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We invite people from all walks of life to participate in our work.

 

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ATD Fourth World activists

Activists¹ are at the heart of all we do. They are people who have themselves endured poverty, and who choose to share the knowledge and experience gleaned from their resistance with others. ATD Fourth World activists seek out and support those even more marginalized than themselves, working to make sure everyone has their place.

In the video below Thomas Mayes, ATD activist and former member of ATD Fourth World’s International Board of Directors talks about why he is involved in ATD and what motivates him.

 

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ATD Fourth World Volunteer Corps members

Volunteer Corps members work alongside individuals and families in extreme poverty. They make themselves available to support ATD Fourth World’s growth around the world.  There are currently over 400 Volunteer Corps members working in over 30 countries.

The Volunteer Corps that staffs ATD Fourth World is composed of people who work to overcome poverty alongside at-risk populations. Volunteer Corps members of all ages come from diverse social and cultural origins backgrounds. Some are single, others have families. They all share a common commitment to working together to build a more just world.

All members of the Volunteers Corps receive a modest living stipend, no matter their seniority, experience, or qualifications.  This voluntary simplicity allows them to stay close to those who are less fortunate.  It is a choice that invites a new type of relationship and creates a new type of society — one without exclusion, where no one will be disparaged or considered inferior to anyone else.

In becoming a member, people choose to make themselves available to meet the needs of the organization by taking on essential tasks and living far from their home countries when necessary.  They work in small teams, supporting one another and sharing responsibilities, failures, and successes.

Over time the closeness with people living in poverty and the need to depend on one another creates strong personal connections.  This is a source of support and strength. It brings out the best in people as they work to build a world without poverty.

If you are interested in learning more about the international Volunteer Corps, please do not hesitate to .

In the videos below members talk about their work, what motivates them and what it’s like being in the Volunteer Corps.

Micol Bonapace (Italy):

Lamine Sarr (Senegal):

Jean Venard (France):

 

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ATD Fourth World allies, supporters and friends

Allies, Supporters and Friends are people of all walks of life acting in solidarity with people who live in extreme poverty. They reach out to their neighbors and colleagues to engage them in building a more inclusive society. Many of them volunteer their time to run Fourth World Street Libraries, to translate articles for this website, to fundraise, or to support the fight to end poverty in a variety of other ways.

In the video below an ally in France talks about his involvement with ATD Fourth World:

1. In the Philippines activists are known as facilitators and in Ireland as community activists.