Our History
The origins of organised charity by Saint Vincent de' Paoli
In 1617, Saint Vincent de' Paoli created one of the first examples of organised volunteering: the “Charités”, groups of women committed to helping the poor in a structured way. The idea came from observing that spontaneous generosity, without coordination, could lead to confusion. So, he introduced regular meetings and shared rules to make all forms of assistance more effective. In a short time, the model spread from France to Italy and other countries, focusing on concrete activities such as visiting the poor and ill, creating orphanages and supporting the elderly.
A model of human and social aid that is still relevant today
St Vincent taught that all poverty should be treated with respect, creativity and love. For him, helping meant promoting human dignity, not just distributing goods. For this reason, he encouraged education, the teaching of trades and personal autonomy. His vision led him to collaborate with the French government to manage aid during the war. Over time, he founded the Congregation of the Mission (1625) and, with Louise de Marillac, the Company of the Daughters of Charity (1633). His approach remains the basis of the work of the Vincentian Volunteer Groups, formally established in 1990.
