En - Dr. José Oscar Henao Monje Paper

8/11/2019 En - Dr. Jos Oscar Henao Monje Paper

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PAPER: THE FAMILY IN THE REHABILITATION OF THE SOCIAL FABRIC AND

THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLANNING AND STABILISATION PROCESSES IN LATINAMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

By:Jos Oscar Henao MonjeDevelopment OfficerNational Social Ministry Secretariat (SNPS)/ Caritas Colombia

"Poverty in the world is a scandal. In a world where there is so much wealth, somany resources to feed everyone, it is unfathomable that there are so manyhungry children, that there are so many children without an education, so manypoor persons. Poverty today is a cry." Pope Francis I1

In this document I would like to develop four points: 1) identify the elements that currently affectfamilies in the implementation of the current development model; 2) present elements regardinghow the family plays a leading role in the construction of a new development model; 3) identifyvalues, practices and difficulties that contribute to or affect this process; and finally; 4) sharepastoral workers' challenges in supporting the family.

It is common knowledge that the family has suffered more than other institutions from the dramaticchanges affecting society and culture. We say that the family is being destroyed, is coming to

and end and is in crisis, but this is none other than the outcome of the absence of God in humanhearts, which is reflected in the first community that is the family2.

Starting from the previous reflection, I am thinking about the current context of Latin America andthe Caribbean, which is dealing with various situations due to the implementation of a consumptionmodel, a crisis model and a neoliberal model. I will primarily investigate the impact of employmenton families.

On a daily basis, local, national and international media influence public opinion via not veryoptimistic news murder, kidnapping, extortion, displacement (in some countries), political and

economic crisis, unemployment, among otherswhich are the basis of the information that reachesour families every day. Yet we are still considered as emerging economies. Emerging economies?This type of economy can be primarily driven by optimism, dynamism, stabilisation, consumption,savings and mainly by accumulation.

Every year technical concepts are issued regarding advances and macroeconomic and growth trendsconnected with the various economic, social, cultural and environmental activities we carry out ineach of our countries (which largely relate to the consumption of goods and services). Economicentities considered as benchmarks (IMF, ECLAC, United States Federal Reserve, Inter-AmericanDevelopment Bank, among others) are optimistic about them. Perhaps the optimism is connectedwith the generation of credit (external debt), or maybe we contribute to economic growth throughthe export of commodities, which thanks to the "perfect competition" of foreign investment, are

imported via consumption of goods and services in our emerging countries, thus establishing theglobal economic crisis via aggregate supply and private investment.

1 Caritas Internationalis Development. (S.f.). Retrieved from: http://www.caritas.org/what-we-do/development/2Missionary portal. Obras misionales pontificias. Juventud Misionera en Costa Rica. (S.f.). PDF document:Familia Cristina, Familia Misionera. (p.1). Retrieved from:http://www.portalmisionero.com/familiacristiana.pdf


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In developing the first point I will provide statistical elements that enable observation of the state ofgrowth and development in Latin America and the Caribbean via the current model, includinganalysis of official information from quantitative and monitoring information systems (ECLAC,IMF, Inter-American Development Bank, etc.). This information will enable identification of thecommonly mentioned growth factors regarding our countries, and sharing of elements in order toknow how this "development" affects urban and rural families.

Economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean while falling by 2.4% in 2012 and 2.1% in2013, is showing some signs of recovery, which coincides with a high degree of financialvolatility3. Some macroeconomic experts define this as positive, which is reflected in per capitaGDP of US$9,314 at 2013 prices. While some countries have registered growth rates above those of

the region (Colombia: 4%), its distribution per capita was lower than the region4US$7,560 per

capita GDP at current prices (not including inflation).

In accordance with the above, it is impossible to state that a country's growth or its contribution bycountry to Gross Domestic Product is equally distributed among the total population (GDP percapita), as this requires correlation of other variables such as distribution of wealth (Gini), whichreveals exactly the opposite.

Later on I will present the situation by country grouped into two geographical areas CentralAmerica and the Caribbean, and South America.

1- Map of GNI (GDP) per capita in Central America and the Caribbean. Taken from the World Bank

Central American

countriesUS$ per capita

2013Central American

countriesUS$ per capita 2013

Mexico $ 9,940 Haiti $ 810

Guatemala $ 3,340 Dominican Republic $ 5,620

Belize $ 4,660 Puerto Rico $ 18,080

El Salvador $ 3,720 Saint Kitts and Nevis $ 13,460

3 United Nations, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean ECLAC. (29 November2013). Documento Informativo, Balance Preliminar de las Economas de Amrica Latina y el Caribe 2013. (p.9). Retrieved from:http://www.cepal.org/publicaciones/xml/2/51822/balancepreliminar2013docinf.pdf.4National Business Association of Colombia - ANDI (December 2013). Informe Balance 2013 y Perspectivas2014. (p. 1). Retrieved from: http://www.andi.com.co/Archivos/file/ANDI%20-%20Balance%202013%20y%20perspectivas%202014.pdf
http://www.cepal.org/publicaciones/xml/2/51822/balancepreliminar2013docinf.pdfhttp://www.cepal.org/publicaciones/xml/2/51822/balancepreliminar2013docinf.pdf


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Honduras $ 2,180Antigua and

Barbuda$ 12,910

Nicaragua $ 1,780 Dominica $ 6,760

Costa Rica $ 9,550 Saint Lucia $ 7,090

Panama $ 10,700Saint Vincent and

the Grenadines$ 6,580

Cuba $ 5,890 Barbados $ 15,080

Bahamas $ 20,600 Granada $ 7,460

Jamaica $ 5,220Trinidad and

Tobago$ 15,760

2- GNI (GDP) US$ per capita. Data: World Bank graph

Following the logic of quantitative analysis we can see that some countries in the Central Americaand Caribbean region have exceeded the regional GDP per capita trend. The countries that havepromoted brief economic stability are Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico,Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago. Some of thesecountries are considered to be tax havens5. Therefore, they generate exponential revenues for the

private sector, primarily the financial sector. Compared with South America, we can note thatcountries such as Venezuela, Uruguay, Brazil and Chile, have exceeded average GDP per capita inthe region.

