Fédération Internationale des Mouvements Catholiques d'Action Paroissiale

Abbreviation	FIMCAP
Formation	April 22, 1962; 63 years ago (1962-04-22)
Type	INGO
Purpose	International umbrella organization of catholic youth organizations
Headquarters	Antwerp,Belgium
Membership	33 unions
Presidents	Marie Lavall Ruben Leeman
Praeses	Fr. Wilson de Jesus Mendes
Secretary-General	Annelies Van Wolvelaer
Website	www.fimcap.org

TheFIMCAP, which is short forFédération Internationale des Mouvements Catholiques d'Action Paroissiale (French for "International Federation of Catholic Parochial Youth Movements"), is anumbrella organization forCatholic youth organizations. Its 31 member organizations are based in 28 countries. The FIMCAP was founded in 1962 and is recognised as an official Catholic organization by theDicastery for Laity, Family and Life.^[1] FIMCAP is also a full member of theEuropean Youth Forum.^[2]

Already in 1959, French, Belgian and Dutch youth organizations had been working on the project of an international pooling, adopting a joint proposal inLucerne in October 1959 during the National Presidents' Conference of European Movements affiliated to the International Catholic Youth Federation (ICYF).^[3] In 1960, the first delegate conference was held inMunich in the course of the1960 Eucharistic Congress. On 7–8 October 1961 eleven youth associations officially founded FIMCAP inMunich.^[3] The foundation was proclaimed in public on Easter 1962.^[4] Since its recognition through theHoly See in 1976, the FIMCAP is an "International Catholic Organization" (ICO) and registered at the Council of Laity in Rome. Since 2006 the FIMCAP is being recognised as anInternational nongovernmental organization by the Belgian government.^[5]

A previous organization had been set up in 1921 inRome under the name of "International Secretariat of Catholic Youth". The International Secretariat of Catholic Youth was reorganized on 15 September 1948 and renamed to "International Office of Catholic Youth – Bureau international de la jeunesse catholique" and another time reorganized in October 1954 and renamed to "International Federation of Catholic Youth (ICYF)". On 25 April 1968 merged with the "World Federation of Catholic Young Women and Girls" (WFCYWG) to form the "World Federation of Catholic Youth" (WFCY). WFCY ceased to exist in June 1981. Its activities were taken over by FIMCAP, making FIMCAP the biggest international umbrella organization of Catholic youth organizations.^[3]

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• Every three years, FIMCAP organizes theWorld Camp which is an international youth camp. (see:FIMCAP World Camp)
• FIMCAP has its own magazine called LINK Magazine. It is published four times a year.^[6]
• Spiritual activities
• Common visits on theWorld Youth Day
• FIMCAP day on 20 November

Activities in Europe^[7]

• EuroCourse: The Eurocourse is a European training course for experienced leaders which is hosted every year by another European member organisation.
• EuroCamp: The EuroCamp is an exchange activity for young leaders. (see:FIMCAP Eurocamp)
• Roundabouts: Roundabouts are exchanges between local groups from different member organisations of FIMCAP Europe.
• Speeddating seminars: The speeddating seminars are a platform for groups to meet groups from other countries to start exchanges.
• Visits of international groups to activities of member organizations (e.g. to the national camps ofFDF Denmark (see:FDF National Camp),^[8]Chiro Flanders^[9] andKatholische Jungschar Austria or the Ranfttreffen ofJungwacht Blauring Switzerland^[10])
• Thematic projects
• Online campaigns
  • e.g. the online campaign "Vote Youthfully" informing about the2019 European Parliament election.^[11][12]
• Cooperation with theEuropean Fellowship

