
About us
We are a Non-Governmental Organization which has been fighting to achieve social, economic and environmental justice around the world for over 50 years.
We are also a non-profit organization and we are recognized as a Charitable Organization.
We operate in Africa, Asia and Latin America, with projects for international cooperation to develop an independent and sustainable economy together with local communities. In Italy, thanks to thousands of active volunteers, we promote projects, volunteering camps and a lifestyle based on solidarity and sustainability.
We educate the citizens of tomorrow to respect human beings and our planet through laboratories of Global Citizenship Education.
We are part of a global movement born to change the world, starting from changing ourselves.
We have been doing this since 1964. And we are not going to stop.
Sara
Hi! I am Sara de Simone and I am Mani Tese’s President since 25 November 2018. From 2015 until 2018, I was Mani Tese’s Vice-president. My history within Mani Tese began in 2004, when I was in high school and I was involved in a Development Education course on the exploitation of child work and children rights. After having attended this course, I decided to become a Mani Tese’s volunteer in Naples. Throughout the years, I worked […]
A commitment for justice, everyday since 1964

1/20 1967 Launch of the campaign “Operation 1%” which propose self-assessment and the commitment of public institution.

2/20 1968 The first “National day of fight against hunger” is organized and various initiatives take part in the main Italian cities.

3/20 1968 The initiative "work camps" starts on a national level: collection of materials and study are an opportunity to raise awareness and bring together young people.

4/20 1969 Since its birth, Mani Tese funded 308 micro-realizations for 415 million lire and emergency interventions for 114 million.

5/20 1970 The first national march takes place in Parma. 18 thousands people participate.

6/20 1971 An international march for development takes place in Rome: about 100,000 participants. In this occasion, a delegation of Mani Tese has been received by the Prime Minister.

7/20 1972 A march for justice occurs in Florence and 35,000 young people participate. Among the speakers there are Monsignor Camara, Follerau and Father Rogers.

8/20 1977 “Work camps” are launched for the recovery of second-hand clothes, so they can be recycled and become means of solidarity.

9/20 1985 During the International Youth Year, in Florence, the National Convention “Young people, Development and Participation of the Communities” is held.

10/20 1989 The Convention “America Latina Es Tu Hora” takes place.

11/20 1993 The main theme in 1993 is “Participation of the Populations for a New World Society”. 1300 people and 61 NGOs take part at the International Convention “This World is Ours Too” in Florence.

12/20 1996 Mani Tese addresses the “Campaign New International Economic Order” to the financialization of the economy and to the Tobin Tax.

13/20 2006 The Italian Donation Institute gives Mani Tese the concession of the ethical brand “Give with trust”. Mani Tese organizes in Riva del Garda the convention “Global who? Citizens of a world between centers and suburbs”.

14/20 2008 Mani Tese contributes to the launch of the Global Campaign for Education in Italy. Mani Tese organizes in Riva del Garda the international convention “The balances of hunger: is cooperation the answer?”.

15/20 2011 The Convention “We are what we eat. The right to food, democracy and markets” takes place at Palazzo dei Congressi in Florence. Radio Popolare Network broadcasts two cycles of programs about the project “From food soveregnty to safety”.

16/20 2012 Theater tour “When I eat, I feel like a king” in 9 cities with the actor Diego Parassole and the jazz singer Cinzia Tedesco.

17/20 2015 Expo dei Popoli is the world forum for peasant movements and civil society organized by 52 Italian associations and NGOs and 14 international networks coordinated by Mani Tese.

18/20 2016 Mani Tese launches the campaign “I exist- Say no to modern slavery” with 2014 Peace Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, and is received by the Pope in Rome.

19/20 2017 Mani Tese takes part in the demonstration 20 MAY TOGETHER WITHOUT WALLS in Milan so that the right to life of migrants is not subordinated to national interests.