5 INSPIRATIONS, Por un mundo libre de pobreza. (n.d.) Listado de Parasos Fiscales en el Mundo.Definicin de paraso fiscal. Taken from: https://www.inspiraction.org/justicia-economica/listado-paraisos-fiscales.

$0

$5,000

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

Mxico

Guatemala

Belice

Salvador

Honduras

Nicaragua

CostaRica

Panam

Cuba

Bahamas

Jamaica

Hait

RepblicaD

ominicana

P

uertoRico

SaintKittsyNevis

Antigua

yBarbuda

Dominica

S

antaLucia

SanVicenteylas

Barbados

Granada

TrinidadyTobago

GNI (GDP) in US$ per capita in 2013 in Central

America and the Caribbean


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Finally we can confirm the following situation regarding the contribution to the region's economy.Brazil and Mexico contribute 63%6of GDP, which does not create a very optimistic picture as thesecountries only promote their domestic economies and not the regional economy.

3- Map of GNI (GDP) per capita in South America and the Caribbean. Taken from the World Bank

South American


2013South American


2013

Colombia $ 7,560 Brazil $ 11,690

Venezuela $ 12,550 Paraguay $ 4,040

Guyana $ 3,750 Bolivia $ 2,550

Suriname $ 9,260 Uruguay $ 15,180

Ecuador $ 5,510 Chile $ 15,230

Peru $ 6,390 Argentina N.A.

The above situation enables identification of growth trends in the countries of Latin America andthe Caribbean. Therefore, I have classified them by Caritas zone in Latin America and the

6 United Nations, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean ECLAC. (29 November2013). (Documento Informativo, Balance Preliminar de las Economas de Amrica Latina y el Caribe 2013.(p. 9). Retrieved from: http://www.cepal.org/publicaciones/xml/2/51822/balancepreliminar2013docinf.pdf

$0 $2,000 $4,000 $6,000 $8,000 $10,000 $12,000 $14,000 $16,000

Colombia

Guyana

Ecuador

Brasil

Bolivia

Chile

GNI (GDP) in US$ per capita in 2013 in SouthAmerica


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Caribbean (Bolivarian Zone, Camex Zone, Caribbean Zone and Cono Sur Zone) in the last fiveyears (20092013).

A. BOLIVARIAN ZONE7

Bolivarian Zone 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Bolivia3.4 4.1 5.2 5.2 6.8

Colombia 1.7 4 6.6 4 4.3

Ecuador 0.6 3 7.8 5.1 4

Peru 1 8.5 6.5 6 5.8

Venezuela -3.2 -1.5 4.2 5.6 1.3

I would like to dwell a little on this zone, focusing on the macroeconomic instability in Venezuela.For many economic experts implementation of the current model led to difficulties in boosting theeconomy, with consumption affected by scarcity of goods and services, primarily determined byproblems in accessing them. The situation was compounded by political instability, with variouspolitical, student and entrepreneurial groups undertaking collective actions since 2013, which hashad a significant impact on national and international public opinion. However, despite thissituation, we can find various contradictions in the same model, with the World Bank classifyingVenezuela as having the fourth strongest GDP in Latin America8.

7Ibid.8Portafolio. (11 September 2014). Articulo Internacional. Venezuela, cuarto PIB ms fuerte de AmricaLatina. Retrieved from: http://www.portafolio.co/internacional/pib-venezuela-septiembre-2014-bm?hootPostID=4a34535987962d0048e57137c62ea5ff

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

GDP growth in Bolivarian Zone countries (2009-2013)

Bolivia

Colombia

Ecuador

Peru

Venezuela


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B. CAMEX ZONE9

Camex Zone 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Costa Rica -1 5 4.5 5.1 3.5

El Salvador -3.1 1.4 2.2 1.9 1.7

Guatemala 0.5 2.9 4.2 3 3.7

Honduras -2.4 3.7 3.8 3.9 2.6

Mexico -4.7 5.1 4 4 1.1

Nicaragua -2.8 3.3 7.3 3.4 4.6

Panama 4 5.9 10.8 10.2 8.4

C. CARRIBEAN ZONE10

Caribbean Zone 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Cuba 1.4 2.4 2.7

Haiti 3.1 -5.5 5.5 2.9 4.3

Puerto Rico -2 -0.4 -0.3 0.5

Dominican Republic 3.5 7.8 4.5 3.9 4.1

Saint Kitts and Nevis -5.6 -3.3 1.8 -1.2 2

Antigua and Barbuda -12 -7.2 -2 3.3 0.6

Dominica -1.2 1.2 0.3 -1.2 -0.8

Saint Lucia -0.1 -0.7 1.4 -1.3 -0.5

Saint Vincent and theGrenadines

-2.1 -3.3 -0.4 1.6 2.8

Barbados -4.1 0.3 0.8 0

9 United Nations, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean ECLAC (29 November2013). (Documento Informativo, Balance Preliminar de las Economas de Amrica Latina y el Caribe 2013.(p. 9). Retrieved from: http://www.cepal.org/publicaciones/xml/2/51822/balancepreliminar2013docinf.pdf.10Ibid.