FIMCAP and its members have defined for themselves the goal that they want to work together politically to identify and advocate the interests of children, adolescents and young adults within church, society and politics. FIMCAP argues that this is necessarily a part of their work, as FIMCAP is an international association of youth organizations for children, adolescents and young adults throughout the world and that as young people, youth organizations and youth work are confronted with different challenges. FIMCAP argues that this involvement is motivated by the Christian beliefs and shared values. FIMCAP argues that in this way it wants to guarantee and improve the quality of the youth work of their member organizations and FIMCAP, and to participate in shaping the future world and society, preserve our planet for future generations, and improve the prospects in general for future generations. FIMCAP sees sustainable and responsible planning and acting, fair social and economic chances, quality education, peace, charity, and solidarity as elementary requirements to achieve this.^[13] Pursuing this purpose, in recent years FIMCAP has defined in particular the following positions:

• Youth mobility: FIMCAP declares that it aims to advocate for improving the mobility of young people and anyone who is involved in youth exchange and activities.^[14] In particular FIMCAP together with theEuropean Youth Forum^[15] calls for changes to make theEU visa code and directive more relevant for youth exchanges and international youth work.^[16][17][18] Additionally, in 2016 FIMCAP joined a joint call of major European youth organizations to preserve the Schengen principles.^[19]
• Recognition of (international and religious) youth work
• Sustainable funding of (international) youth work
• Environmental protection, efforts against climate change, andclimate justice: FIMCAP emphasizes the responsibility to take care of all creation. FIMCAP calls for strong efforts at the individual and societal levels to stopclimate change with its negative consequences. FIMCAP also would raise awareness about the problems already caused by the climate change and calls for solidarity with those affected the most by it.^[20] (See also:Laudato si'.) At its 23rd General Assembly FIMCAP decided to focus for three years on sustainability and countering climate change.^[21]
• Development and intercontinental cooperation: For FIMCAP, cooperation between the different continents on an equal basis is a core principle.^[22] At its 22nd General Assembly FIMCAP decided to focus for three years on advocating for the implementation of theMillennium Development Goals.^[21] Similarly, its 25th General Assembly decided to focus for three years on advocating for the implementation of theSustainable Development Goals. The topic of the General Assembly was "Transforming our World: A child-rights-based approach to the sustainable development goals SDG".^[23]
• Empowerment of women and gender equality: FIMCAP emphasizes the importance of women's empowerment, gender equality and dignity, in facilitating social change. It wants to foster a practical, not only formal legal, equality of women and men.^[22][21]
• Children's Rights: FIMCAP advocates for participation and inclusion of all children in church and society and aims to empower the child to know its rights, as defined by theUN Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC). FIMCAP declares that it wants to create free and safe places for children to play, explore, discover and thereby strengthen their values, and to find answers to their needs, fight against physical and psychological violence against children, and abolish child labour worldwide.^[24]
• Peace and interreligious dialogue: FIMCAP cooperates with Religions for Peace^[25] and the European Interfaith Youth Network.^[26] Together with other European faith-based youth organisations FIMCAP helped to define the needs and benefits in the field of inter-religious dialogue.^[27][28]

FIMCAP Europe

• Diversity, peace and respect: In early 2015 FIMCAP Europe adopted a common statement for diversity, peace and respect. The statement is presented as a reaction to recent incidents in Europe and other parts in the world like the increase of extremist and far right-wing movements, attacks against refugees and against people with a particular religion or origin and violence of self-appointed "religious" fighters.^[29]
• Young refugees: In October 2015 FIMCAP Europe adopted a common statement about "Helping together the children and young people who were forced to flee from war, persecution and hunger".^[30]
• Climate justice andjust transition: FIMCAP Europe is a co-founding member of the allianceGeneration Climate Europe. Within the alliance FIMCAP has initiated a working group on climate justice. The working group, led by FIMCAP volunteers, conducted comprehensive consultations to collect the ideas, proposals and demands of young people on how a transition to a green and sustainable Europe that is fast, comprehensive and socially just at the same time can be made possible. The results were published in the "Young Voices on Climate Justice Report".^{[31][32][33][34][35]}
• European Youth Goals: Taking in the 6th cycle of the EU Youth Dialogue FIMCAP contributed to the development of theEuropean Youth Goals. FIMCAP was also selected to participate at the EU Youth Conferences where the European Youth Goals were adopted as part of the delegation of international youth NGOs.^[36]

Source:^[37]

The highest committee of the FIMCAP is itsGeneral Assembly which comes together every three years. Every member organization sends a delegation to the General Assembly.

