Birth of the Christian Training Community

Fondacio began in 1974 in Poitiers with what was then called the Christian Formation Community (CCF), which emerged from a charismatic prayer group, under the impetus of Jean-Michel and Jane Rousseau. The objective, from the outset, was to form a new type of lay person called to the apostolate in the heart of the world and invited, in a new way, to creativity in the explicit proclamation of the Gospel.

In five years, more than 250 young people from all over France have moved to join the community, whose pillars are prayer, human and spiritual formation, community life and radical commitment to God.

Expansion and diversification of missions in the 1980s

In 1980, following a call from bishops and lay people, some members left to found communities in Chile, Belgium, Benin, and Malaysia. During the 1980s, the community diversified into new countries and towards other audiences: "Christians for the New City" (CCN) for leaders, then, in 1983, the New Christian Communities (NCC) for people involved in parishes.

Next will come the Christian Adolescent Communities (CAC), "Rural Renewal", the Diaspora and the Elders Community. All of these communities come together under the name "New World Foundations".

2000s: Consolidation of the institution and mission

Since 2000, every five years, a Congress brings together around one hundred officials from all the countries where Fondacio is established to vote on the orientations of the term of office and elect the President and his Council.

In 2003, the association's definitive name, at the international level, became Fondacio.

After a 17-year term, the movement experienced a difficult transition to the new president elected by the 2008 Congress. A governance crisis, culminating in an attempt to impeach the new president, necessitated a request for church mediation. This mediation legitimized the existing governance rules, as well as the elected president and his council.

New organizational structures are enabling a renewed missionary momentum worldwide. Training institutes and solidarity projects are being strengthened, and centers embodying Fondacio's mission are being established in various countries. New approaches to formation and the proclamation of Christian hope, better adapted to the evolving needs of our societies, are being developed.

Building a more humane and just world – Integral ecology

In 2013, the Congress met at the Orthodox monastery of Sâmbata de Sus in Romania, where the local community was celebrating its 20th anniversary. A smooth transition to a new president fostered a dynamic of communion based on shared responsibility within the diversity of our local cultures and Christian denominations. Fondacio moves forward with a commitment to renewing its charism, with and for the world, and with a particular focus on young people and the poorest members of society.

The 2018 Congress in the Philippines provided immersive field experiences that encouraged delegates to "reach out to the peripheries." Fondacio's mission became " Building a more humane and just world." Integral ecology and the safeguarding of our common home emerged as a major focus on the path to humanization in the face of the challenges of our time.

Reorganization into international co-presidency

The 2023 Congress in Togo introduced a new governance model with a co-presidency composed of five individuals from various countries. This shared governance model, previously tested in some countries, is becoming the preferred approach and is being progressively implemented in all countries where Fondacio operates. It seeks effective co-responsibility, decentralization, and greater capacity for initiative closer to local communities for a more fruitful mission.

Two missionary priorities are adopted: Childhood-Youth and Integral Ecology.