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1 2 3 4 5

GDP growth in Camex Zone countries (2009-2013)

Costa Rica

Salvador

Guatemala

Honduras

Mxico

Nicaragua

Panam


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Granada -6.6 -0.5 0.7 -1.8 1.8

Trinidad and Tobago -4.4 0.2 -1.6 1.5 1.6

Jamaica -4.4 -1.5 1.7 0.7 1.3

Guyana 3.3 4.4 5.4 4.8 5.3

Suriname

3 4.2 5.3 3.9 4.4

D. Cono Sur Zone11

Cono Sur Zone 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Brazil -0.3 7.5 2.7 1 2.5

Paraguay

-4 13.1 4.3 -1.2 13.6

Uruguay 2.4 8.4 7.3 3.7 4.4

Chile -1 5.8 5.8 5.4 4.1

Argentina 0.1 9.1 8.6 0.9 3

11Ibid.

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

GDP growth in Caribbean Zone countries (2009-2013)

Cuba

Hait

Puerto Rico

Repblica Dominicana

Saint Kitts y Nevis

Antigua y Barbuda

Dominica

Santa Lucia

San Vicente y las Granadinas

Barbados


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As we can see from the quantitative elements presented above, the institutional positions of the

current development model in Latin America and the Caribbean marked by macroeconomicoptimism are substantially confirmed. Despite the trend in our countries towards prosperity in termsof Gross National Product per capita and largely positive economic growth, a high level ofstagnation may be noted in some countries, determined by deceleration of the economic sectors thatdrive our countries. In 2013 GDP in Latin America and the Caribbean grew 2.6%, less than the3.1% registered in 201212.

For the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) regional growth wasprimarily driven by the continued dynamism of domestic demand and especially consumption,which contributed 2.8 percentage points to GDP growth, while investment accounted for 0.9percentage points13. This clearly shows the contribution of Latin American consumption (domesticdemand) to the recovery from the global financial crisis, which has generated an increase in private

household credit to access goods and services imported into our countries (vehicles, technology,processed food, etc.).

Therefore, it is necessary to identify the activities that have marked out growth in Latin Americaand the Caribbean. Via its statistical information system, ECLAC enables us to identify thefollowing activities:

- mining and quarrying

- construction- agriculture, stockbreeding, hunting, forestry and fishing- trade- financial and business services.

As an introduction to the impacts the family has had on implementation of the current economicmodel in Latin America and the Caribbean, it is necessary to answer a question posed by Irma

12 United Nations, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean ECLAC (29 November2013). Documento Informativo, Balance Preliminar de las Economas de Amrica Latina y el Caribe 2013. (p.17). Retrieved from:http://www.cepal.org/publicaciones/xml/2/51822/balancepreliminar2013docinf.pdf.13Ibid. (p. 10).

-5

0

5

10

15

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

GDP growth in Cono Sur Zone countries (2009-2013)

Brasil

Paraguay

Uruguay

Chile

Argentina
http://www.cepal.org/publicaciones/xml/2/51822/balancepreliminar2013docinf.pdfhttp://www.cepal.org/publicaciones/xml/2/51822/balancepreliminar2013docinf.pdfhttp://www.cepal.org/publicaciones/xml/2/51822/balancepreliminar2013docinf.pdfhttp://www.cepal.org/publicaciones/xml/2/51822/balancepreliminar2013docinf.pdf


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Arriaga and provide significant contributions. How is this economic context reflected in the changesthat have occurred in the family?

"From an economic point of view, the incorporation of Latin America within the global economyhas modified forms of work and employment, which has impacted the organisation and distributionof responsibilities and rights within families" (Arrigada, 2007).

Structurally the family in Latin America and the Caribbean has undergone the following changesaccording to Irma Arriaga: diversification of family forms 14; transformation of the male

breadwinner family model15

; an increase in the number of families headed by women;16 and a

reduction in the average size of families and households17.

Given an economic context with a model whose primary interest does not tend towards integralhuman development and solidarity, we may note the following population trends registered in thelast four years:

POPULATION (thousands

of people)18

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Latin America and theCaribbean

