“What world would it be without cooperation?” – CoLomba

Press release
The campaign promoted by CoLomba – Lombardy International Cooperation

What world would it be without cooperation?
Is a worse world possible? Yes, without cooperation.
More fragmented, more insecure, with more inequalities. A worse world for everyone.

CoLomba, Lombardy’s international cooperation network made up of 42 civil society organizations, is promoting a campaign to imagine the scenarios that could be configured in a world without international cooperation.

Almost 13% of the world’s population lives on less than $ 1.90 a day, which corresponds, in absolute values, to 902 million people. These are just some data that give the picture of the inequality between the North and the South of the world, the cause of wars, violence, economic and social crises that inevitably have repercussions on all countries.
Such a divided world feeds wars, violence, economic and social crises that affect all countries.

This situation, however, can be countered not only with targeted policies and reforms, which are the responsibility of national and international political decision-makers but also with collective actions and measures also promoted by civil society.
International Cooperation, committed on many fronts to reduce inequalities and improve the conditions of the most vulnerable areas of the world, is sometimes forgotten by the media and public opinion. Often it is prejudices and fake news that take over and make the true value of international cooperation unknown to most. But what world would it be if it didn’t exist? This is what the CoLomba campaign wants to reflect on.

“In these months in which the world has become smaller due to the Covid 19 pandemic – says Alfredo Somoza, president of CoLomba – we think it is important to reaffirm the role of bridge between the different peoples of the earth that have historically played cooperation NGOs and international solidarity associations. It is now clear to everyone that no one is saved alone and that the fight against poverty, for the right to health and education, for peace are aspirations that unite us. The NGOs and associations that are part of CoLomba have been working for decades to affirm these principles and with this campaign, we want to talk about our work, make it known, involve citizens in a global enterprise. All our projects, in Italy and in the South of the world, contribute to give a perspective, to trace a path of mutual cooperation, to nourish the hope that it is possible, together, to build a more just and more sustainable world”.

CoLomba – Lombardy International Cooperation is the Association of International Cooperation and Solidarity Organizations of Lombardy. It has been active since 2007 and currently brings together 41 development cooperation and humanitarian aid organizations based in Lombardy, which intends to network to share values ​​and experiences, in a decisive sector for combating poverty and inequality.
In an international context, increasingly complex and upset by wars and pandemics, CoLomba wants to be a point of reference for the institutions, public and private, of its territory in terms of international cooperation and solidarity.
With the new Statute and the establishment of the Association, all associations, foundations, cooperatives, social enterprises, ETS, or other non-profit entities that are actively engaged in the field of international cooperation and solidarity can be part of the Organization.

CoLomba partners
ACEA – ACRA – Africa 70 – Altropallone – AMANI – AMI – ANPIL – ASPEm – Ass. Secco Suardo – AVSI – CAST – Celim MI – CESVI – CIAI – COE – COOPI – COSV – Deafal – Emergenza Sorrisi – Fondazione Cesar – Fondazione Ivo de Carneri – Fondazione PRO.SA – Fondazione Sipec – Fondazione Tovini – Guardavanti – Helpcode – ICEI – Il Sole – ISCOS – Istituto Oikos – IPSIA – Mani Tese – MLFM – NO ONE OUT – OVCI – MMI – Project for People – SMOM ONLUS – Waves Word – We World – VISPE – Perigeo

For info, contact:
Alfredo Somoza
tel. 347 7151080
mail: alfredo.somoza@gmail.com