Action de Carême

Action de Carême (German: Fastenopfer) is a Swiss Catholic development and solidarity organisation founded in 1961 in Lucerne by Meinrad Hengartner. Its vision is a just world without hunger, in which the right to food is realised and all people can live in dignity. The organisation works through two main pillars: awareness-raising and education in Switzerland, and long-term development projects in the Global South. It supports communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America through 12 national programmes and nearly 350 long-term projects, implemented in partnership with local organisations. In 2023, its projects reached approximately 2.7 million people, improving their access to food and helping them build more promising futures. Action de Carême is a non-profit foundation governed by a foundation council and administered by a director. The president of the foundation council is a member of the Swiss Bishops' Conference. Its central office is in Lucerne, with regional offices in Lausanne and Lugano. The organisation is known for its annual ecumenical Lenten campaign, organised together with Pain pour le prochain (PPP), a similar organisation of the Reformed Churches, to raise awareness of North-South solidarity and collect donations for aid projects. It has played a role in founding several information and awareness organisations, including the Infosud news agency, the Artlink network, the ecumenical service Films pour un seul monde, the Fribourg International Film Festival, the Association romande des Magasins du Monde, and the Swiss branch of the Max Havelaar fair-trade association. It is also a member of several political associations promoting responsible and solidarity-based development policies.

Action de Carême was founded in 1961 in Lucerne by Meinrad Hengartner. From its beginnings, it collaborated with Pain pour le prochain (PPP), a similar organisation of the Reformed Churches, to conduct an annual ecumenical campaign during Lent. This campaign aimed to raise awareness among the Swiss population about North-South solidarity and to collect donations to finance aid projects. Over the decades, the organisation expanded its work to support long-term development projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America, working in partnership with local organisations. It also played a role in founding several information and awareness organisations, such as the Infosud news agency, the Artlink network, the ecumenical service Films pour un seul monde, the Fribourg International Film Festival, the Association romande des Magasins du Monde, and the Swiss branch of the Max Havelaar fair-trade association. Today, Action de Carême operates through 12 national programmes and supports nearly 350 long-term projects. In 2023, its projects reached approximately 2.7 million people, improving their access to food and helping them build better lives. The organisation remains a non-profit foundation based in Lucerne, with regional offices in Lausanne and Lugano, and continues its dual mission of awareness-raising in Switzerland and project management in the Global South.

• 2023

  Projects reached approximately 2.7 million people, improving their access to food.

• 1961

  Founded in Lucerne by Meinrad Hengartner.

Catholic humanitarian and development organisation focused on food security, dignity and North-South solidarity.

Product categories. Development projects · Awareness campaigns · Lenten campaign · Donations · Advocacy

1. 1Action de Carême - Éliminer la faim ensembleactiondecareme.ch
2. 2Action de Carêmefr.wikipedia.org
3. 3Action de Carêmewikidata.org