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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
BUCHAREST, 14TH - 17TH MAY
Draft Programme
TUESDAY 14TH MAY
Afternoon Arrivals & Eurodiaconia Supervisory Board Meeting
Afternoon Registrations at the hotel
18.30 - 19.30 Opening Service
WEDNESDAY 15TH MAY
8.30 - 9.30 Morning Worship
8.30 - 9.30 Registrations at the venue
Welcome: Diaconia and Democracy
Olli Holmström, Chairperson of the Eurodiaconia Supervisory Board
9.30 - 10.00
Father Ciprian Ioniță, President of the Filantropia Federation of the Romanian
Patriarchate
Representative(s) of Patriarch Daniel of the Orthodox Church of Romania
Panel: Are there links between poverty and democracy?
This panel will delve into the crucial connection between poverty and democracy,
exploring strategies to empower marginalised communities for active engagement in
democratic processes. The discussion will feature insights from a diverse panel of
experts, shed light on the intricate relationship between job precarity and democracy,
share practical approaches to inclusivity and civic participation, and explore the
potential role of universal basic income in addressing socio-economic disparities and
10.00 - 11.00 fostering democratic ideals.
Speakers:
Elena Dobre, Director, Social Policy Department, Ministry of Labor and Social
Solidarity, Romania
Eszter Sandor, Research Manager, Eurofound
Katarina Ivankovic-Knezevic, Director Social Rights and Inclusion Unit,
European Commission
Facilitator: Heather Roy, Secretary General, Eurodiaconia
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11.00 - 11.30 Coffee break
Panel: Empowerment through community mobilisation
This panel will focus on the transformative power of community mobilisation in
empowering low-income groups. By exploring innovative projects and initiatives, our
panellists will share successful strategies to uplift communities and address poverty at
its roots. Join us to hear from the director of a pioneering diaconal project that trains
community volunteers as debt aid buddies, providing crucial financial support and
guidance. Learn from an inspiring speaker who supports churches to organise
11.30 - 12.30 themselves as powerful catalysts for poverty alleviation. Discover first-hand how
grassroots initiatives and community engagement can lead to sustainable
empowerment and positive change.
Speakers:
Rosie Hopley, Jubilee+ Voices Lead
Carla Van Der Vlist, Director, SchuldHulpMaatje
Facilitator: Olli Holmström, Chairperson of the Eurodiaconia Supervisory Board
12.30 - 13.30 Lunch
Study visits
The study visits will offer opportunities to get to know some of our host organisation’s
essential work, providing social services throughout the city of Bucharest. From daycare
centres for children to elderly homes, Filantropia aims to reach people from different
backgrounds and make social, educational, and health services easily accessible for all.
Participants will be able to visit two different study visit locations, see their everyday
work, speak about their challenges, and learn from their practices. Registered
participants will receive a link to a separate form in April, offering the choice of two
13.30-17.30
study visit locations:
Social Clinic “Smile for everyone”
Daycare centre for children “St. Sophia”
Daycare centre for children “Holy Trinity”
Shelter home for elderly people “St. Sylvester”
Centre for palliative care “St. Nectarios”
More venues to be confirmed
19.00 - 21.00 Dinner
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THURSDAY 16TH MAY
08.30 - 09.00 Morning Worship
European Elections - What is next?
Former Members of the European Parliament who have dedicated their work to social
affairs will provide a comprehensive analysis of the current social state of the European
Union. They will share perspectives on the challenges and achievements in fostering
social cohesion across the European Union. They will give insights into the critical issues
at stake and their visions for the future in the perspective of the European Elections.
They will be joined by representatives of other European institutions to give their
9.00 - 10.30 perspective on what is next in European policy. Join us for engaging discussions,
combining retrospective reflections with forward-looking perspectives, providing
attendees with understanding of the social dynamics shaping the European Union and
its impact beyond political borders.
