Sustainable Development Goals: the UN 2030 Agenda for People & Planet
Charity, systemic change and political advocacy are the triad of justice.
Mission
The Vincentian Family is a global family founded on our primary charismatic intuition, “there is God endowed dignity in every human story and in our planet.” We are a coalition of Vincentian Family NGOs that collaborates around our ministry of advocacy at the United Nations, respecting our individual identities and mandates, to strengthen the impact of advocacy we have as a family. We seek to be a united voice of the Vincentian Family at the United Nations. We advocate for and seek the empowerment of our brothers and sisters on the social and economic margins of history and society, the excluded, and our wounded Mother Earth.
The Vincentian Family at the United Nations envisions a world where the integral development of the human person is safeguarded. We promote a world of sustainable livelihoods, economic justice, social inclusion, and environmental protection, particularly for the most vulnerable and excluded, so that the dignity of each person is respected and poverty is ended. We embrace a human rights framework, to ensure that all persons can live in a world of peace, justice, and security.
The Vincentian Family at the United Nations envisions a world where the integral development of the human person is safeguarded. We promote a world of sustainable livelihoods, economic justice, social inclusion, and environmental protection, particularly for the most vulnerable and excluded, so that the dignity of each person is respected and poverty is ended. We embrace a human rights framework, to ensure that all persons can live in a world of peace, justice, and security.
Focus
After the celebration of the 400 years of our Charism (2017), we embrace HOMELESSNESS as the main focus of our advocacy campaign together at the UN to support the efforts of our entire family around the world. We will continue to adapt to thematic approaches the Vincentian Family collectively chooses to bring an end to poverty.
Priorities
- We share efforts and critical information around local and global concerns, in collaboration with other organizations who share our values.
- We bring the voices of the most vulnerable and those we work with through our Vincentian Family to the United Nations, and take global UN concerns back to our members, so that there is mutual input towards effective solutions.
- We create awareness and educate the Vincentian Family for advocacy at the grass roots, national, and global levels.
- We ensure that the Vincentian Family focus will be on the formulation of policies around social inclusion, economic justice, and care of the environment.
- We promote a collaborative systemic-change perspective among Vincentian Family members at all levels.
- We address issues from an integrative ethical and moral perspective, with human rights, responsibilities, and personal dignity at the forefront.
Video Message from our NGO Representative:
Those of us who are spiritually rooted and grounded by our religious traditions possess perspectives that make us unique in our orientation towards advocacy and social justice. Because Jesus Christ calls us in varying ways to respond to injustice and social inequities, we can offer our communities the opportunity to engage in community service, advocacy and community education knowing that helps us build the beloved community. Our advocacy, borne out of the Gospel's call, can be and is a powerful mechanism for building and sustaining vibrant communities and strong societies.
VIN-JPIC: The international network of the CM for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation.
Who are we?
What do we promote?
What do we represent?
Note:
- This is an educative and action-oriented network of the CM, to support and/or promote campaigns that promote humans rights, peace, integral ecology, social justice, etc.
- VIN-JPIC is also open to publicly denounce the causes of injustice and the violation of Human Rights.
What do we promote?
- The values and attitudes of justice, peace and integrity of creation on the personal, communal, provincial and international levels of the Congregation.
What do we represent?
- The prophetic stance of the CM by joining its voice with those who cry for justice and by providing a voice for our planet and for those who are voiceless in the struggle for justice.
Note:
- This global congregational advocacy network is currently in reconfiguration. Hopefully in the near future, every CM province will have 1 representative.
VIN-JPIC AROUND THE GLOBE
VIN-JPIC has confreres representatives in the following regions:
- Africa/COVIAM
- Americas/CLAPVI
- Europe/CEVIM
- Asia/APVC
Laudato Si says everything is connected and Fratelli Tutti tells us we are all connected.
