Odessa
In
St. Paul's Church on November 23-26 a seminar was held through the
International Academy of Diaconal and Social Work
"Interdiac" (www.interdiac.eu)
together with the German Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ukraine.
Participants, each of which in one way or another is responsible for
diaconal work in his or her church, came from Evangelical Lutheran
churches in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Ukraine.
The
leaders of the seminar were Yanka Adameova and Barbora Zielinova
(Cheski-Tesin, Czech Republic). The goal of this meeting was to
develop cooperation between the organization and the Union of
Evangelical Lutheran Churches. At present the "Interdiac"
academy, which offers unique experiences for studying social work and
exchange of experience, interacts intensively only with the Ukrainian
church.
On
the opening day participants became acquainted with one another and
also shared their expectations of the meeting. The day finished with
Taize prayer, led by GELCU Bishop Sergei Mashevsky.
On
the second day the participants spoke about the organizations that
they represented. Each person drew their organization as a ship with
leaders and passengers and then explained the pictures in detail.
With the help of other pictures - "lines of life" -
participants tried to understand their own biography, especially
crucial moments that brought them to work in the church or in the
sphere of diaconal work. In the evening each person had the chance to
speak about his or her country and its culture.
The
guests of the seminar became acquainted with a a concrete example of
diaconal work in Odessa. Vitaly Mikaikhlik showed them St. Paul's
diaconal station and especially spoke about the help given to
refugees fleeing the military conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Nicole
Brisjuk talked about the work of the "Living Hope"
organization that does social work with underprivileged children and
youth.
Oksana
Prosvirnina spoke about the on-site/off-site educational program of
Interdiac, which is open to all who wish to develop their skills in
the area social work. Participants discussed these possibilities with
her.
The
group made a tour of Odessa and had supper together, which helped
everyone get an impression of the local culture and also to hear
interesting personal stories.
Before
leaving participants of the seminar spoke about their vision of how
cooperation for continuing education in the sphere of diaconal work
might take place and how to strengthen local diaconal initiatives.
The interest of and willingness of participants to take on
responsibility give hope that there will be good cooperation in the
future. Thanks to the seminar new contacts were made and with them
new possibilities arise. Participants received motivation for further
work which should in the near future bear good fruit.
Yanka
Adameova, Barbora Zielinova
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