Délégation catholique pour la coopération

The Délégation catholique pour la coopération (DCC) is a French Catholic non-governmental organisation dedicated to international solidarity volunteering. Founded in 1967 at the request of the French public authorities, it was entrusted to the French Bishops' Conference and religious congregations to organise the sending of cooperants on behalf of the Church in France. It is the official international volunteering service of the Church in France, operating under the umbrella of the Conférence des évêques de France within the 'Service national de la mission universelle de l'Église'. The DCC sends volunteers of all backgrounds — Catholic or not, of any age, training, or path — on solidarity missions lasting from 3 months to 2 years. Its volunteers work in a wide range of fields, with project management (42%), social work (29%), teaching (10%), medical (9%), engineering (5%), and rural development (4%) being the most common. The organisation is present in more than 50 countries and accompanies nearly 500 volunteers each year. Since its founding, over 15,000 people have departed through its programmes. As an association loi de 1901 recognised as being of public utility, the DCC is approved by the French state for sending international solidarity volunteers and for hosting civic service volunteers. It is a member of CLONG-Volontariat, Coordination SUD, and a founding member of France Volontaires. It also belongs to the collegiality of CCFD-Terre solidaire. Its governance includes a 23-member board of directors, a salaried team of 19, around 15 volunteers at headquarters, 90 trainers, 55 country desk officers, and 50 diocesan correspondents. The DCC's mission is rooted in Gospel values and the Church's preferential option for the poor. It works with local partners — parishes, congregations, and associations recognised by local episcopates — to support development projects that respect local dynamics. The spiritual dimension is integral: volunteers are sent by the Church in France to local Churches that have expressed a need, and they are offered a spiritual journey including prayer, retreats, and reflection throughout their service. In 2017, Pope Francis addressed a DCC delegation on its 50th anniversary, praising its work to 'build bridges between people and peoples.'

The Délégation catholique pour la coopération (DCC) was founded in 1967, following the creation in 1966 of the Service National en Coopération (CSN) in France. Numerous religious congregations had asked the state to detach CSN cooperants to support development actions of their missions worldwide. In 1967, the public authorities asked the French bishops and congregations to organise the sending of cooperants on behalf of the Church of France. The episcopate thus created a service charged, in its name, with organising cooperation. In 1968, for the first time, the DCC sent 700 volunteers, mainly to Africa. Since that date, 15,000 people have departed through its intermediary. In 1970, the DCC began sending civilians; the first civilians were initially the wives of cooperants, but their number grew year by year at the request of partners who wished to receive women for certain missions. In 1978, the DCC participated in the creation of the Comité de liaison des organisations non gouvernementales (ONG) de volontariat (CLONG-Volontariat), a collective bringing together the main volunteer-sending associations in development aid. In 1993, the DCC created the network of returning volunteers. In 1995, the decree on civil volunteering was adopted. In 2001-2002, national service was abolished, and thereafter all DCC volunteers were civilians. In 2004, the DCC obtained the approval of the Comité de la Charte for donations in confidence. In 2005, a new law was adopted creating the status of volunteer for international solidarity. In 2010, the DCC launched 6-month solidarity missions. In 2017, it launched the international reciprocity volunteering programme, hosting young foreign volunteers on civic service missions in France. On 25 February 2017, during the DCC's 50th anniversary, Pope Francis addressed a DCC delegation, paying tribute to the initiative and urging its members to 'build bridges between people and between peoples, in a world where so many walls are still being raised out of fear of others.' The DCC is an association loi de 1901, recognised as being of public utility and approved as a popular education association. Its board of directors has 23 members, 4 of whom are ex officio, the others coming from allied organisations (Catholic education, Scouts and Guides of France, female and male congregations, former volunteers, etc.). It meets four times a year. At the DCC headquarters, a team of about fifteen volunteers supports the administrative work of the salaried team (19 people). The animation of the former volunteers' network and the link with the associative and diocesan network is ensured by 50 diocesan correspondents, all former volunteers. Recruitment and training are led by 90 trainers; the monitoring of volunteers in the field and relations with southern partners are carried out by a team of 55 desk officers, each responsible for monitoring one country. Trainers and desk officers are former volunteers or former humanitarian expatriates or religious missionaries, with field experience and experience in accompanying adults. A 'spi' commission composed of volunteers, permanent staff, and the chaplain animates and develops the DCC's spiritual proposal at the different stages of volunteering. In about ten countries, a DCC correspondent (religious, expatriate, etc.) facilitates the integration of volunteers. The association has 500 members. Within the Conférence des évêques de France, the DCC is part of the 'Service national de la mission universelle de l'Église'. It is approved by the state for sending international solidarity volunteers and hosting civic service volunteers, and is a member of the Comité de liaison des ONG de volontariat and Coordination SUD. It is also a founding member of France Volontaires and a member of the collegiality of CCFD-Terre solidaire.

• 2017

  Launch of the international reciprocity volunteering programme; 50th anniversary addressed by Pope Francis.

• 2010

  Launch of 6-month solidarity missions.

• 2005

  New law creates the status of volunteer for international solidarity.

• 2004

  DCC obtains approval from the Comité de la Charte for donations in confidence.

• 2001

  Abolition of national service; all DCC volunteers become civilians.

• 1995

  Adoption of the decree on civil volunteering.

• 1993

  Creation of the network of returning volunteers.

• 1978

  DCC participates in the creation of CLONG-Volontariat.

• 1970

  DCC begins sending civilians, initially wives of cooperants.

• 1968

  First sending of 700 volunteers, mainly to Africa.

• 1967

  Creation of the DCC by the French episcopate at the request of public authorities.

• 1966

  Creation in France of the Service National en Coopération (CSN).

The DCC positions itself as the Catholic Church's volunteering service in France, open to all, with a preferential option for the poor and a commitment to respecting local development dynamics.

• Volontariat de solidarité internationale (VSI)

  Long-term volunteering missions of 1 to 2 years in development projects.

• Missions solidaires de 6 mois

  Short-term solidarity missions launched in 2010.

• Volontariat international de réciprocité

  Programme launched in 2017 hosting young foreign volunteers in France for civic service.

1. 1La DCC - Partir en volontariat de solidarité internationaleladcc.org
2. 2La proposition spirituelle - La DCCladcc.org
3. 3Délégation catholique pour la coopération - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Délégation catholique pour la coopération - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org