On March 18, Pietro Genovese (University of Bologna) gave a presentation entitled “Philanthropy Without Borders: Transnational NGO Cooperation between Italy and the Philippines,” based on his research for his Master’s thesis. His thesis is a case study on Isla ng Bata, an NGO founded by an Italian national and his wife that cares for orphaned and at-risk girls, based in Dumaguete City.

For the most part, the links between the Philippines and Italy have been cemented by Filipino migration to Italy since the 1970s. The forum explored a different kind of transnational relationship between the two countries through the case of Isla ng Bata. Pietro discussed the history of the international philanthropic landscape in the Philippines, how international philanthropy influences small NGOs in the Philippines, and how small transnational NGOs develop adaptive strategies, as illustrated by Isla ng Bata’s ties with Italy and Europe.

Partners and colleagues from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, the University of the Philippines-CIFAL, and the University of Hamburg attended the forum, which is part of the AspirE Project’s activities.

For more information about AspirE, see https://aspire.ulb.be