596,191 602,974 609,807 616,645 623,422

14 Concept The diversification of family forms: The most important model of the nuclear family, twoparents with children, has decreased over the last 15 years. Currently, there is a wide range of familyarrangements: people opt to live alone, in couples without children, in single-parent households, in consensualunions and in same-sex unions. There is a growing number of blended families (couples who form a unionand bring children from previous unions and other parents), as well as long-distance families arising frommigration by some of their members, although exact numbers are impossible to determine from householdsurvey data. However, case studies reveal important changes in the perception of who the members of thesefamilies are, greater individuation of their members and acceptance of different affective logics within thesame family. Caldas University. Family Seminar. (p. 2). Ponencia Irma Arriaga. Retrieved from:http://ucaldas.edu.co/docs/seminario_familia/PONENCIA_IRMA_ARRIAGADA.pdf.15 Concept Families with a male breadwinner: The increase in levels of education and growingincorporation of women in the labour market, have led to a transitar the "male breadwinner" and double-income families" model. Ibid. (p. 3).16ConceptFamilies headed by women: From a demographic perspective this is related to increases in thesingle state, separations and divorces. From a socio-economic and cultural standpoint this arises from theincrease in education and women's growing economic participation, which enables their financialindependence and social autonomy to establish or continue living in households without couples. Ibid. (p. 4).17ConceptReduction in the size of households: This is associated with interrelated phenomena, such as thedeclining fertility rate, socio-economic level and the increase in female participation in the labour market.Ibid. (p. 4).18United Nations, Economic Commission for Latin America and the CaribbeanECLAC. ECLAC statistics.Retrieved from:http://estadisticas.cepal.org/cepalstat/WEB_CEPALSTAT/estadisticasIndicadores.asp?idioma=e
http://ucaldas.edu.co/docs/seminario_familia/PONENCIA_IRMA_ARRIAGADA.pdfhttp://ucaldas.edu.co/docs/seminario_familia/PONENCIA_IRMA_ARRIAGADA.pdfhttp://ucaldas.edu.co/docs/seminario_familia/PONENCIA_IRMA_ARRIAGADA.pdf


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This trend toward exponential population growth enables us to determine that approximately 600million people have contributed to stabilisation through consumption (domestic demand), andtherefore identify how foreign investment relating to imports has generated economic instability inour region, thus reducing microeconomic initiatives aimed at participating in a more stable market.

Consequently, I have confirmed a fundamental aspect in the implementation of the current model:

1. consumption is a vital factor in domestic demand2. consumption is carried out by families3. families need income to consume4. and income is determined by employment.

From this information we may note the percentage (%) of the population who are of working ageand the rates of employed and unemployed people, which complicates interpretation of theeconomic and social growth shown by Latin America and the Caribbean in the implementation ofthe current model.

% EMPLOYMENT IN

LATIN AMERICA AND

THE CARIBBEAN19

2000 2010 2013

% population of

working age

63.4% 65.7% 65.95%

employed 53.0% 58.4% 59.7%

unemployed 10.4% 7.3% 6.3%

19Ibid.

574 000

584 000

594 000

604 000

614 000

624 000

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

596 191602 974

609 807

616 645623 422

Population in Latin America and the Caribbean

(millions of people) between 2010 and 2014.


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So a question arising from this analysis is that, despite the almost one percentage point increase ineconomic growth, employment and unemployment rates have not risen as expected, which is due tothe condition and quality of the employment obtained. Likewise, it may be noted that economicgrowth is not related to real factors in the economy such as individual and family employment.

The determined proportion of employment corresponds to econometric measurements stipulatedand constructed by the current development model, by identifying the proportion of the populationclassified as employed.

The economic activities of the population of Latin America and the Caribbean include:

LatinAmerica

(simple

average) 20

Agriculture

Manufacturi

ng

Trade Construction

Transport

Financial

service

s

Electricity, gas

and

water

Mining

2008 20.1 13.4 23.0 7.1 6.0 5.4 0.6 0.5

2010 20.1 12.6 23.3 7.0 6.1 5.7 0.6 0.5

2012 19.4 9.3 24.3 6.9 5.5 5.1 1.4 2.4

20Ibid.

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013

% OF EMPLOYMENT IN LATIN AMERICA

AND THE CARIBBEAN (2000, 2010, 2013)

% poblacin en edad de trabajar TO TD


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Likewise, it is important to know how the employment and unemployment indicator actuallyresponds to the current development model. The existing categories regarding measurement of thisindicator respond to various parameters, variables and assumptions, in which the dignity of labour isfar from being accepted and measured in the population.

An example of the dehumanisation of employment is casual (short-term) work. During the term of

the last national government in Colombia (2010-2014) one of its political employment banners wasconnected with construction activity in which the national government's free housing programme

generated around 200,000new jobs21

that gave families income and temporary stability. Many of

the people employed under this programme (aggregate demand) are currently unemployed.

This type of employment classified as temporary jobs encourages labour market speculation in ourcountries and our region.

With the information provided we can draw certain conclusions on the impact of the current modelon families in Latin America and the Caribbean. The dehumanisation of the family affects thedignity of the family. Labour conditions generate increased accumulation of wealth in a sectorrather than its fair distribution through social investment. With the pretext of development and

economic growth it affects the common good.

Moreover, there is considerable scepticism among families regarding their standard of living andquality of life. While access to goods and services (public and private) has improved, the quality ofprovision of these goods and services is problematic.

21Caracol Noticias. Noticia: Construccin de 100 mil viviendas. Retrieved from:http://www.urnadecristal.gov.co/gestion-gobierno/ya-est-n-en-construcci-n-100-mil-viviendas-gratuitas

20.1

12.6

23.3

7.06.1

5.7

0.6

0.5

19.4

9.3

24.3

6.9

5.55.1

1.4

2.4

Agricultura

Manufactureras

Comercio

Construccin

Transporte

Servicios Financieros

Electricidad, Gas y Agua

Minera

% OF EMPLOYMENT IN LATIN AMERICA AND

THE CARI BBEAN BY ACTIVITY. (2008, 2010,

2012)

2008 2010 2012


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Families are increasingly subject to the economic interests of the private sector, and view the publicsector (government) as an entity that fails provide guarantees for a decent life and adequatelyregulate the impacts created by the financial sector. Likewise, every year they see their householdeconomy affected by substantial rises in the prices of goods (inflation), which generates increases ininterest rates and taxes on goods and services in order to maintain a "healthy economy", while

incomes rise at a considerably lower rate. Finally, in cities costs and infrastructure are lesssustainable, due to lack of employment opportunities, education and decent housing, which areincreasingly scarce as a result of mobility caused by armed conflicts, social and economicinstability in rural areas, and lack of opportunities leading to migration that creates less stability andmore desperation.

