Vittorino Chizzolini paid a great attention to the matter of international cooperation. It was just him who started an activity oriented to help developing countries and who gave life to the solidarity and cooperation projects carried out by “Giuseppe Tovini” institution.

  The first initiatives of this kind began in 1961 and, from 1967, they were supported by the institution “Seminario Pedagogico di cooperazione internazionale” promoted by Facoltà di Magistero of Università Cattolica in Brescia. Their aim is that of carrying out university studies and researches about different ways of cultural exchange and cooperation together with those countries situated in the south of the world.

After the approval of the law about international civil volunteer service (n° 1033 November 1966), in July 1968 the first departures of teachers to Mogadiscio (Somalia) took place and the first contacts were taken, with those international institutions dealing with the matter of cooperation with developing countries.

  In 1972 the Minister of Foreign Affairs recognized to the Institution the right of promoting programmes, of selecting, training and employing volunteers for the civil service and for information activities and in 1988 the right of carrying out an activity of development education was recognized too.

  Starting from 1973 the Institution has been in partnership with Federazione degli Organismi Cristiani di Servizio Internazionale Volontario (FOCSIV). In 1985 the Institution was recognized the right of carrying out activities of cooperation by the European Community Commission.