A Prayer to the Creator
Lord, Father of our human family, you created all human beings equal in dignity: pour forth into our hearts a fraternal spirit and inspire in us a dream of renewed encounter, dialogue, justice and peace. Move us to create healthier societies and a more dignified world, a world without hunger, poverty, violence and war. May our hearts be open to all the peoples and nations of the earth. May we recognize the goodness and beauty that you have sown in each of us, and thus forge bonds of unity, common projects, and shared dreams. Amen. |
An adequate understanding of spirituality consists in filling out what we mean by peace, which is much more than the absence of war. Inner peace is closely related to care for ecology and for the common good because, lived out authentically, it is reflected in a balanced lifestyle together with a capacity for wonder which takes us to a deeper understanding of life…. An integral ecology includes taking time to recover a serene harmony with creation, reflecting on our lifestyle and our ideals, and contemplating the Creator who lives among us and surrounds us, whose presence “must not be contrived but found, uncovered”. An integral ecology is also made up of simple daily gestures which break with the logic of violence, exploitation and selfishness …(LS # 225 and 230) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Who We Are
Jim Claffey - NGO Representative of the Congregation of the Mission at the United Nations
Born in a Vincentian parish in Philadelphia, educated and trained by Vincentians, Jim has been connected to St. Vincent de Paul’s charism to evangelize and serve the poor his entire life in different ways both home and abroad. Jim holds certificates in Spanish language fluency and community organizing, and a master’s degree in psychology. Jim worked for many years with the St. Vincent de Paul Society on Long Island, and currently also serves as the coordinator of the Vincentian Family’s International Commission to Promote Systemic Change. Jim lives in New York with his wife Nalini who shares his conviction about the importance of social justice. Jim is recipient of the President’s Medal from St. John’s University and an Honorary Doctorate from Niagara University for social justice work in Panama. |
Gracie Bagdon - Intern
Originally from Akron, Ohio, Gracie has been committed to supporting social justice initiatives across health, housing, disability, and gender equity for over a decade. She is a recent gradate of Columbia University where she earned a Master of Public Health in the Sociomedical Sciences Department. Prior to pursuing her Master's, Gracie attended St. John’s University where she majored in Anthropology and Global Development & Sustainability with minors in Africana Studies, History, and Social Justice Theory. In addition to working with the Congregation, Gracie is passionate about conducting research on topics such as autoimmune diseases, HIV, and bioethics. She also enjoys volunteering as a Lupus Ambassador for the Lupus Foundation of America. |
Gervais Levis Kamwa Kouam, CM- Vincentian priest
Gervais Levis Kamwa Kouam, CM, a Vincentian priest from the Vice Province of Cameroon, has a strong passion for communications, advocacy, and public policy. With Bachelor’s degrees in Philosophy and Theology from Cameroon, he earned a scholarship from the Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission in the US to pursue a master’s degree in communication at St. John’s University, New York, specializing in International Communication. He graduated with distinction in January 2024.
Throughout his studies, Rev. Fr Kouam, immersed himself in various disciplines, including global media governance, public policy, diplomacy, and human rights, gaining practical experience in empirical analyses. He volunteers with the Congregation of the Mission’s Office at the United Nations and previously interned at Maison Catholique De Communication Sociale (MACACOS) in Cameroon, enhancing his skills in press and radio. Fluent in French and English, with a C2 level English certification, he is committed to global communication and social justice advocacy. He is now engaged in a doctoral program in Multi-Sector Communication at St. John’s University.
Gervais Levis Kamwa Kouam, CM, a Vincentian priest from the Vice Province of Cameroon, has a strong passion for communications, advocacy, and public policy. With Bachelor’s degrees in Philosophy and Theology from Cameroon, he earned a scholarship from the Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission in the US to pursue a master’s degree in communication at St. John’s University, New York, specializing in International Communication. He graduated with distinction in January 2024.
Throughout his studies, Rev. Fr Kouam, immersed himself in various disciplines, including global media governance, public policy, diplomacy, and human rights, gaining practical experience in empirical analyses. He volunteers with the Congregation of the Mission’s Office at the United Nations and previously interned at Maison Catholique De Communication Sociale (MACACOS) in Cameroon, enhancing his skills in press and radio. Fluent in French and English, with a C2 level English certification, he is committed to global communication and social justice advocacy. He is now engaged in a doctoral program in Multi-Sector Communication at St. John’s University.
Q and A with Vincentian Representative at the UN
The United Nations is a well-known and important entity, but what defines an NGO?
The designation NGO means a Non-Governmental Organization, the “civil society,” which is the third main body of the UN, along with the Secretariat (departments/offices) and the “Member States,” which are the 193 countries represented there. There are 4,000 registered NGOs at the UN, representing religious groups and other interests.
Do you represent the worldwide Congregation of the Mission, or just a certain Province(s)?
In this position I represent the Congregation of the Mission.
In addition, I work closely with four other Vincentian NGOs, namely the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Daughters of Charity, the AIC (International Association of Charity, formerly Ladies of Charity), and the Sisters of Charity Federation. Together we represent the Vincentian Family at the UN.
In the simplest terms, what is the goal, or mission, of the UN NGO Representative for the Congregation?
The goal is to promote the values and concerns of the Congregation, especially in terms of promoting justice, peace, and the integrity of creation in advancing the well-being of impoverished people around the world. I emphasize the work to end global homelessness, currently the unique common project of the entire Vincentian Family. And so in terms of priority, I am a member of (1) the Working Group to End Homelessness, (2) the Migration Committee’s sub-committee on migrants in vulnerable situations, and (3) the Mining Group, working on human and environmental rights as related to extractive industries.
