The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP) reported serving 30 million people in 2024, outlining €1.65 billion in global social investment across 18,000 projects and 5,000 special programs in 155 countries.
The data were presented on December 5 in Rio de Janeiro during the launch of the organization’s Annual Report.
International President General Juan Manuel Buergo Gómez said the numbers reflect the scale of SSVP’s work but do not capture its core mission.
“The Report reflects our social and economic activity, but does not quantify what’s most important: brotherly, personal and friendly care for those in need, irrespective of their religion, ideas or origins. This support is at the heart of our mission,” he said.
He also announced the launch of the Global SSVP Foundation to strengthen fundraising for development and emergency initiatives.
Asia was among the regions spotlighted during the presentation. From Hong Kong, International Territorial Vice-President Maurice Yeung outlined SSVP initiatives in 34 countries across Asia and the MENA region, pointing to education programs, child and youth development, community health projects, rapid disaster-response systems and employment training designed to support long-term social resilience.
Specific examples in the report include hygiene facility upgrades in Sri Lanka, university training programs for young people in Syria, and the Mangyan Mission Center in the Philippines, which “accompanies isolated indigenous communities, providing them with a place to stay as well as showcase their culture and generate their own resources.”
Brazil’s Minister for Development and Social Assistance, Family and the Fight against Hunger, Wellington Dias, recalled his early encounters with the Vincentians and underscored the enduring nature of the Society’s work.
He said “lifting someone out of hunger is not the end, but the beginning of a journey that requires education, skills and real opportunities,” expressing gratitude “for every helping hand, every plate of food and every gesture that restores dignity in a world marked by inequality.”
Other regional leaders detailed the Society’s outreach around the world. In the Americas, National Council President Márcio da Silva described work across 36 countries involving home visits, charitable dining rooms, food banks, shelters, education programs, and socioeconomic reintegration initiatives.
In Europe, National Council of Ireland President Teresa Ryan spoke about projects addressing “material as well as emotional, educational and community needs,” including efforts on mental health, loneliness, and individual support. Urbanus Kinuthia, Assistant Vice-President General, highlighted daily support for families and at-risk children, especially orphans, in 42 African countries.
Examples from the report included the United States network of charity pharmacies, which fills more than 237,000 prescriptions annually for people without medical insurance, and the Famvin Homeless Alliance’s international “13 Homes” Campaign, which has reached more than 10,800 people and created more than 2,700 homes.
The report notes that SSVP’s global mission continues to rely on local presence, closeness to communities, and the ability to adapt to each social reality. It concludes that thousands of projects worldwide demonstrate the Society’s capacity to offer “specific, adapted and friendly solutions,” rooted in person-to-person support.
