Activity report 2019

Edito

2019 will remain forever a very special year in the history of the Secours populaire.

Julien Lauprêtre, President and Founder of the Secours populaire, continued persevering to pursue the association’s global reach right up to the moment when he drew his last breath. He gave his full support to the development of the “copain du Monde” children’s village initiative because he saw it as the definition of solidarity: be attentive to others, give and receive unconditionally, and recognise solidarity in humanity by providing the stepping stones to meaningful action. This solidarity could then be set in motion in France, Europe and around the world, in the form of support and financial resources, both independently and with respect for others, keeping dignity firmly in place.

Everyone involved in the Secours populaire, all around France and even further afield, shared this same goal and decided that the path Julien Lauprêtre had forged should be followed and widened. The association calls upon all individuals to contribute however they can to roll back misfortune and recognise each person’s ability to improve the condition of men, women and children, all around France, Europe and the rest of the world, both at home and abroad, refusing that others should decide their fate and provoke widespread disaster.

For the SPF, that means “influencing the consequences of catastrophes” without questioning or judging their causes. The association has never brought judgement or opinion on cause, and leaves individuals free to form their own views, providing they do not speak in the name of the SPF. That also means calling upon every person, wherever they are, to donate funds, because those resources are what allows the association to remain independent. It also means offering constructive solutions to those in need, so that they can escape poverty and become productive members of society, wherever they may be. It means helping those in authority to deal with these situations head-on, create the conditions required to build the future so that everyone can become active players and ensure the effectiveness of propositions and initiatives.

I would like to thank all of you, and let’s keep up the good work.

 

Henriette Steinberg

General Secretary

Officier de la Légion d’Honneur