“Vita International, an opportunity for Europe”

On invite by EESC (European Economic and Social Committee) and by its president Mario Sepi, the publishing company VITA presented, before the Communication Group of the consultative organ of the European Union, its most recent editorial project, launched in May 2010, Vita International, an initiative intending to reinforce the talent of the VITA Non Profit Magazine to reflect on Europe and the world.

Opening an office in Brussels was the obvious next step to rendering more concrete our work, embodied by two web platforms: the first Vita Europe aims to give voice to the European civil society: the sector’s protagonists, their stories and best practices, all the while measuring their economic weight country by country.

In a world marked by new political, economical and social equilibriums VITA could not ignore the establishment of the reality of geostrategies in full evolution.

Amongst these, Africa represents the most promising political and social gamble of the twenty-first century. If the African continent continues to suffer from ills like poverty, the last 20 years, however, saw the birth of change, the first of these being the growth of a civil society for which VITA has chosen to dedicate an information website: Afronline.org.

VITA non profit magazine, Italy’s only media company dedicated to talking about and informing the country’s third sector, is more than just a newspaper. Since it published its first copy in 1994 featuring an investigation into one of the world’s best known charities, Red cross or gold cross?, the company has grown in size as well as scope to become a unique content company specialized in civil society issues. And by the end of September it will have achieved yet another first: being the first European joint stock company which by statute reinvests all its dividends back into the company to be listed on the stock market. The stock market in question is the Alternative Investment Market (AIM), London Stock Exchange’s international market for small to medium growing companies, a choice that reflects that being based in Milan does not stop VITA from being international.

In 2001 VITA launched VitaConsulting, a non profit consulting and communication agency that works with charities, foundations and companies across Europe to promote, improve and communicate their non profit ventures. In a country and world where the media tends to be dominated by tycoons, VITA has struggled to maintain its independence. But sometimes being founded on the stuff dreams are made of rather than with any kind of business sense can pay off. In VITA’s case it has and perhaps the model it has created over the past 15 years can be of inspiration to others elsewhere.

 “For sure,” assured the Vice-President of the European Economic and Social Committee, Irini Pari, “VITA embodies a fascinating publishing adventure, unique in Europe.”