20/20 2018 Mani Tese takes part in the Perugia-Assisi March of Peace and Fraternity.
- 1964 Mani Tese was born
In December the Federation Mani Tese was officially established, with its own Statute, as a secular movement which intends to lead, with method and continuity, a campaign against hunger.
- 1965 First project in Bangladesh
The first project in Bangladesh is funded.
- 1966 Civil service
The campaign for civil service is launched.
- 1967 Operation 1%
Launch of the campaign “Operation 1%” which propose self-assessment and the commitment of public institution.
- 1968 National day of fight against hunger
The first “National day of fight against hunger” is organized and various initiatives take part in the main Italian cities. On a national level, the initiative “work camps” starts: collecting materials and studying are an occasion for raising awareness and bring together youg people.
- 1969 308 micro-realizations
Since its birth, Mani Tese funded 308 micro-realizations for 415 million lire and emergency interventions for 114 million.
- 1970 Marching in Parma
The first national march takes place in Parma. 18 thousands people participate.
- 1971 Marching in Rome
An international march for development takes place in Rome: about 100,000 participants. In this occasion, a delegation of Mani Tese has been received by the Prime Minister.
- 1972 Marching in Florence
A march for justice occurs in Florence and 35,000 young people participate. Among the speakers there are Monsignor Camara, Follerau and Father Rogers.
- 1973 Marching in Brussels
There a NGOs’ march-demonstration in Brussels to ask for a better cooperation between the EEC and countries of the Third World.
- 1974 At the FAO in Rome
Mani Tese participates as a delegate at the FAO World Food Summit in Rome.
- 1975 NGOs and EEC convention in Brussels
Mani Tese participates to the first NGOs and EEC convention in Brussels to verify the possibility of collaboration for the realization of projects among the Lomé Convention. Mani Tese proposes in Italy a World Day for knowledge about development’s problems; in this occasion, the movie “5 minuti a mezzanotte” is played in Rome in Palazzo dei Congressi.
- 1976 Association Mani Tese ‘76 was born
The Association Mani Tese ‘76 is established. The Federation Mani Tese cedes all the activities, assets, and Mani Tese’s brand.
- 1977 Launch of “work camps”
“Work camps” are launched for the recovery of second-hand clothes, so they can be recycled and become means of solidarity.
- 1978 Campaign for alternative trade
The campaign for the awareness of an alternative trade is launched.
- 1979 “One day off for the Third World”
The campaign “One day off for the Third World” is launched.
- 1980 Mani Tese is recognized NGO
Mani Tese is recognized Non-Governmental Organization, qualified to carry out activities in developing countries, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- 1981 National Week of the Third World
National Week of the Third World. In March 1981, Mani Tese is acknowledge Charitable Organization with a decree of the President of the Republic.
- 1982 Proposal of cooperation
Mani Tese proposes to improve the quality of the cooperation intervention after the call of 1300 mayors for the approval of a law against the extermination by starvation.
- 1983 March for Peace in Geneva
Mani Tese launches the idea of a March for Peace in Geneva. In the field of micro-realizations Mani Tese invests a billion and 134 million lire, 161 of which for emergency programs.
- 1984 20 years of Mani Tese
For Mani Tese’s twentieth anniversary a special edition of the monthly publication and and a seminar about the philosophy and the image of the association are organized.
- 1985 National Youth Convention
During the International Youth Year, in Florence, the National Convention “Young people, Development and Participation of the Communities” is held.
- 1986 Campaign against weapons
The Center of Documentation for the collection and classification of documents about development was born. The campaign against “Merchants of Death” is launched to put pressure on MPs of the Defence Commisions of Chamber and Senate and to review the law on weapons’ production and trade.
- 1987 “Democracy is Participation”
There’s the first campaign “Democracy is Participation”. In Milan, the Cooperative “Recycling and Solidarity” is founded.
- 1988 The CRES was born
The “Center for Research on Development Education” (CRES) is founded and it receives the recognition for the realization of training experiences for teachers by the Ministry of Public Education.
- 1989 Latin America Convention
The Convention “America Latina Es Tu Hora” takes place.
- 1990 Launch of “Campaign of Eritrea”
A press conference announces the launch of the “Campaign of Eritrea”.
- 1991 Initiative “To reverse Colombo’s course”
In Genoa, the cultural initiative “To reverse Colombo’s course” is organized. The publishing house Bulgarini publishes “Foreste tropicali: quale futuro?” and “Brasile, la Terra degli Altri”.
- 1992 Intervention in the Somali emergency
As part of the “Campaign of Eritrea” the convention “Eritrea, Which Future” is held. The Somali emergency explodes and Mani Tese moves on several fronts: fundraising for a rapid response program and denunciation of the responsibility of the Italian Government. Regione Veneto awards the Venetian Prize for Peace to Mani Tese.
- 1993 International Convention in Florence
The main theme in 1993 is “Participation of the Populations for a New World Society”. 1300 people and 61 NGOs take part at the International Convention “This World is Ours Too” in Florence.
- 1994 Antimine Campaign
