Who we are
Lunaria is a non-profit, non-confessional and independent association, free from political parties’ control and influence. It was founded in 1992 and it carries out research, training, and communication activities on fair economy and third sector, migrations and globalisation. It promotes initiatives concerning international volunteering and youth policies. Through its activities Lunaria experiments new forms of active participation and social transformation inspired by the principles of justice and social solidarity, democratic participation to community life, guarantee of civil, social and human rights in the national and international context.
Democracy, active participation, promotion of the voluntary commitment and of differences- starting from gender differences-, guarantee of the organisation’s staff rights, transparency in the relations with external subjects: these are the principles the association follows in its everyday life.
International volunteering. Every year Lunaria sends out about 400 young Italians in international voluntary work camps and welcomes more or less the same number of foreign volunteers in Italy. This is possible thanks to the co-operation with organisations members of the “Alliance of the European Voluntary Service Organisations”, a network which unites more than 50 associations promoting international youth volunteering in Europe, Asia, North Africa and America. Lunaria is an effective member of this network, with many local Italian bodies and associations supporting and sustaining the realisation of volunteering projects in their own local area. Moreover, in the last years the commitment for the promotion of mid- and long-term volunteering and the European Voluntary Service has been reinforced.
Migrations. Since 1996 Lunaria promotes research, information, and campaigns on the subject of migrations, and works in schools to prevent and fight racism. Recognition of the right of active and passive vote to foreigners, guarantee of civil, social and political citizenship rights, permanent regularisation for foreign citizens living in Italy, the closing down of the “centri di permanenza temporanea” instituted by law 40/98 are among the main objectives of latest years’ campaigns.
Alternative economy and the third sector. Since November 1995, Lunaria has been carrying out an intense activity of research, information and documentation on the themes of social economy, ethical finance, and third sector, focussing on the labour relationships which characterize it. The experience acquired throughout the years has enabled us to carry out new initiatives: the opening of a basic consulting service for NGOs and the organisation of training courses for young graduates, professionals, social and community workers who want to get a more accurate knowledge of the third sector and forms of alternative economics.
Youth Policies: youth information. Since 2004, Lunaria has been co-operating with the Municipality and Province of Venice, coordinating the network of Informagiovani (Youth Information Centres). Moreover, Lunaria manages the Informagiovani Centre in Mestre, the mainland part of the city of Venice. The main objective of this project is to rethink the role of information for youngsters as an instrument for the promotion of participation and active citizenship.
Sbilanciamoci. Since 2000, Lunaria, together with 30 organisations of the civil society, is promoting the “Sbilanciamoci” campaign. The campaign analyses the government’s decisions relating to the State’s budget and financial bill and how resources are there employed. The areas of interest are, obviously, the ones concerning the issues which are important to the organisations of civil society - i.e. peace, international relations, third sector, welfare, environment and labour – and offers alternatives in the expenditure policies. Analysis and proposals are presented in every report.
Globalisation and movements. Since 2000, besides the research carried out in the specific areas of interest, Lunaria has promoted initiatives and in-depth analysis on what we call “neo-liberal globalisation” and on its opposite: the creation of trans-national networks among subjects whose final aim is to oppose the global market and offer an alternative idea of development.
Alternative information. The development of instruments of alternative information and social communication has always characterized the activities of the association. In 1992 Lunaria has supported the creation of “Onde Lunghe”, a magazine on peace events and environmental, solidarity and peace movements. The association has also worked on Extra, the weekly supplement of “Il Manifesto”- an Italian national left-wing newspaper , preparing the column “Eppur si muove”: a section dedicated to the activities of the different movements in Italy. In 1998 Lunaria has contributed to the birth of “Carta”, a weekly magazine, with which we still cooperate, focussing on different movements’ life. These co-operations go hand in hand with the production of informative documents and leaflets on specific fields of study.
Our headquarters are in via Buonarroti 39, 00186 Rome. Tel: +39 06 8841880 Fax: +39 068841859
e-mail: lunaria@lunaria.org
Democracy, active participation, promotion of the voluntary commitment and of differences- starting from gender differences-, guarantee of the organisation’s staff rights, transparency in the relations with external subjects: these are the principles the association follows in its everyday life.
International volunteering. Every year Lunaria sends out about 400 young Italians in international voluntary work camps and welcomes more or less the same number of foreign volunteers in Italy. This is possible thanks to the co-operation with organisations members of the “Alliance of the European Voluntary Service Organisations”, a network which unites more than 50 associations promoting international youth volunteering in Europe, Asia, North Africa and America. Lunaria is an effective member of this network, with many local Italian bodies and associations supporting and sustaining the realisation of volunteering projects in their own local area. Moreover, in the last years the commitment for the promotion of mid- and long-term volunteering and the European Voluntary Service has been reinforced.
Migrations. Since 1996 Lunaria promotes research, information, and campaigns on the subject of migrations, and works in schools to prevent and fight racism. Recognition of the right of active and passive vote to foreigners, guarantee of civil, social and political citizenship rights, permanent regularisation for foreign citizens living in Italy, the closing down of the “centri di permanenza temporanea” instituted by law 40/98 are among the main objectives of latest years’ campaigns.
Alternative economy and the third sector. Since November 1995, Lunaria has been carrying out an intense activity of research, information and documentation on the themes of social economy, ethical finance, and third sector, focussing on the labour relationships which characterize it. The experience acquired throughout the years has enabled us to carry out new initiatives: the opening of a basic consulting service for NGOs and the organisation of training courses for young graduates, professionals, social and community workers who want to get a more accurate knowledge of the third sector and forms of alternative economics.
Youth Policies: youth information. Since 2004, Lunaria has been co-operating with the Municipality and Province of Venice, coordinating the network of Informagiovani (Youth Information Centres). Moreover, Lunaria manages the Informagiovani Centre in Mestre, the mainland part of the city of Venice. The main objective of this project is to rethink the role of information for youngsters as an instrument for the promotion of participation and active citizenship.
Sbilanciamoci. Since 2000, Lunaria, together with 30 organisations of the civil society, is promoting the “Sbilanciamoci” campaign. The campaign analyses the government’s decisions relating to the State’s budget and financial bill and how resources are there employed. The areas of interest are, obviously, the ones concerning the issues which are important to the organisations of civil society - i.e. peace, international relations, third sector, welfare, environment and labour – and offers alternatives in the expenditure policies. Analysis and proposals are presented in every report.
Globalisation and movements. Since 2000, besides the research carried out in the specific areas of interest, Lunaria has promoted initiatives and in-depth analysis on what we call “neo-liberal globalisation” and on its opposite: the creation of trans-national networks among subjects whose final aim is to oppose the global market and offer an alternative idea of development.
Alternative information. The development of instruments of alternative information and social communication has always characterized the activities of the association. In 1992 Lunaria has supported the creation of “Onde Lunghe”, a magazine on peace events and environmental, solidarity and peace movements. The association has also worked on Extra, the weekly supplement of “Il Manifesto”- an Italian national left-wing newspaper , preparing the column “Eppur si muove”: a section dedicated to the activities of the different movements in Italy. In 1998 Lunaria has contributed to the birth of “Carta”, a weekly magazine, with which we still cooperate, focussing on different movements’ life. These co-operations go hand in hand with the production of informative documents and leaflets on specific fields of study.
Our headquarters are in via Buonarroti 39, 00186 Rome. Tel: +39 06 8841880 Fax: +39 068841859
e-mail: lunaria@lunaria.org