Our work

Eurodiaconia links diaconal actors to examine social needs, develop ideas and influence policies impacting Poverty and Social Exclusion, Social and Health Care Services and the Future of Social Europe.

Eurodiaconia also provides a platform for transnational networking and best practice sharing.
Our vision

Our common vision is a social Europe, in whose societies quality of life, human dignity, and social rights for all are ensured alongside an ecumenical understanding of diaconia with a renewed thinking, learning and acting together of diaconal work.
Our goals

Our strategic aims are

To ensure quality of life for all in a social Europe

To link institutions of diaconia, social initiatives and churches in Europe

To be and to enhance networks of competence

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Text Size

Eurodiaconia

Eurodiaconia is a federation of organisations, institutions and churches providing social and health services and education on a Christian value base in over 20 European countries.

European Year 2010

2010 has been designated by the European Union as the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. Its primary goal is to raise awareness of and renew political engagement to combat poverty and social exclusion in Europe.

A wide range of organisations and individuals will be involved in the year. Activities will take place throughout Europe and include information campaigns, cultural events, conferences, studies and publications. Visit www.2010againstpoverty.eu to learn more about the year's goals and activities.

Eurodiaconia is a member of EY 2010 NGO Coalition, a coalition of European NGO networks which has come together for 2010 to ensure an active participation of social NGOs in the year and to advocate for a strong political legacy from the year. To know more about the coalition please go on www.endpoverty.eu

Click below to learn about:

Eurodiaconia member organisations involved in the year and their planned activities

Eurodiaconia's plans for European-level activities

The 2010 Eurodiaconia Award: Projects to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion

About us

Policy

Eurodiaconia’s policy work covers Poverty and Social Exclusion, Social and Health Care Services and Ensuring a Social Europe.

Capacity building

One of Eurodiaconia’s aims is to build the capacity of its members to influence policy at EU and national level.

Working in partnership

Eurodiaconia is an active member of various organisations and values highly its formal and informal partnerships.

Links

Useful links to organisations and institutions in the social field

Upcoming Events

Our Events

16/12: Meeting Education Network, Brussels

15/12: Seminar on Community Involvement methodology and practice, Brussel

29/11 - 1/12: Study Visit for Eurodiaconia members at Diakonisches Werk der EKD, Germany

21 October: Kick off Seminar EYV2011, Brussels

October: Seminar on Participatory Democracy

13-14 October: Social Inclusion Working Group, Social Services Working Group, Brussels

1 October: Meeting of PR and Communications Working Group, Brussels

30 September: Ecumenical Conference on Poverty, Brussels

13-14 September: Board Meeting, Brussels

Other Events

28 October: CrossReach International Dementia Conference

20-23 October: ECG Seminar on practice based learning in ecumenical social and economical action, Vilnius

23–25 September: European Conference on Diaconia against Poverty and Social Exclusion in Heidelberg

3 - 6 August: EDYN seminar on active citizenship and volunteering

Ecumenical Conference and Exhibition in the European Parliament

In the framework of the European year for combating poverty and social exclusion, Eurodiaconia is co-organising a conference with CEC, Comece and Caritas Europa, bringing together Members of the European Parliament, representatives of the other European institutions and representatives of the different churches, of Caritas and Diaconia from all European countries and providing an unique opportunity to exchange experiences in the combat against poverty and social exclusion and to foster the cooperation between the European institutions and the churches, Caritas and Diaconia. This will also be an occasion for our four organisations to launch our common recommendations on poverty and social exclusion to the European Union and its Member States. The conference will close on the opening of an exhibition of the work of Christian actors across Europe in tackling poverty and social exclusion.

We are therefore delighted to invite you to join us for this high-level conference to take place on Thursday 30th September from 2.30pm to 5.30pm in the European parliament in Brussels.

Combating poverty and social exclusion is an essential element of our Christian faith. Still today, churches in Europe, Caritas and Diaconia are the biggest non-state providers of social services in the EU. They are based at grassroots level, close to the people and very often the places to go for those who are falling through the safety nets of the social protection systems. In so doing, churches and diaconal organisations are bridge-builders for a socially cohesive society for all. We therefore believe our voice is worth listening to.

Please register as soon as possible (and before 13th September) by sending the registration form available here to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Important: A limited number of travel and accommodation grants will be available for our members wishing to participate. If you would like to apply for financial support, please tick the relevant box in the registration form and wait for our confirmation before booking your plane tickets.

News

European Parliament's President mentions Eurodiaconia's poverty conference

30 July 2010

On the 19^th July around twenty senior representatives from Christian, Jewish and Muslim religion as well as from the Sikh and Hindu communitiesmet in Brussels on the invitation of José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission. The event was co-chaired by Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament and Herman van Rompuy, President of the European Council. On this occasion President José Manuel Barroso recalled that “churches and religious communities are important providers of social services in European Union Member States”.

Member Focus

Diakonie Austria

Social Services of protestant churches in Austria

Diakonie Austria is a union of Lutheran, Reformed, Methodist, Old Catholic and Baptist organisations and is active in all areas of social service. It is one of the biggest welfare organisations in Austria and is therefore a strong voice for the underprivileged and those with disabilities. Diakonie Austria aims to assist people with practical measures, as well as bringing about structural and legal change through lobbying.

Diakonie Austria has now 35 members (institutions and organisations) and cares for 125.000 people in more than 200 places with 6.000 employees.

Diakonie_Austria_team

Diakonie gives help:

to people in church communities who are in need
to people with handicaps, old people, children and young people with special needs
to refugees in Austria
to people who suffer from catastrophes and war (over boundaries)
to people who are in social crises and living in poverty

Diakonie members offer:

Places for handicapped people, where they can live and work
Places and support - full-time, part-time, mobile - for old people (e.g. Day-care-centres, flat-sharing community centres,..)
Places for people in need, who cannot live on themselves any more
Consulting service for displaced persons, refugees, asylum seekers
Hospitals, mobile help and Health-Care-Centres

http://www.diakonie.at/

This website has been created with the support of the European Commission, but does not necessarily express its views. Eurodiaconia is a registered aisbl in Belgium located at Rue Joseph II, 166, B-1000 Brussels. Photos on this site are designed to illustrate our events. If you believe a photo should not be published on this site contact office@eurodiaconia.org and we will remove it.
Design: Developed by TagExpert © 2010, Eurodiaconia.

Our work