VIS - International Volunteering for Development - is an Italian NGO founded in 1986. The organization is inspired by the Christian Catholic principles and, in particular, by the charisma of Don Bosco, the founder of the Salesian confraternity.

Providing education and professional training to the youth is the main goal of the NGO.

VIS started working in Bethlehem in 1995, and since then it has operated in partnership with the local Salesian community. Several projects have been carried out throughout the years for preparing people to start-up income-generating activities, and for creating employment opportunities.

VIS played a key role in providing equipment to the workshops of the Salesian Technical School, activating the Artistic Centre, and supporting the Salesian bakery. The bakery was the main source of bread for the city of Bethlehem during the Israeli occupation of 2002. VIS is also planning to provide the Technical School with a distance-learning system, based on videoconferencing.

Since April 2004 VIS has been engaged in developing a Master program in International Cooperation and Development at Bethlehem University, called MICAD. The project is supported by the European School of Advanced Studies in Cooperation and Development of the University of Pavia, Italy. The main donor is the Conference of the Italian Catholic Church. MICAD has been granted official accreditation by the Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education, and it will begin lectures in the academic year 2005-2006.

The VIS local office in the West Bank opened in May 2005. The office is located at the Salesian Artistic Centre, Salesian St. 316, Bethlehem.
VIS staff may be reached at:
Tel: +972 - (0)2 - 2760076
Fax: +972 - (0)2 – 2760076
E-mail: amerli@bethlehem.edu