Regarding employment and the family, while parents (father and mother) are contributing to thehousehold income, this process has also destabilised the social structure of the home, as economicconditions have led to an increase of up to 30% in working time, primarily so they can maintain theemployment they already have and also look for other employment in the evenings to mitigate theimpact on households. This means they do not have enough time to dedicate to their children andmaintain vital relations in the home.

It should be emphasised that in rural areas families consider that their standard of living and livingconditions have remained the same, so scepticism regarding improvement of their povertyconditions is growing. Young people from rural areas see migration to big cities as a chance toaccess technology and better opportunities.

As may be noted from the reflections I have shared in this document, within the context of thecurrent (neoliberal) development model families have become an object for the sustainability of themodel, whereby practices implemented have generated environmental and social instability andbeen supplanted by implementation of capitalist economies.

CONCLUSIONS:

- The factors of the current development model affecting urban families are:

o lack of income securityo lack of employment securityo technical measurement of growth > human and sustainable measurement of

families > decent measurement of developmento speculation increases economic growth, but it does not generate fair and social

distribution of profito The sectors driving the economy are:

oil and coal extraction manufacturing industry electricity, gas and water production financial institutions construction

o centralisation of economic processes (municipalities, districts, towns, etc.)o lack of public policies that support families

- The factors of the current development model affecting rural families are:o unstable prices of agricultural inputs for production


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o infrastructure deficiencieso high transport costso failure to control smugglingo lack of production stabilisationo lack of rural technical trainingo lack of opportunities (educational and employment) for young people

o high prevalence of monoculture which affects small farmerso high rate of child prostitutiono difficulty in stabilising food security and sovereignty proposalso contamination of water sources due to mining and energy exploitation and

exploration


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Despite the difficulties created by the current development model in Latin America and theCaribbean, the accompaniment of the Catholic Church via Caritas enables us to identify successful(microeconomic) processes in which the family is playing a leading role in building a new form ofdevelopment.

Given the harshness of the current model, it is necessary to propose implementation of an

alternative model that tends towards the common good, nourishes us spiritually and guides us alongthe paths of a fairer and more fraternal world.

Families experiencing insecure living conditions (at all levels) are merely victims of the crisis or,with human and spiritual resources, they can be active protagonists in a new form of development"with a human face".

Despite the difficult situation families are in (spiritual, economic, social, political and cultural),many of them are currently developing processes as protagonists in the construction of a new formof development, an integral human development and solidarity in which they drive, promote andinfluence participatory community development processes, and social (family) and organisationalstrengthening processes, as well as generating production and commercialisation processes by

promoting the solidarity economy.

Regarding this process, the National Social Ministry Secretariat / Caritas Colombia has anintervention strategy22within the framework of the new model that includes four phases and fourlevels:

a. Phases:- Solidarity response to crisis- Rehabilitation of the social fabric- Planning and stabilisation- Desired future

b. Levels:- Personal- Relational-community: in this level changes in relations and the most immediate social

environment that influences people are proposed. Family relations, socialisation groups, theparish, the community, etc.23

- Organisational- Structural

The strategy includes elements in which the family plays a leading role in the new form ofdevelopment, as follows:

22National Social Ministry Secretariat (December 2012). Estrategia de Intervencin Institucional. (p. 10).23Ibid. (p. 11).


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Table 1, Capacities and themes Phase: Solidarity response to crisis

CAPACITIES AND THEMES SNPS STRATEGIC INTERVENTION EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT

SOLIDARITY RESPONSE TO CRISIS PHASE

Generate processes to reduce impacts and vulnerabilities regarding persons, families and communities, caused by natural and human-induced evethrough humanitarian assistance and psycho-social and legal support.Likewise, analyse and raise the visibility of the issue in the search for an overall response by government and non-governmental organisations

institutions at local, national and international level.

RELATIONAL LEVEL

Community strengthening Families can build capacities to organise and develop humanitarian actioninitiatives to deal with emergency and crisis situations arising from armedconflict or natural disasters.

Families and communities deal crisis in a coordinated and suppoway.

Families build their capacity to analyse situations in order to assess theindividual, family and community needs of people affected by a crisis.

Risk managementPsycho-social support

Families help their communities to develop community plansthat enable themto mitigate or overcome a crisis.Capacity to identify and strengthenactors, resources and talents that enablethem to mitigate and/or deal with a crisis.

Families build capacities regarding appropriate managementof humanitarianaid.

Families transformthe historical imaginations of their communities and among

families, which polarise communities and hinder the building of bonds of trustand respect for others.


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Table 2, Capacities and themes Phase: Rehabilitation of the social fabric


REHABILITATION OF THE SOCIAL FABRIC

Accompaniment of processes to rebuild the life plans and social fabric of persons, communities and grassroots communities, by giving a meaning of hto a situation that affects them as subjects of change and building their social relational and organisational capacities and skills.Social management and political advocacy strategies should also be developed in order to obtain an effective response from governmental and governmental organisations in these processes.

