The Community of Volunteers for the World (Italian abbreviation CVM) was founded in February 1978 – 40 years ago. CVM is a no-profit, No-Governmental Organization based in Ancona and Porto San Giorgio, Italy. It was founded by a group of returned volunteers who, after some years of voluntary work in Africa and South America, had a deep interest to help people in their struggle to exist in this world irrespective of where they are from. The group had a vision and, in accordance to it, CVM formulated its mission statement as follows: “working for a more human world through the development of the whole person and of all persons both in the North and in the South of the World”.

 

CVM has prioritized attention to the African continent because of the acute needs of the population, the marginalization of entire Countries and the continued abuse of people’s rights to a dignified and worthwhile life. In being a small organization, CVM has decided to concentrate work to a limited number of Countries, in order to allow CVM to develop a significant presence there and to promote durable relationship and connection with its people. Actually, CVM’s operation focuses on 2 countries in Africa: Ethiopia and Tanzania.

 

 CVM’s first project was in Ethiopia in the field of Rural Water Development and Sanitation, and it continues to work in this field and in this Country.