Rome, Italy. With the objective of ‘Empowering the participants to procure funds for the apostolate using scientific methodology, the Project Management and Fundraising Training took place at Claretianum, Rome from 23rd to 27th of April 2019. There were 52 participants at the Training, arriving from 19 countries around the globe. This training is a joint venture of three training organizations, namely Claretianum, Rome, Proclade Internazionale Onlus, Rome and Mission Project Service, USA.
On the first day Fr. Xabier Larrañaga CMF, the President of Claretianum welcomed the participants. The main trainers were Mr. Thomas Gerhards (Germany), Fr. Lord Winner CMF (Rome) and Mr. Percy Patrick (Scotland). Ms. Melissa Keating of Mission Project Service, USA and Fr. George Lanithottam CMF of Claretianum moderated the sessions. Guest lectures were also provided by Fr. George Menamparambil, the General Mission Procurator of the Salesians, Fr. Romuald Uzabumwana SAC, Mr. Andrea Curreri and Dr. Glenda Antonio from the Philippines. The inputs by representatives of Funding Agencies such as Manos Unidas, Italian Episcopal Conference, Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund, Sisters of St. Peter Claver and Spring Rain Global were well received by the participants.
The whole training was conducted in a paperless manner using google drive-based sharing of resources. Training sessions, interface with donors, proposal writing practice and business dinner were different methods used during the training. One of the participants, Sr. Sheeja Kolacherril, General Councillor of the Sisters of Mercy of The Holy Cross, based in Switzerland expressed that , ‘The training intelligently coined together innovative facts, data and information that will help us in the general team to look at the various possibilities in planning for our Congregation in the future’. Mr. Ramon Alvarez, the representative for Asia in Manos Unidas exclaimed that, ‘It is good for us to explain to the partner agencies our objectives, project guidelines, areas of actions, and issues that we are interested in today for funding”.
On the last final day Certificates were handed over to the participants by Fr. Joseba Kamiruaga CMF, the Secretary General of the Claretian Congregation and Fr. Xabier Larrañaga CMF of Claretianum. With more clarity on the project funding landscape and improved skills in proposal writing, the participants departed with joy of living and learning together for five resource filled days.
