work together with others…
“There are many ways
of providing charity…
The assistance of money or assistance
in-kind that we give to those who are
poor will not last long.
We must aspire to a more
complete and longer lasting
benefit:
study their abilities,
their level of instruction
and help them get work
to help them out of their
difficulties.”
Blessed Rosalie Rendu
Systemic Change
In works among those who live
in poverty, Systemic Change:
 Aims to go beyond providing
food, clothing and shelter to
alleviate immediate needs.

Endeavors to help people
themselves engage in the
identification of the root
causes of their poverty.
Systemic Change
 Seeks
to focus on assisting
people to change the overall
structures within which they live
 Helps them develop strategies by
which they can emerge from
poverty.
 Aspires to change attitudes in
order toTRANSFORM LIVES.
Systemic Change


Strives to transform a
complete series of interacting
elements, rather than just an
individual element.
Looks for the break-through
point that can prevent a person
moving step by step deeper
into poverty.
CYCLE OF POVERTY
How can we break the
Cycle of Poverty?
Is what we are doing
TRANSFORMING
LIVES?
Changing Attitudes


Poverty is not due to
 Circumstances
 Bad Luck
 Laziness
Poverty is a result of
 Political Decisions
 Economic Structures
Systemic Change Strategies




Mission-Oriented
Person-Oriented
Task-Oriented
Co-responsibility,
networking and
political action
Mission Oriented Strategies

Understand that poverty is not the
inevitable result of circumstances,
but as the product of unjust
situations that can be changed
 Design projects, create plans,
policies and guidelines that
flow from our Vincentian values
and mission
 Focus on those living in poverty
as the ones most capable of
changing their own situation
Person Oriented Strategies




Listen carefully and seek to understand the
needs and aspirations of those living in
poverty
Create an atmosphere of
respect and mutual confidence
Foster self-esteem
Involve the people themselves
in every step– identifying the
needs, planning,
implementation,
evaluation and revision
Task Oriented Strategies
Have a holistic vision, addressing a series
of basic human needs:
Individual, Social,
Spiritual, Physical,
Jobs, Healthcare,
Housing, Education.
Have an integral approach
toward prevention
and
sustainable development
Co-responsibility, networking
and political action

Construct a shared vision with:
 Communities and individuals,
 Churches and governments,
 Organizations and networks

Have a prophetic attitude:
 announce and denounce,
 network and collaborate
 engage in actions that exert
pressure for bringing about
change
Steps to Achieve Systemic Change
1.
Establishing the urgency to change
2.
Build the guiding team
3.
Create a transformational vision
4.
Communicate the vision for buy-in
5.
Empower others to act
6.
Create short-term wins
7.
Don’t let up
8.
Establish the policies
and strategies to achieve
the new vision.
What can WE Do?
“Do not be afraid of new beginnings.
Be creative. Be inventive. Organize new
works of love in the service of the poor.
You who have energy;
who have enthusiasm;
who want to do something
of value for the future;
be inventive, launch out;
do not wait.” (Frederic Ozanam)