The administration and management of the FIMCAP is being handled by theintercontinental presidium which consists of two presidents, a Praeses and a Secretary-General. The presidents should be one man and one woman, but if there are no candidates of one gender the jobs might also be given to two women or two men.

Theintercontinental bureau (ICB) is composed of the Presidium and representatives of the Continental Conferences. It acts as the FIMCAP Board of Directors.

Beneath these globally working establishments, the FIMCAP is also structured into continental conferences, bureaus and presidiums.

All Catholic youth organizations can apply for membership in FIMCAP. The General Assembly of FIMCAP needs to confirm the membership of an applying member organization in a vote. Non-Catholic youth organizations can obtain the status of associate membership in FIMCAP.

At the General Assembly in Switzerland in 2016 FIMCAP further clarified the criteria of eligibility for membership and updated the membership categories. To become aFull Member of FIMCAP an organization needs to fulfill four criteria:

• being a Catholic organization
• organizes activities for children and / or youth
• being youth-led
• having a direct connection to the local level (typically the parish level)

Organizations fulfilling three out of the four criteria can apply for becoming anAffiliate Member of FIMCAP. Organizations only fulfilling two out of the four criteria can apply for becoming aSustaining Member of FIMCAP. Full Members have full voting rights, Affiliate Members limited voting rights.

An organization whose name is written inbold is a founding member.

The presidium of FIMCAP Europe is elected by the delegates of the European member organizations at the EuroConference which takes place every three years. The presidium of FIMCAP Europe consists of four members: three members of the pool of presidents and a spiritual assistant. The elected members of the pool of presidents distribute the responsibilities of the presidium among themselves. These tasks include the representation of FIMCAP Europe in the Intercontinental Bureau Meeting, coordinating activities of FIMCAP Europe, and representing FIMCAP Europe externally. The spiritual assistant consults FIMCAP Europe concerning spiritual and theological issues. The current members of the presidium of FIMCAP Europe are:^[38]

Position	Name	Member organization / Country
Member of the presidium	Roman Sieler	KjGGermany
Member of the presidium	Manuela Hirzel	Jungwacht Blauring  Switzerland
Member of the presidium	Alexandria Hansen	FDFDenmark

Country	Name	Acronym	Status
Romania	Asociația Grupurilor Locale de Tineret[39]	AGLT	Associate
Lithuania	Ateitis		Full
Belgium	Chirojeugd Vlaanderen		Full
Spain /Catalonia	Coordinació Catalana	CCCCCE	Full
Slovakia	eRko – Hnutie kresťanských spoločenstiev detí	eRko	Full
Italy	Forum Oratori Italiani	FOI	Full
Denmark / Schleswig-Holstein	Frivilligt Drenge- og Pige-Forbund	FDF	Associate
the Netherlands	Jong Nederland		Full
Switzerland	Jungwacht Blauring	JuBla	Full
Germany	Katholische junge Gemeinde	KjG	Full
Austria / South Tyrol	Katholische Jungschar		Full
Hungary	Katolikus Ifjúsági Mozgalom	KIM	Observer
Belgium	Fédération Nationale des Patros	Patro	Associate
Georgia	Umbrella		Associate
Slovakia	V.I.A.C. - Institute for Youth Support and Development	VIAC	Observer
Malta	Żgħażagħ Azzjoni Kattolika	ŻAK	Full

Country	Name	Acronym	Status
Burundi	Chiro Burundi		Full
Botswana	Chiro Botswana		Full
South Africa / Lesotho	Chiro South Africa		Full
Ghana	Catholic Youth Organization Ghana	CYO Ghana	Full
Nigeria	Catholic Youth Organization Nigeria	CYO Nigeria	Full
Sierra Leone	Catholic Youth Organisation Sierra Leone	CYO Sierra Leone	Full
DRC	Kiro Congo	KCD	Full
Burundi	Xaveri Burundi		Full
DRC	Xaveri Congo		Full
Rwanda	Xaveri Rwanda		Full
South Africa	Xaveri South Africa		Full
Uganda	Xaveri Uganda		Full