We realize that your position is complex, but what might a typical workday entail?
The position is complex because the UN is a highly complex organization with baffling bureaucracy and complicated process and practice. Normally the work entails networking with other NGOs and with Member States in order to advance our agenda, studying the issues, preparing reports and position papers, attending meetings, giving oral statements, and sharing relevant information with our members. During the pandemic, with the UN building closed until further notice, everything is done virtually. Therefore, we have Zoom meetings on an almost daily basis—unfortunately a slower way to accomplish the mission.
What is your background and how did you come about serving in this important position?
The confreres of the Province would know my background as a former member. Although I left the community after a difficult and painful three-year discernment process, in all subsequent employment I have tried to advance our charism of evangelizing and serving the poor, and continued great friendship with a number of the confreres. Fortunately, my wife Nalini is totally supportive of Vincentian ministry.
Working on the VinFam International Commission to Promote Systemic Change, which I now chair, has kept me close to our leadership in Rome. It still came as a surprise and an undeserved honor when Father Tomaž Mavrič, CM, and the General Council asked me to take on this role. I intend to represent the CM with the dignity and respect it clearly deserves.
Anything else that you’d like our readers to know?
Clearly, there are many ways to serve the poor. Although most of us would prefer more of a hands-on ministry, with positive results readily seen, there is an important role for the Congregation at the level of the UN. There the global reach of our international community can make itself felt in defense and promotion of poor people everywhere. There, our rich legacy of following St. Vincent in his creative networking and passionate care of the poor, and our charism of seeking practical and effective ways to serve them, can impact a broad audience of Member States, religious and other advocates for transformative change in our world.
The designation NGO means a Non-Governmental Organization, the “civil society,” which is the third main body of the UN, along with the Secretariat (departments/offices) and the “Member States,” which are the 193 countries represented there. There are 4,000 registered NGOs at the UN, representing religious groups and other interests.
Do you represent the worldwide Congregation of the Mission, or just a certain Province(s)?
In this position I represent the Congregation of the Mission.
In addition, I work closely with four other Vincentian NGOs, namely the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Daughters of Charity, the AIC (International Association of Charity, formerly Ladies of Charity), and the Sisters of Charity Federation. Together we represent the Vincentian Family at the UN.
In the simplest terms, what is the goal, or mission, of the UN NGO Representative for the Congregation?
The goal is to promote the values and concerns of the Congregation, especially in terms of promoting justice, peace, and the integrity of creation in advancing the well-being of impoverished people around the world. I emphasize the work to end global homelessness, currently the unique common project of the entire Vincentian Family. And so in terms of priority, I am a member of (1) the Working Group to End Homelessness, (2) the Migration Committee’s sub-committee on migrants in vulnerable situations, and (3) the Mining Group, working on human and environmental rights as related to extractive industries.
We realize that your position is complex, but what might a typical workday entail?
The position is complex because the UN is a highly complex organization with baffling bureaucracy and complicated process and practice. Normally the work entails networking with other NGOs and with Member States in order to advance our agenda, studying the issues, preparing reports and position papers, attending meetings, giving oral statements, and sharing relevant information with our members. During the pandemic, with the UN building closed until further notice, everything is done virtually. Therefore, we have Zoom meetings on an almost daily basis—unfortunately a slower way to accomplish the mission.
What is your background and how did you come about serving in this important position?
The confreres of the Province would know my background as a former member. Although I left the community after a difficult and painful three-year discernment process, in all subsequent employment I have tried to advance our charism of evangelizing and serving the poor, and continued great friendship with a number of the confreres. Fortunately, my wife Nalini is totally supportive of Vincentian ministry.
Working on the VinFam International Commission to Promote Systemic Change, which I now chair, has kept me close to our leadership in Rome. It still came as a surprise and an undeserved honor when Father Tomaž Mavrič, CM, and the General Council asked me to take on this role. I intend to represent the CM with the dignity and respect it clearly deserves.
Anything else that you’d like our readers to know?
Clearly, there are many ways to serve the poor. Although most of us would prefer more of a hands-on ministry, with positive results readily seen, there is an important role for the Congregation at the level of the UN. There the global reach of our international community can make itself felt in defense and promotion of poor people everywhere. There, our rich legacy of following St. Vincent in his creative networking and passionate care of the poor, and our charism of seeking practical and effective ways to serve them, can impact a broad audience of Member States, religious and other advocates for transformative change in our world.