Sharing Experiences Worldwide

Permanent Forum on Extreme Poverty in the World

“So that no one will feel alone and powerless faced with extreme poverty, and so that no effort will be lost.” Joseph Wresinski, Founder

The Permanent Forum is a network of individuals and groups committed in various ways alongside populations living in poverty. It is facilitated by the International Movement ATD Fourth World.

Keeping the Promise

Letter to Friends Around the World #74

From preserving the culture and identity of indigenous peoples in Kenya, to promoting family-based agriculture in an under-privileged region of Brazil, populations in extreme poverty prove to be primary actors of sustainable development. They shed a particular light on the U.N. Report on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.

Making Community Activities a Collective Achievement

In Focus - Initiatives in the Middle East: the Beitouna Center in Beirut

Listening, support, sharing, and collective action fostering day-to-day solidarity between individuals and families with difficult lives: these are the main objectives of the Beitouna Center in Beirut (Lebanon). Spotlight in correspondents of the Permanent Form on Extreme Poverty in the World.

Women’s Employment Stories, a Source of Knowledge

In Focus - Initiatives in the Middle East: the Mahut Center in Haifa

Mahut Center works to improve the economic situation of low-income and marginalized women in the Israeli employment market and to fulfill women’s aspirations of becoming economically independent. Spotlight on correspondents of the Permanent Forum on Extreme Poverty in the World.

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A Forum of Committed People “We were overcome with discouragement. Some people just didn’t realize the scope of our action. Now we’ve been reborn, and we have each renewed our commitment… Thank you for giving us courage so that we can, in turn, give it to others.” A correspondent from Ivory Coast

Letter to Friends Around the World “I always read the Letter to Friends with much interest and admiration, often thinking to myself that I too have witnessed acts of courage, goodness and solidarity among the poorest people.” A correspondent from Burkina Faso

Pooling Knowledge and Experiences Correspondents of the Permanent Forum enrich the dialogue by adding their own experiences, knowledge and questions. In turn, they often gain a strengthened conviction that mutual support and sharing knowledge are key factors in ending extreme poverty.

Influencing International Organizations Permanent Forum correspondents play a large, often unrecognized role in reinforcing social ties in their communities. That’s why the Permanent Forum helps enable them to make their voices heard as stakeholders in international public life.

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- ATD Fourth World