Speakers:
Jean Lambert – Former Member of the European Parliament for the UK
Ana Gomes – Former Member of the European Parliament for Portugal
Facilitator: Malte Lindenthal, Member of the Eurodiaconia Supervisory Board
10.30 - 11.00 Coffee break
Parallel workshops - Accessibility in Democracy
Artificial intelligence, digitalisation, and social services: ethical challenges
This workshop aims to explore the complex ethical landscape social services must
navigate as we integrate more AI and digital solutions into our work. It will look at how
technology can be harnessed responsibly to enhance social service provision without
compromising ethical standards.
11.00-12.30
Speakers:
Sara Speicher, Deputy General Secretary, World Association for Christian
Communication
Archid. Lect. Dr. Adrian Sorin Mihalache, University of IAŞI, Faculty of Orthodox
Theology, Romania
Facilitator: Kewan Mildred, Policy Officer, Eurodiaconia
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Essential services and the cost-of-living crisis
While most of the EU population has access to essential services, people at risk of
poverty or social exclusion and the most marginalised face the greatest barriers in
accessing such services. Price increases have a greater impact on the most
disadvantaged, eroding their purchasing power and hindering access to essential
services. What is the impact of this situation for social service providers and how can
they support lowest income groups toward a better access of essential services? These
are the questions we invite you to come and discuss together!
Speakers:
Katarina Ivankovic-Knezevic, Director Social Rights and Inclusion Unit,
European Commission
Facilitator: Annika Sparrer, Policy Officer, Eurodiaconia
User involvement: S.O.R.A - Roma feminist community intervention method, case
studies and scaling
At the core of diaconia is the idea of a global family with the mission of transformation,
sisterhood and equality. In this workshop, we will introduce E-Romnja's method of
social intervention and intersectional feminist work: S.O.R.A.– Study, Organize,
Revendication, Advocacy. We will also have an interactive discussion on community
intervention and democracy, and how through this method Roma women and girls
work to organize and advocate for their rights and aims. Grass-roots self-organization
practices can inspire and teach us a lot about how to make democratic practices
representative and inclusive, that is to say to make democracies more robust and
genuine.
Speakers:
Anca Enache, Development Manager, Helsinki Deaconess Foundation
Anca Nica, Community Support Project Coordinator, E-Romnja
Facilitator: Andrea Sánchez Caballero, Policy Officer, Eurodiaconia
4 stories of participation
How can community-based projects foster better participation among people in
vulnerable situations and empower them in decision-making processes in their everyday
lives? Our member Slezka Diakonie will share their experience by telling the story of
different people and lining out how participation can be achieved for the elderly, people
with mental health challenges, or individuals experiencing homelessness. This workshop
aims to exchange best practices among members, discuss the obstacles in participating
in our society that people in vulnerable situations face, and find strategies for
empowerment.
Facilitator: Romana Belova, Slezka Diakonie Deputy Director for Social Work
If you are interested in co-leading this workshop or bringing in your ideas, please
reach out to Annika Sparrer: [email protected].
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What future for Civil Society?
Is the space for civil society shrinking across Europe and what could that mean for
diaconal work? How does the trend of ‘online activism’ change our thinking around
engagement? This workshop will delve into the challenges of the civil society movement
from a number of angles – technology, extreme politics, challenges to legitimacy, and
the role of faith-based organisations as bridge builders.
Speakers:
to be announced
Facilitator: Heather Roy, Secretary General, Eurodiaconia
12.30 - 13.30 Lunch
Capacity building sessions for democracy
This part of the programme includes different capacity building sessions on specific
topics. While at first sight these might not seem related to the main theme of our
conference, we hope that participants will leave their respective sessions with learnings
and inspiration that can help their organisation navigating through current democratic
and European challenges. All sessions will offer space for questions, in-depth exchange
with other members, and insightful debates about the chosen topic.
EU funding opportunities
In this session, we'll look at funding opportunities for social services through private
13.30 - 15.00
foundations and the EEA Grants Framework, focusing on areas like innovation, social
inclusion, and youth employment in the following countries: Czech Republic, Greece,
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Slovakia. We'll also cover
the European Programme for Integration and Migration, a collaboration of 25 private
foundations aimed at creating inclusive communities and humane migration responses
based on human rights and social justice.