Country	Name	Acronym	Status
Philippines	Chiro Youth Movement Philippines		Full
India	Indian Catholic Youth Movement	ICYM	Full
Sri Lanka	Kithu Dana Pubuduwa		Full
South Korea	Hatsal Youth Ministry Institute

Country	Name	Acronym	Status
Chile	Juventud Parroquial Chilena	JUPACH	Full
Haiti	Kiwo Ayiti		Full
Paraguay	Niños Perseverantes Paraguayos Católico	NIPPAC	Full

Country	Name	Acronym	Status
France	Société de Saint-Vincent de Paul
the Netherlands	Katholieke Jongenclubs
Switzerland	Schweizer Katholische Jungmannschaftsverband
Canada /Quebec	La Centrale del Patros Quebec
France	Facel Paris
Namibia	Namibian Catholic Youth League	NaCaYul

Number[40]	Year	Country	City	Topic	Other information
0 - Founding Meeting	1961 (7 – 8 October)	Germany	Munich	Founding Meeting
1st General Assembly	1963	the Netherlands	Leiden	The bases on which to build parochial organizations for the 17+ age group
2nd General Assembly	1964	Germany	Berlin	The situation of young people between 14 and 17 years old
3rd General Assembly	1965	Switzerland	Luzern	Youth work in the Third World	Two female organizations (Chiromeisjes Vlaanderen and Kiro Congo filles) ask to be member of FIMCAP and are granted membership as the first female member organizations.
4th General Assembly	1966	Belgium	Brussels	Youthwork in postconciliarian times
5th General Assembly	1967	Austria	Vienna	The place and formation of small groups – looking towards the Church of tomorrow
6th General Assembly	1969	Germany	Altenberg	International solidarity
7th General Assembly	1970	UK	London	Our common base, the present and the future in FIMCAP
8th General Assembly	1971	Switzerland	Bad Schönbrunn	Common aim and structures
9th General Assembly	1973	France	Marseille	Our work with the youth of today for tomorrow
10th General Assembly	1975	Italy	Rome	The organisation of FIMCAP	JUPACH was adopted as full member of FIMCAP.[41]
11th General Assembly	1977	Austria	Vienna	Situation of children and youngsters – children's rights
12th General Assembly	1979	Switzerland	Luzern	The parish
13th General Assembly	1981	UK	West Wickham	Relations between the European federations and those of the developing countries
14th General Assembly	1983	France	Aix en Provence	International Year of Youth – participation, peace and development
15th General Assembly	1986	Belgium	Westmalle
16th General Assembly	1989	Belgium	Ryckevelde,Bruges	Living in an intercultural world
17th General Assembly	1992	Belgium	Bruges	Foreigners
18th General Assembly	1995	Switzerland	Randa
19th General Assembly	1998	South Africa	Botha's hill	Youth and sexuality
20th General Assembly	2001	Ghana	Accra	Young people, protagonists of peace	Ateitis becomes a full member of Fimcap.
21st General Assembly	2004	Spain	Barcelona	Young people in a globalizing world
22nd General Assembly	2007	Italy	Assisi	Millennium Development Goals
23rd General Assembly	2010	Germany	Munich[42]	Climate change	CYO Nigeria was admitted as full member.
24th General Assembly	2013	Slovakia[43]	Modra	Children's Rights	AGLT was admitted as Associate member. It is the first non-Christian organization becoming a member of FIMCAP. The General Assembly has adopted a Declaration on "enhancing mobility of young people".
25th General Assembly	2016	Switzerland	Melchtal OW[44]	A child rights-based approach to the sustainable development goals (SDGs)[45]	Hatsal becomes a member of FIMCAP.
26th General Assembly	2019	Belgium	Westmalle	The value of play[46][47][48]	Chiro Botswana was admitted a full member of FIMCAP.
27th General Assembly	2023	Germany	Gernsheim	Solidarity	Patro & Umbrella became associate members of FIMCAP