The Antimine Campaign is launched. The emergency in Rwanda explodes in all its gravity. Mani Tese, together with other European NGOs, participate in the realization of a program in two regions aiming at the settlement of 200,000 refugees.
- 1995 World Campaign for Women
Mani Tese joins the World Campaign for Women in Pechino. More than 1,000 participants take part in the International Convention “The future that connects us. The responses of the civil society to globalization”.
- 1996 “New International Economic Order”
Mani Tese addresses the “Campaign New International Economic Order” to the financialization of the economy and to the Tobin Tax.
- 1997 Nobel Prize to the campaign against mines
The “Italian Campaign against Mines”, coordinated by Mani Tese, wins the Nobel Peace Prize.
- 1998 “Banca Popolare Etica” was born
The Cooperative “Verso la Banca Etica” becomes “Banca Popolare Etica” and Mani Tese is a founding member.
- 1999 Preparation of the “Millenium Assembly”
Mani Tese participate to the Commission for Social Development and is involved in the preparation of the “Millenium Assembly”, the General Assembly which the United Nations will realize in 2000.
- 2000 Coordination of the Global March
The International Secretariat of the Global March asks Mani Tese to oversee the European coordination of the Movement, thanks to the great success obtained by the Global March in Italy.
- 2001 “Earth is the only one we have”
Mani Tese adheres and promotes the popular self-managed referendum “Earth is the only one we have and it is not for sale”. In April 2001, Mani Tese’s members delibarate to modify the denomiantion of the association from “Mani Tese ‘76” to “Mani Tese”.
- 2002 Davos World Economic Forum
Mani Tese is present: to the Davos World Economic Forum (which took place in Porto Alegre); to the special edition of the Perugia Assisi March to say stop to the massacre of Palestinian and Israeli people; to the European Social Forum.
- 2003 WTO Convention in Cancun
Mani Tese participate to the World Trade Organization Convention in Cancun. The credit card of Banca Etica is launched.
- 2004 The Social Cooperative was born
The Social Cooperative Mani Tese was born. Mani Tese promotes the first world convention of former child workers.
- 2005 Adhesion to No Tav
Mani Tese adheres to the mobilization against the construction of the high-speed line on the Turin-Lyon link.
- 2006 Ethical brand “Give with trust”
The Italian Donation Institute gives Mani Tese the concession of the ethical brand “Give with trust”. Mani Tese organizes in Riva del Garda the convention “Global who? Citizens of a world between centers and suburbs”.
- 2007 First Feltrinelli campaign
First edition of the fundraising campaign “Molto più di un pacchetto regalo” in partnership with Feltrinelli libraries.
- 2008 Global Campaign for Education
Mani Tese contributes to the launch of the Global Campaign for Education in Italy. Mani Tese organizes in Riva del Garda the international convention “The balances of hunger: is cooperation the answer?”.
- 2010 Campaign for Food Sovereignty
Mani Tese launches the “Campaign for Food Sovereignty” that reaches more than 1 million people and collects 10,000 signatures which are delivered to the European Parliament.
- 2011 Convention “We are what we eat”
The Convention “We are what we eat. The right to food, democracy and markets” takes place at Palazzo dei Congressi in Florence. Radio Popolare Network broadcasts two cycles of programs about the project “From food soveregnty to safety”.
- 2012 Committee for Expo dei Popoli
The Committee for Expo dei Popoli is established.
- 2013 10,000 signatures delivered to the European Parliament
The Parliament is asked for a new Common Agricultural Policy which supports small farmers and the transition towards more equal and sustainable food production chains. The World March for Food Sovereignty takes place and, within it, the theater tour “When I eat, I feel like a king”.
- 2014 Campaign “Fair Future”
Mani Tese promotes the campaign “Fair Future” for the access, management and control of natural resources, by funding the production of the condemnation movie “Adelante Petroleros”.
- 2015 Expo dei Popoli takes place in Milan
180 delegates from over 50 countries answers to the challenge launched by Expo 2015 “Feeding the planet” with a 10 point declaration titled “Food Sovereignty and Agroecology to heal sick food systems”.
- 2016 Launch of the campaign “I exist”
Mani Tese launches the campaign “I exist- Say no to modern slavery” with 2014 Peace Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, and is received by the Pope in Rome.
- 2017 Federation Mani Tese
The FEDERATION MANI TESE ETS was born, a new reality made up of national, local and territorial organizations that refer to the experience and history of the Mani Tese Association, which has been committed to fighting injustices worldwide for over 50 years.
- 2018 Launch of the program Made in Justice
Mani Tese launches the Made in Justice program to educate, inform and collaborate with public opinion on the limits of "business as usual" and on the virtues of new ethical and inclusive business models, involving civil society actors (profit and non-profit) ) in a path of dialogue and collaboration that can translate sustainability into daily practices.
- 2019 The fashion experience
For the first time Mani Tese organizes an interactive experiential installation to raise awareness of the true cost of fast fashion, the "disposable" fashion that has been widespread in recent years. "THE FASHION EXPERIENCE - the truth about what you wear" has been visited in Milan by over 5000 people.