PERSONAL LEVEL

Themes Promotion and capacity building Expected change

Psycho-social support Capacity to work through painful experiences (give them meaning) and boostavailable mechanisms and resources (individual, family and community) to deal with/ transform a situation.

Family members work overcoming a crisis and intestrengthening.

Capacity to give new meaningto one's life in the light of the experience of God.

Life plan Family members acquire capacities todevelop or rebuildtheir life plans and identifymeans and elements for realising them.

RELATIONAL-COMMUNITY LEVEL

Community strengtheningHistorical memory

Families contribute towards rebuilding the social fabric and community bonds viaprocesses of memory and strengthening of identities, cultural values and communityresources.

Families help to strengthen scohesion in their communities

Prospective planning of

community life plans

Via families, communities have the capacity to organise themselves in order to

dreamand draw up community plans regarding transformations that aspire to becollective.

Situation analysis Communities build capacities to analyse their situationand identify aspects thatdamage human dignity and fragment community bonds, as well as those that enablesocial cohesion.

Local areas Capacity togive new meaningto the relations they have built up in their local areasmarked by fear and social breakdown, in order to make their local areas spaces forlife.


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Conflict transformation,management and resolution

Capacity to transform community conflicts into opportunities for social change andbuilding solidarity relations, including the promotion of human dignity.

Capacity to express or raise the visibility of one's actions via communicationmedia.


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Table 3, Capacities and themes Phase: Planning and stabilisation


PLANNING AND STABILISATION PHASE

Accompaniment of human promotion processes aimed at the integral human development and solidarity of communities, in coordination worganisations and institutions at local, regional, national and international level, by dealing with socio-political, socio-economic, socio-cultural and socenvironmental dimensions.

PERSONAL LEVEL

Themes Promotion and capacity building Expected change

Building of public and commongoodHuman rights

Families acquire capacity regarding recognition of their rights and duties, andlikewise for each member of the household (parents and children). People with capacities a

skills to achieve integhuman development asolidarity.

People with capacities to actively and responsibly participatein building the publicsector and actual enjoyment of rights.

The environment land use People with capacities to relateresponsibly and sustainably with nature, the earthand land as God's creation.

Culturecontext People with capacities to strengthen symbols, values and cultural practices thatpromote the building of relations of recognition, respect and coexistence.

Solidarity economies People with capacities to identify and strengthen their vocations and skillsregarding productive activities, employment or subsistence initiatives.

RELATIONAL-COMMUNITY LEVEL

Political and democraticparticipationCitizenship and human rights

Families and communities with organised capacities to exercise citizenship andpolitical power in democratic spaces.

Organised communities wproactively on integral humdevelopment and solidarity

Families and communities with capacities regardingknowledgeof the organisationand functioning of the government at local and national level.

The environment land use Families and communities with capacities to conserve and look after theenvironment and establish sustainable development actions.

Extractive economies constructive economies for

Families and communities with capacities for critical and proactive analysis ofprojects or initiatives that damage life or the environment.


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life.

Interculturality Families and communities with capacities to establish relations of solidarity,respect and recognition with regard to other social groups and special culturalidentities.

Solidarity economies Families and communities with capacities to createsolidarity economy initiatives,organisations and/or cooperatives.

Families and communities with capacities to implement food sovereignty andnutrition strategies, and sustainable production chains and fair trade.


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The family is vital building a new form of development integral human development andsolidarity and sustainable peace-buildingthrough its complete participation (parents and children),who should identify its role in building this development. So far we have had positive experiencesin which families contribute to, build and sustain community development processes.24

In order to identify the importance of introducing programmes that promote an alternative

development, they should be based on ethical, economic, political, cultural and spiritual ethics, aspresented in integral human development and solidarity, with a view to building and protecting thecommon good.25

Efforts should be made to reduce impacts generated by structural problems that have led toconflicts, and aspects such as participation, organisational strengthening and creation of socio-economic stabilisation processes should be included.

As part of the advocacy project and community development initiative, efforts were made to bringabout changes that will lead to a real reduction in poverty. 1. Communities are creatingparticipatory processes involving active construction of local development, drawing up ofcommunity plans that enable identification of local development organisational needs, andformulation of initiatives that are disseminated and registered at town councils and municipal townhalls to obtain funding. 2. Organisational strengthening processes are created to promote solidarityeconomy initiatives and thereby improve organisational structures through building administrative,

24National Social Ministry Secretariat (15 June 2013). Programa Gente Solidaria. Proyecto Incidencia yDesarrollo ComunitarioINDECO. Retrieved from:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMgeqvGPftg25Blogspot Jos Oscar Henao Monje (27 May 2014). Article: Procesos de Proyeccin y Estabilizacin delDesarrollo Comunitario. Retrieved from: http://joseoscarhenaomonje.blogspot.com/2014/05/procesos-de-proyeccion-y-estabilizacion.html?view=magazine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMgeqvGPftghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMgeqvGPftg


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accounting and managerial capacities. 3. It is vital that organisations identify lines of productionand then join forces with local entities so as to improve their production techniques and increaseproduction, and also implement commercial initiatives in collaboration with local authorities. Withthe experience thus acquired it is also vital to have production initiatives that enable management ofstabilisation and commercialisation in order to move forward.26

Moreover, good use of public funds is promoted via oversight and social monitoring in whichprotection of the common good is a priority for communities. Regarding economic processes infamilies, inter-institutional relations must be established, in which technical training and fundingbodies play a key role in accompanying and implementing production initiatives via mobilemarkets, farmers markets, solidarity shops, etc. They should be expressions of family economicsustainability and sustainable reinvestment.

