United Nations Recognizes I.S. for Poverty Relief Work

International Samaritan (I.S.) was granted Special Consultative Status from the United Nations earlier this month, recognized by the UN as an important voice in issues pertaining to poverty relief.


“We are privileged to join with the United Nations and other NGOs in the fight to help alleviate severe poverty in developing countries,” said I.S. Founder and President Fr. Don Vettese, S.J.


I.S. was awarded consultative status for its role in helping the UN work toward achieving the following Millennium Goals: eradicating extreme hunger and poverty, achieving universal primary education, promoting equality and empowering women, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, combating diseases, and developing global partnerships for development.


I.S. is the only nonprofit in the world whose work is focused on garbage dump communities. Hundreds of thousands of people live in garbage dump squalor across the globe. According the UN statistics, I.S. serves some of the most poverty-stricken people on the earth.


“There are many people who have never heard about the garbage dump dwellers, the children forced to dig through trash for food, and entire families living in garbage dumps with rats, vultures, and pigs. These places do exist. We hope, in some small way, this status will give voice to those who have no voice,” said Vettese.


I.S. representatives will be granted passes to UN meetings, able to speak at designated UN sessions, and have certain documents circulated as official UN documents. They will also have the opportunity to be a part of a larger NGO community for the purposes of information-sharing and partnering on poverty relief programs.


“There is so much good that can be accomplished if we open our minds and hearts to work with those in need who are fighting for a life with dignity and hope,” said Vettese. “We invite everyone to join us by volunteering on one of our service trips, donating to our poverty relief programs, and praying for us and those we serve.”


To learn more about International Samaritan, go to http://www.intsamaritan.org/.

Millennium Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty

Millennium Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education

Millennium Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Marlaria and other diseases