Name	Member organization / Country	Time in office
Ruben Leeman	ChiroBelgium	2019-2025
Marie Lavall	KjGGermany	2019-2025
Lourdes B. Galeano Cuellar	NIPPACParaguay	2016-2019
James Dsouza	ICYMIndia	2016-2019
Annette Wahle	KjGGermany	2013-2016
Liese Vandenheede	ChiroBelgium	2013-2016
Lea Sedlmayr	KjGGermany	2010-2013
Marvic Debono	ŻAKMalta	2010-2013
Holger Witting	KjGGermany	2007-2010
Carme Carrion i. Ribas[49]	CCCCCECatalonia	2001-2004
Olivier Heyen[50]	ChiroBelgium	1998-2001

Time in office	Member of the presidium	Member organization / Country	Member of the presidium	Member organization / Country	Member of the presidium	Member organization / Country	Spiritual assistant	Member organization / Country
2023-2025	Fidelis Stehle	KjGGermany	Caspar Coster / Jeppe Amstrup	FDFDenmark /FDFDenmark	Kim Geißler	KjGGermany	Vacant
Time in office	Member of the presidium	Member organization / Country	Member of the presidium	Member organization / Country	Member of the presidium	Member organization / Country	Spiritual assistant	Member organization / Country
2021-2023	Roman Sieler	KjGGermany	Manuela Hirzel	Jungwacht Blauring  Switzerland	Alexandria Hansen	FDFDenmark	Vacant
2017-2021[51]	Bernd Hirschberger	KjGGermany	Matthias Schneider	KjGGermany	Stan Driesens	ChiroBelgium	Fr Reuben Gauci	ŻAKMalta
Time in office	President	Member organization / Country	Vice-president	Member organization / Country	Activity coordinator	Member organization / Country	Spiritual assistant	Member organization / Country
2014-2017	vacant	-	Bernd Hirschberger	KjGGermany	Veronika Švitková	eRkoSlovakia	Fr Reuben Gauci	ŻAKMalta
Time in office	President	Member organization / Country	Vice-president	Member organization / Country	Secretary	Member organization / Country	Spiritual assistant	Member organization / Country
2011-2014	Magdalena Lewis	KjGGermany /FDFDenmark	Juraj Králik	eRkoSlovakia	Vincienne Debono	ŻAKMalta	Fr Reuben Gauci	ŻAKMalta
2008-2011	Michele Lettieri	FOIItaly	Coen Van Kuijk	Jong NederlandNetherlands	Marah Köberle	KjGGermany	Fr. Josep Lluís Calvís	CCCCCECatalonia
2005-2008	Jürgen Leuser	KjGGermany	Carla Acerbi	FOIItaly

Over the years the statutes of FIMCAP Europe have been adapted and the profiles and names of the different positions in the presidium have been changed. Until the pool of presidents was introduced at the EuroConference in Malta in 2017 the presidium of FIMCAP Europe consisted of a president, a vice-president, an activity coordinator and a spiritual assistant. The president was responsible for the representation of FIMCAP Europe in the ICB, the vice-president for the external representation of FIMCAP Europe, the activity coordinator for coordinating the activities of FIMCAP Europe and helping the member organizations with the preparations. The role of the activity coordinator had been introduced at the EuroConference in Switzerland in 2014. It replaced the position of a secretary of FIMCAP Europe.^[52]

Time in office	President	Member organization / Country	Vice-president	Member organization / Country	Secretary	Member organization / Country	Spiritual assistant	Member organization / Country
2010-2013[53]	Jomon Thomas	Indian Catholic Youth MovementIndia	Sameera Gayantha Warnakulasuriya	Kithu Dana PubuduwaSri Lanka	Marie Gutierrez	Chiro PhilippinesPhilippines	Fr Ranjana Kavithre	Indian Catholic Youth MovementIndia

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