The outcome of accompaniment processes regarding construction and implementation of thestrategy is determined by the arrangement and interrelationship of various factors. 1) Generate andstrengthen knowledge 2) encourage abilities and 3) promote skills.

Each of these aspects is part of the academic, technical and spiritual interrelationship, and therefore

the intervention in communities should go hand in hand with the above principle that promotesintegral human development and solidarity. The role of lay people, priests and everyone whoaccompanies and participates in evangelisation processes should form an integral part.

A vital aspect of the process is trust between the community and the Church, in which communitiessee the Church as a friend and partner engaged with the community and committed to justice, equityand dignity. On various occasions this has given the Church access to places where no one else maygo, and thanks to its impartiality, it enables us to guarantee that suitable processes are developedand implemented in communities.

In order to achieve this process in building a new form of development, all members of the family(fathers, mothers and children) must participate in fair trade, responsible consumption, social

economy and ethical finance processes, as well as in other development initiatives.

Fair trade27

: Fair trade is a trading relationship based on dialogue, transparency and

respectthat aims to make international trade fairer.

It contributes to sustainable development byoffering better trading conditions andguaranteeing the rights of small producers and marginalised workers.

Responsible consumption28

: Choosing products and services not only based on quality and price but

also on their environmental and social impact and the conduct of the companies that make andprovide them.Therefore, you are recognised as a sustainable consumer if:

26Ibid.27Caritas Spain. (n.d.). Qu es la economa solidaria. Retrieved from:http://caritasespanola.es/economiasolidaria2/que-es-la-economia-solidaria/comercio-justo/que-es-el-comercio-justo28Caritas Spain. (n.d.). Qu es el consumo responsable. Retrieved from:http://caritasespanola.es/economiasolidaria2/que-es-la-economia-solidaria/consumo-responsable/que-es-el-consumo-responsable-2


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o you are aware of the footprint your everyday actions leave on the planet

o you aim to make this impact positiveo you know that another form of economy existsthe solidarity economywhich works and

puts people at the centreo you want to promote change in societyo you want stable employment to be created for people in difficulty

o you would like to consume sustainably, by buying in a way that takes care of ourenvironment

o you want to improve the conditions of local farmers and countrieso you support change on a daily basis.

In addition, via the social economy29

we can identify the combination of economic and

entrepreneurial activities in the private sector that bring about entities that pursue the collectiveinterests of their members and economic and social interest. In which:

o products and/or services likely to enter the market place are created, and

o people who have difficulties in joining the ordinary labour market comprise an instrument ofsocial and labour integration.

Finally, financial ethics30

involve people and their saving capacity in projects aimed at

development, redistribution of wealth and protection of the environment anywhere on the planet.Having coherent personal ethical values is closely connected with the capacity to choose where andhow we invest our savings; this choice also determines our responsibility in terms of the effects theuse of our money has on human development and ecology. (Finanzas ticas: La otra cara de lamoneda,2006. p. 4).

As part of the family's role in the construction of new forms of development, it is necessary toguarantee that in urban and rural organisational processes the roles of parents, spouses and childrenplay a vital part, and therefore define values, practices and difficulties that enable us to create short-, medium- and long-term processes.

With a view to sharing reflections on the difficulties that families are facing today, we can note theprinciples that we should encourage in families to build a new form of development.

In order to guarantee that the processes of building a new form of development are optimal, familiesneed internal strengthening. Therefore, as pastoral agents we are committed to encouragingprinciples through spiritual and psychological accompaniment and guidance. Principles such asrespect, dialogue within families, understanding and tolerance, and mutual solidarity. Theseprinciples enable mitigation of certain difficulties within families that prevent them fromparticipating in a better way. Families are currently 31classified as follows:

29Caritas Spain. (n.d.). Qu es economa social. Retrieved from:http://caritasespanola.es/economiasolidaria2/que-es-la-economia-solidaria/economia-social/que-es-la-economia-social30Caritas Spain. (n.d.). Qu son las finanzas ticas. Retrieved from:http://caritasespanola.es/economiasolidaria2/que-es-la-economia-solidaria/finanzas-eticas/que-son-las-finanzas-eticas31Missionary portal. Obras misionales pontificias. Juventud Misionera en Costa Rica. (n.d.). PDF document:Familia Cristina, Familia Misionera. (p.1). Retrieved from:http://www.portalmisionero.com/familiacristiana.pdf
http://infobancaetica.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/lasfinanzaseticasenprofundidad.pdfhttp://infobancaetica.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/lasfinanzaseticasenprofundidad.pdfhttp://infobancaetica.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/lasfinanzaseticasenprofundidad.pdfhttp://infobancaetica.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/lasfinanzaseticasenprofundidad.pdf


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- The fridge family: Loss of confidence, without human warmth.- The hotel family: Family members only return to eat and sleep, no sharing.- The prison family: No freedom of expression, opinions may not be given.- The basement family: Closed, does not open its doors to other people.

In order to guarantee real accompaniment each of us "is responsible for working for the family" as

the first community in transforming the world and striving for a fairer and more fraternal world.

It is also necessary to identify which values, practices and difficulties need strengthening and workwithin families on the construction of our development proposal.

VALUES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW FORM OF DEVELOPMENT

Justice, because an economy should be humane, supportive and fair, and therefore we propose fairtrade.