Speakers:
to be announced
Facilitator: Giorgia Signoretto, Projects Officer, Eurodiaconia
Briefing to members: What does the Green Transition mean for social services?
In this session, we will explore the impact of the Green Transition on social services and
lowest-income groups. We will discuss the impact of environmental policies on social
services and people, and how to better adapt to this change.
Speakers:
Anna-Lena Guske, Project Leader Environmental & Social transformation,
Diakonie Deutschland
Facilitator: Clotilde Clark-Foulquier, Deputy Secretary-General, Eurodiaconia
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Speaking from the margins - a theological context for Diaconia?
This workshop will bring together inputs on how diaconia can support, develop, and
make space for voices from the margins. What does it mean to make space? Are we
ready to give up some of our space? Building on the theological and biblical contexts
such as the open table we will look at power dynamics, participation, and
empowerment.
Speakers:
to be announced
Facilitator: Heather Roy, Secretary General, Eurodiaconia
Communicating Diaconia
This workshop will explore how we, as civil society organisations and churches, can
contribute to shaping narratives and reinforce the image of Diaconia, especially online.
It is a great opportunity to share experiences of addressing those challenges and
develop common strategies for the future.
Facilitator: Donal Brady, Communication Officer, Eurodiaconia
Peer-coaching session: Leadership in turbulent times
With this session we invite CEOs and leadership team members of Eurodiaconia
member organisations to engage in interactive discussions on the difficulties
confronting non-profit leaders. We will look at how to develop an organisation to match
existing needs and challenges, building on the diverse experiences of the participants.
Join us to get inspired by the practices of others, receive advice from your peers on the
issues you bring in, and leave with new connections.
Facilitators:
Olli Holmström, Chairperson of the Eurodiaconia Supervisory Board
Andrea Witt, Head of Operations, Eurodiaconia
EU Elections - What is at stake for Europe?
The upcoming European elections and the expected rise of the far-right will heavily
influence Europe and its societies. This capacity building session intends to explore the
possibilities of our members to bring our theme ‘Diaconia and Democracy’ into practice
and campaign for the upcoming elections. Diakonie Germany will present its new tool
‘Sozial-O-Mat' as a starting point for insightful debates, brainstorming, and sharing
ideas.
Facilitator: Mirko Schwärzel, Diakonie Germany
If you are interested in contributing to this session with your ideas or campaigns, please
reach out to Annika Sparrer: [email protected].
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Thematic networking cafe
This informal session will connect fellow Eurodiaconia members from all over Europe.
There will be space for conversations about participants’ work, current challenges, and
best practices in a speed meeting format. This session will also allow time to build new
15.00 - 16.30
partnerships for projects, mutual learning visits, and to get inspired by other members’
work or strategies. During the Annual General Meeting, you will find a ‘Project ideas wall’
at the venue, where you will be able to promote your project or partnership ideas. These
will be discussed during the networking café.
19.00 - 21.00 Dinner
FRIDAY 17TH MAY
9.00 - 9.30 Morning Worship
9.30 - 11.30 Business session
11.30 - 15.00 Closing network coffee
Optional afternoon activity coordinated by the Host organization
a) Guided old city tour
Embark on a captivating journey through the heart of Bucharest’s history with this
guided tour. As you stroll through the cobbled streets, you will unveil the layers of
Old Town’s history from its medieval roots as a bustling mercantile hub to its
transformation into the vibrant district it is today. Admire the diverse architecture,
from French-inspired structures to communist-era buildings and enjoy the rich
heritage of the city.
b) Visit to the Palace of Parliament and the Museum of Contemporary Art
Begin your journey at the impressive Palace of Parliament, where you can explore
its architectural styles, and learn more about this famous symbol of Romania’s
communist time. Afterwards, enter the Museum of Contemporary Art, where
modernity meets creativity, and dive into a diverse collection of exhibitions,
showcasing the works of both local and international artists. This combination of
architectural history and artistic innovation promises an enriching experience in
the heart of Bucharest.
