Epsilon: Small Projects That Change Lives

Real change does not always arrive with noise. Sometimes, it grows quietly as Epsilon has shown for years. Born from the idea of helping children in developing countries with the most essential needs, Epsilon has built, over the years, a model grounded in seriousness, balance, and impact. Behind every project there is not only solidarity, but also strong responsibility, trusted relationships, and careful attention to every single euro raised. 

What Epsilon Does 

Since 2004 Epsilon supports children and young people living in situations of hardship and vulnerability, focusing on three fundamental needs: healthcare, education, and nutrition. Its work takes the form of practical, carefully designed projects developed in partnership with trusted local organizations, with the aim of improving everyday life in the communities involved. What makes Epsilon especially distinctive, however, is its 100% model: the association is entirely volunteer-run (a board of 6 people and few professionals bringing their competences on financials, project management, creative design, website management, social media, etc.) and has no overhead costs, which means that every euro raised goes directly to the projects. 

How It All Began 

Epsilon was born from the desire of a group of friends to do something useful and concrete for the most vulnerable children. The original idea was clear: to respond to children’s most basic needs without waste, heavy structures, or costs that would take resources away from the beneficiaries. Over time, that intuition grew into an association able to involve people, companies, and foundations while remaining faithful to its original spirit: doing meaningful work in a sober, transparent, and measurable way. 

Why the Name Epsilon Matters 

The name Epsilon comes from the Greek letter that, in mathematics, represents a very small quantity. It is both symbolic and deeply fitting, because it perfectly reflects the association’s identity: focusing on small, tangible, measurable projects that can be carried out in a relatively short time, yet are capable of creating meaningful and lasting impact. At its core, Epsilon expresses a simple but powerful idea: even something that seems small, if done well, can make an enormous difference. 

The Skills Behind a Non-Profit 

Running a non-profit organization requires a wide range of complementary skills. Human sensitivity is essential, but it is not enough on its own: you also need organizational ability, discipline in financial management, transparency, strategic vision, strong relationship-building, and a deep sense of reliability. It means knowing how to build local partnerships, identify serious projects, follow implementation closely, report results clearly, and communicate with honesty and conviction. In this sense, Epsilon represents a compelling balance between volunteer spirit and managerial experience — two dimensions that, together, turn good intentions into effective action. 

Fundraising Built on Trust 

Epsilon’s fundraising is built on trust. The association works with both private donors and companies, building long-term relationships based on credibility and accountability. It offers businesses tailor-made social projects with clear objectives, budgets, beneficiaries, and transparent reporting; for private donors, it offers the opportunity to support concrete initiatives and even to link important moments in their lives to an act of solidarity. Here too, the 100% model makes a real difference: knowing that every euro donated goes entirely to the projects is one of the main reasons why many people choose to support Epsilon. 

What Makes Me Proud 

What makes me most proud is seeing that even small steps, supported by modest resources and strong local partnerships, can generate sustainable development and real growth for the most vulnerable communities. Perhaps that is Epsilon’s greatest achievement: turning limited resources into concrete, lasting opportunities. Today, in Togo, we support 8 schools and around 2,000 students, from nursery school through to high school, and we accompany around thirty young adults with scholarships so they can train to become doctors, tailors, hairdressers, or screen printers. In Malawi, we have supported dozens of schools through the purchase of equipment and the renovation of buildings. In Rwanda, more than 100 malnourished children each year receive the essential care they need to recover their health. In Tanzania, over 5,000 Maasai now have access to safe drinking water. And in Burkina Faso, hundreds of young girls and boys will be able to study at the new agronomy school and learn a profession. Taken together, these results are the clearest proof that patient, carefully directed work can truly change many lives. 

Three Moments That Tested Me 

Over the years, there have been several difficult moments, but three in particular stand out. The first came when the entire board of directors and the historic founding members, for different personal reasons, gradually moved away from Epsilon. In that moment, I had to understand whether — and how — it would still be possible to carry the association forward, preserve its values, and find the energy needed to continue the journey we had begun. The second was when we renovated the entire neonatology and pediatric department of a hospital in Benin. For the first time, we found ourselves coordinating a project of that level of complexity, with a sponsor who had invested 250,000 euros and very little margin for error. It was an enormous challenge, marked by responsibility, pressure, and constant attention to detail, involving several professionals from Italy, including an engineer specializing in hospital construction. The third moment concerned Burkina Faso: at the end of 2024, when the coup d’état took place, our agronomy school, which was still under construction, seriously risked not being able to open. It was one of those moments when you realize how suddenly a political or social crisis can put years of work, hope, and investment at risk. Difficult as they were, these experiences also taught me how important it is to endure, adapt, and keep believing in the deeper meaning of what we do. 

What More Than Twenty Years Have Taught Me 

Over more than twenty years, I have learned that impact does not depend on the size of an organization, but on the quality of its work and the consistency pursued. I have learned that listening is just as important as acting, that local partners are essential, that trust is earned over time, and that transparency is not only an ethical value, but also a concrete form of respect. I have also learned never to underestimate the power of small actions: a well-designed project, even if limited in scale, can genuinely change the future of many people. 

What Has Surprised Me Most Along the Journey 

Many things have surprised me along this journey, but above all I am continually struck by the way life seems to give us a push exactly when we need it most. Unexpected sponsors appear because a private donor has redeemed money from an insurance policy and wants to turn it into a project to give back. A company may have followed our work on LinkedIn for years and then suddenly decide to support an important initiative with us. Students have reached out to us spontaneously over the years, offering their time and skills in service of our mission even though they know there will be no financial reward. In this sense, Epsilon has become a catalyst for extraordinary people. 

Stories I Will Never Forget 

There are many stories that pass before my eyes when I think of the girls and boys I have met during my travels to Africa. To mention just a few from my most recent trip to Togo (November 2025): Benjamin has come through a serious mental health crisis and now, thanks to one of our scholarships, dreams of becoming a tailor. Bogar creates outstanding textile designs and hopes one day to become a screen printer with his own atelier. Rose is passionate about fashion, is in her second year of tailoring school, and has already created beautiful garments for her first fashion show. 

After all these years, what stays with me most is not only the scale of what has been achieved, but the people behind it — the children, the students, the donors, the volunteers, the partners who believed in an idea and helped it grow. Epsilon has shown me that change is never created alone. It is always the result of many hands, many stories, and a shared belief that even small actions can matter deeply.