AMSIF - English

AMSIF
AMSIF stands for Family Integral Advancement Association.
 
AMSIF is an apostolic group, founded by Catholic laywomen. It targets low income or spiritually needed immigrant women.
 
The members of AMSIF work to improve the lives of women and their families through training in "Advancement Family Centers" where the attendees receive education in different development subjects.
 
AMSIF was created  forty six  years ago with the main objective of promoting the integral development of women through a process of education that is liberating within the context of Christian faith and looking to improve their living conditions.
 
AMSIF believes that an educated, trained, and self-sufficient woman is able to improve her family and community.  AMSIF makes women aware of the responsibility they have as the main pillar of their families and gives tools to improve the lives of their loved ones.
 
The initiative was born from a group laywomen concerned about improving our society through families. They were inspired by a convention of the Latin American Church in Medellin, Colombia, which theme was "The presence of the Church in the transformation of Latin America"​, and by the Second Vatican Council.
 
AMSIF is a member of the World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations and founding member of the Latin American Council of Catholic Women. These organizations share experiences and programs with AMSIF.
 
AMSIF is composed of 206 family Advancement Centers in Mexico and 48 in the United States: San Fernando CA, Laredo TX, San Antonio TX, Minneapolis Minnesota, Yuma Arizona, San Luis Arizona and 26 in Houston, TX. AMSIF has 1,273 promoters working in different centers. In the specific case of Houston, TX there are 333 currently coaching more than 1300 women in all 26  parishes.
 
Mission
To strengthen the family and community through the formation of women.
 
Vision
To achieve integrated families involved in building a new and better World.
 
General Purpose
To promote the integral development of women through a process of education that is liberating within the context of Christian faith, and through this development, families improve and then society.
 
Specific Objectives
•To increase the person’s faith, through an ongoing confrontation between the Gospel and daily life events.
 
In the Family
• To improve family and their communities quality of life
• To promote the advancement of the participants’ couple and family
 
In Women
• To integrate women in the process of changing social structures, taking into account their person.
• To awaken responsibility.
• To encourage women’s creativity and develop their productive skills.
• To strengthen their spiritual formation.
 
In the Community
• To become an engine of change in their community.
 
The program lasts three years and covers the following subjects:
1. Evangelism
2. Family studies and Human Relations
3. Time and Effort Management
4. Cooking and Nutrition
5. Health Promotion
6. Social Sciences
7. Handcrafts and Workshops
8. Human Development  
 
• Each advancement center brings its own supporting material.
• AMSIF is a formal organization supported by a national, regional, and local structure.
 
The knowledge and training is transmitted through “Broadcasters”. These are highly qualified individuals with deep knowledge of the organization principles.  Broadcasters are responsible of teaching and training the “promoters” who in turn will conduct the seminars to the participants in each Advancement Center.