Karl Michael Hila offers a Facebook report on the SVDP meeting to elect new President.

International Executive Committee and Permanent Section meeting of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul attended by almost 50 leaders from 6 continents of the world (Africa, Australia/Oceania, Asia, Europe, North America, South America) held in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The meeting also marked the official opening of the election period at the end of which a new International President General will be elected, following Dr Michael Thio whose term of office ends in 2016. Each Vice Presidents presented updates from their committees (yours truly Karl Michael Hila, presenting the youth programs) and a special report was done by the President of the National Council of the Philippines for the updates on our programs for Typhoon Haiyan victims.

Vincentians throughout Brazil mobilized to ensure the success of this international gathering, prepared by the National Council of Brazil, president Emilia Fernandes Figueiro, and supported by the Metropolitan Councils of São Paulo and Jundai, along with Renato Lima de Oliveira (International Vice-President America 3).