Solidarity, because this value involves Love, joint work with one's neighbour ("neighbourhoodeconomy"), and striving together for what we cannot achieve on our own. It develops the meaning

of life in the community and cooperation.

Honesty, implies the fight against corruption, not stealing, and living from work andindustriousness rather than seeking an "easy life.

Truthfulness, because truth is fundamental for trust at all levels and in the economy (cf. Caritas inVeritate). Always aim to tell the truth about things, as they are. God is complete Truth.

Fraternity, which implies recognition that we are brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of thesame Father who is God. This is a value that goes beyond solidarity and in itself expresses thefullness of Love at all levels and therefore in implementation of the economy (cf. economy ofgratuitousness in Caritas in veritate).

PRACTICES REQUIRED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW FORM OF

DEVELOPMENT

Promote industriousness, honesty and mutual help in the family via concrete actions so that thefamily can "irradiate out" to the community by its example.

Develop an economic meaning in our way of life. Work on the basis of a family assumption centredon basic needs and building the capacities of its members beyond super-luxury and luxury.

Place education, health, housing and promotion of employment of its members as very importantitems among the family's economic investments, with creativity and efficient use of resources.

Look to the future so that the meaning of love, fraternity and family solidarity is the basis of a long-term sustainable economy. Pay special attention to the most vulnerable persons in the family.

Reach out to the community from the experience of these actions in the family and present forms ofchains of family solidarity in the community, for example by creating forms of supportivecooperation and supportive projects.


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Starting from families, learn to express solidarity towards others, and contribute financially to jointprojects.

Share positive experiences in the family and in the community.

PRACTICES THAT HINDER THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW FORM OFDEVELOPMENT

Implementation of a dominant neoliberal economy that undervalues solidarity. Being exclusivelyguided by the profit motive.

Public policies (not only those of national, departmental and local government) that exclusivelyfavour the profit economy rather than an economy based on common good and solidarity.

Selfish economic criteria that create obstacles to or undervalue solidarity practices.

Neglect of the goods of creation which hinders a solidarity and ecology economy with respect to

family and community matters.

Levels of corruption that generate artificial "economic" processes or unethical economies which aretherefore not viable in the long term.

An aspect to be emphasised is the poor use of resources by families. The current situation in LatinAmerica and the Caribbean is as follows:

() ( )

()

Finally I would like to share some challenges that we face as pastoral workers in accompanying

families in building a new form of development. First of all it is necessary to mention that There'sa significant difference between being a pastoral worker and social activist or leader; pastoralworkers are above all 'agents of change', as they have opted for faith in response to Jesus Christ'sinvitation to participate in Building the Kingdom (the desired future) to free the world fromeverything that goes against Salvation"32.

Where true liberation leads to commitment to building a new society in which justice and love in allspheres of activity and human relations are realised33.

In the first instance, training of pastoral workers, and their conviction and commitment, requiresencouragement, promotion and influence regarding:

32National Social Ministry Secretariat (August 2013). Segundo modulo formativo en Doctrina Social (p. 1).33Ibid. (p. 1).


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- Knowledge and practice of the principles of the Social Teaching of the Church (commongood, participation).

- Theoretical and practical knowledge (professional) that leads to development of social andsolidarity economic processes and solidarity.

- Awareness of and solidarity with those most in need.- Recognition that:

o "The family is the basic unit of society; this is indispensible for ensuring thecontinuity of society. When the family fares badly society fares badly and whensociety fares badly it is the family that is affected by it.

34o "The family is, par excellence, a space for socialisation and the process of

solidarity. Children who see their parents sharing, giving and paying attention to

others can in turn replicate the same values.35- Join together with pastoral plans in ecclesiastical jurisdictions, identifying actions aimed at

the family and the building of decent and supportive development.- Identify each action in terms of the ongoing processes that may arise in a context, and

analyse situations via a pastoral approach.- All pastoral workers should be equipped with practical tools to accompany and listen to

families.

I hope that my reflections in this document will enable sharing of contextual elements andencourage the work we pastoral workers carry out every day on behalf of the Church around theworld.

Likewise, we should give accounts of Caritas in our countries that encourage the experience ofCharity via families. In seeking this end, we will be able to bring together the pastoral organisationsthat strengthen the various aspects of the family (youth, early childhood, family, social,employment, health, education, among others).

"Dreams are still alive for those who don't give up dreaming" Anonymous.

34Caritas Internationalis. (n.d.). Poverty damaging family life and society. Retrieved from:http://www.caritas.org/2014/03/poverty-damaging-family-life-society/35Ibid.


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Thanks:

To God who gives us the strength to build a fairer and more fraternal world, and accompanies us inthe development of processes that enable stewardship of creation.

To the communities we accompany, who day by day enable us to build the common good withthem.

To our directors and colleagues who in each Caritas in Latin America and the Caribbean do theirutmost to help those in need.

To those who provided contributions and experiences for this document:

Msgr Hctor Fabio Henao Gaviria, Director of Caritas ColombiaFr Francisco Hernndez, Secretary General of SELACCFr Andrs Bustacara Bustacara, Deputy Director of Caritas ColombiaFr Patricio Sarlat, DHIS Officer, Caritas Mexico

Humberto Ortiz, DHIS Officer, SELACCThe Caritas Colombia team Camilo Ramrez Herrera, Laura Chacn Gonzlez, BorisMartnez Marrugo and Roger Carlos Hernndez.

En - Dr. José Oscar Henao Monje Paper

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