Jairo alla Simamba Community School di Siavonga, in Zambia ©Eugenio Cinti Luciani

Since 1954 we have been implementing numerous projects throughout the world.
In the lasts 30 years we have been focussing on Africa, the Balkans and the Middle East.
The aim of every activity implemented abroad as well as in Italy is to trigger the type of change that will lead to a better and fairer future for all.
CELIM manages to obtain tangible results because it sets concrete objectives; every time each one is achieved, the vision of a different world appears ever more true. We deal with many issues because the needs are not all the same. We care deeply about the people living in the environments in which we operate, and we strive to achieve an integral development.
This is our impact to change, this is the spirit with which we live it.

Education and training

People first

At the S. Kizito Nursery School Lusitu, parents too follow literacy lessons @Paolo Tarantini

Education is a right on which citizenship, democracy, equality and freedom are based. This is why we devote ourselves to supplying literacy activities for children and adults and to setting up schools and vocational training centres where these facilities and these services are either lacking or inadequate.
As part of our most recent activities we supported 17 community schools in Zambia by distributing books and school materials, refurbishing 5 buildings and training 124 teachers.

  • Nelson Mandela
  • Education is the most powerful weapon to change the world.

Education opens the mind and encourages us, here as elsewhere, to adopt changes in our lifestyle that point towards a fairer world: for this reason in Italy we organize educational meetings with adults and for schools of all type and level.
Lastly, professional training offers new generations the chance to build a future in their homeland, without being forced to migrate in the hope of finding better economic and social life conditions. This is why our projects always focus also on training their beneficiaries.

  • 17

    vocational training centres built or extended in Africa and in the Balkans

  • 28

    community schools assisted in Zambia and Mozambique

  • 34,815

    children and young people have taken part in educational courses in Italy since 1982

  • 4,414

    adults trained in Italy, Africa and the Balkans since 2013

Energy and environment

The Earth, a resource for all

Solar panels installed in a structure of agritourism, which has become Convivium Slow Food in Albania

In recent years, in collaboration with qualified professionals, local authorities, universities and companies in this sector, we have launched activities aimed at promoting and putting into practice renewable energy, such as training, employment and territory safeguard opportunities.
In Italy and in the world, we motivate people to adopt sustainable behaviours aimed at environmental conservation, biodiversity protection and waste reduction and management, alongside activities aimed at improving the economic conditions of the population.

  • African proverb
  • The Earth was not given to us by our ancestors, it was given on loan by our children.

An example? In Albania we helped promote the use of renewable energy through the launch of professional courses and workshops, the installation of plants for the benefit of social enterprises, the opening of Technology Transfer points and the creation of a Green Energy Park, which won an award as one of the best innovative ideas in the Balkans at the 2012 European Solar Days.

  • 75

    renewable energy plants installed in Africa and in the Balkans

  • 624,130

    trees planted and 47,000 seedlings in nurseries in Africa since 2010

  • 233

    tonnes of waste material recycled in Africa and in the Balkans since 2012

  • 1,071,587

    people made aware of environmental issues in Italy, Africa and the Balkans since 2010

Nutrition and health

Appetite comes (not) with eating

«Dona un soRiso» campaign in aid of family farming

Food safety, good health and hygiene life conditions and access to medical healthcare are fundamental. On an empty stomach any talk on human development is futile: for this reason we have always paid particular attention to the agricultural development of communities, to guarantee that their immediate needs are satisfied, to enable them to achieve food self-sufficiency, to improve family economy.

  • Carlo Petrini
  • To change the world we must start from food.

Waste reduction and management activities, interventions aimed at fighting malnutrition and supporting hospital facilities complete the picture. Like the Mtendere Mission Hospital: CELIM continues to support the growth of this structure which, from a small surgery, has become a point of reference for more than 60,000 people.

  • 77,843

    women involved in horticulture and nutrition education activities

  • 6

    healthcare facilities and nutrition centres built or refurbished in Africa

  • 70

    classes involved in health education courses in Milan since 2010

  • 24,285

    seeds kit distributed in Africa in the last 2 years

Microcredit and work

A future for everyone

Agricultural House built in Mozambique: here the farmers and breeders of Mopeia can buy and sell their products

We supply communities with technical and financial help to start, manage and develop income-generating micro-initiatives.
Training and supplying micro-loans helps to lift so-called “unbankable” individuals out of poverty and marginalization through the set-up of small businesses.

  • Pope Francis
  • Having a job is a matter of justice.

Some projects have led to the creation of veritable microcredit organizations: the ‘Association Qelim KosovӪ, created in Kosovo in 2006, is still operating; the ‘Empowerment Micro Finance Institution (EMFI) LTD, created in Zambia in 2008, was subsequently taken over by a Zambian microfinance institution.

  • 14,569

    people have received micro-loans in Africa and the Balkans since 2006

  • 956

    income-generating activities created in Africa and the Balkans since 2006

  • 23,416

    small farmers and fishermen supported in Africa and the Balkans since 2006

  • 1,492

    return migrants helped to find work

Sustainable tourism

Traveling, a pleasure we all share

We enhance the tourism assets of some places by building accommodation aimed at developing and strengthening the activities of communities, with no adverse impact on the surrounding environment. Just like Olga’s – the Italian Corner, a restaurant and lodge near the world-known waterfalls in Livingstone (Zambia), that has been receiving the Certificate of Excellence from Tripadvisor for many years. Today the structure is no longer managed by us, but its profits keep supporting a vocational training Centre for young people living in difficult conditions.

  • African proverb
  • If you want to walk fast walk on your own, if you want to go far walk with others.

We support the so-called ecotourism by backing experiences and realities that promote environment and biodiversity knowledge.
We work with tour operators that share our ethical principles, in order to raise awareness in travellers and make them more responsible.

  • 16

    fields of knowledge organized in Albania, Zambia and Mozambique

  • 3

    hospitality facilities created in Africa

  • 1,486

    young people trained on tourist and hotel topics within the tourist structures created

  • 6

    info point for tourists set in Albania in the last 2 years

Tourist facilities in Zambia and Mozambique, ecomuseum itineraries in Albania, fields of knowledge for responsible tourists
Tourist facilities in Zambia and Mozambique, ecomuseum itineraries in Albania, fields of knowledge for responsible tourists
Tourist facilities in Zambia and Mozambique, ecomuseum itineraries in Albania, fields of knowledge for responsible tourists
Tourist facilities in Zambia and Mozambique, ecomuseum itineraries in Albania, fields of knowledge for responsible tourists
Tourist facilities in Zambia and Mozambique, ecomuseum itineraries in Albania, fields of knowledge for responsible tourists
Tourist facilities in Zambia and Mozambique, ecomuseum itineraries in Albania, fields of knowledge for responsible tourists
Tourist facilities in Zambia and Mozambique, ecomuseum itineraries in Albania, fields of knowledge for responsible tourists
Tourist facilities in Zambia and Mozambique, ecomuseum itineraries in Albania, fields of knowledge for responsible tourists
Tourist facilities in Zambia and Mozambique, ecomuseum itineraries in Albania, fields of knowledge for responsible tourists