Eurodiaconia

29/05/2026

"We are not victims; we are powerful voices of hope."

📢 On the 27th of May, Fédération de l'Entraide Protestante (FEP), alongside Fédération Protestante de France (FPF), launched their project Femmes Exilées Engagées (Committed Women in Exile), the latest strand of a human corridor that has run between France and Lebanon for nine years.

This project is the first to target a specific group of people: women activists, journalists and association leaders.

📚 To find out more about the event, read our short article: https://eurodiaconia.org/federation-protestante-de-france-opens-humanitarian-corridor-for-women-human-rights-defenders/

27/05/2026

From the opening morning sun in Vienna to the final closing business session, the Annual General Meeting 2026, hosted by Diakonie Österreich, was an incredible showcase of solidarity, deep discussion, and community 🤝. Members from Iceland to Armenia gathered to address the challenges and opportunities facing Diaconia in Europe today.

🌟 Key Highlights:

💠 A Call for Solidarity: During video messages and keynotes, leaders like Austrian Federal Minister Korinna Schumann and Barbara Prainsack from the University of Vienna reminded us that care and solidarity must serve as the foundations of policy in these turbulent times.

💠 Frontline Dedication: the Deputy Head of the European Commission Representation in Austria, praised our members' phenomenal frontline work, noting that the EU's commitment to social services is equal in importance to its commitment to democracy.

💠 Crucial Panel & Thematic Debates: Over the three days, panels and World Café sessions tackled pressing realities, such as the state of emergency in some countries, workforce shortages, non-profit sustainability, long-term care, and Roma inclusion.

💠 Growing Our Family: We were thrilled to officially welcome two new members to the Eurodiaconia family: Diaconia University of Applied Sciences (Finland) and Diaconia of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Croatia.

Beyond the plenary room, participants engaged in hands-on workshops and study visits, gaining practical insights into innovative, community-based services supporting those experiencing homelessness, migration, and mental health challenges.

Of course, it wasn't all work! Guests enjoyed a true Viennese experience with dinner and a classical quartet at Heuriger Mayer am Pfarrplatz, hosted by Diakonie Österreich. 🎻

📋 The event successfully closed with our Business Session chaired by Olli Holmström, reviewing the triumphs of 2025 and setting our sights on the future.

✨ A massive thank you to our hosts, speakers, and the incredible organizing team who made this event seamless.

For the full album of the AGM photos, click here: https://eurodiaconia.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/IgBkNBoJGwEGS5qwoEYvnsjyAdLfXdw2Ve9YI0Nz_Ydu5c8?e=cEQhEH

Next stop? In May 2027, all roads will lead to Madrid with our Spanish members!

¡Vamos! ✈️

21/05/2026

Vakar aizvadīta pirmā AGM 2026 diena Vīnē, kopā ar partneriem no visas Eiropas diskutējot par sociālo un diakonālo organizāciju lomu cilvēka cieņas, solidaritātes un demokrātisku vērtību stiprināšanā.

Dienas laikā īpaša uzmanība tika pievērsta sociālo pakalpojumu nākotnei, kopienu iesaistei, pilsoniskās sabiedrības stiprināšanai, kā arī tehnoloģiju un mākslīgā intelekta ētiskai izmantošanai.

Pēcpusdienā norisinājās tematiskās darbnīcas par:

-) digitālajiem risinājumiem un digitālo interešu aizstāvību;
-) brīvprātīgo iesaisti un iekļaujošu kopienu veidošanu;
-) rīcību ārkārtas situācijās un sadarbību krīžu laikā;
-) demokrātijas un pilsoniskās telpas aizsardzību;
-) ilgtspējīgu finansējumu sociālajam darbam;
-) kopienās balstītu diakonālo darbu;
-) cilvēku ar pieredzi nabadzībā un sociālajā atstumtībā iesaisti lēmumu pieņemšanā.

Paldies Diakonie Austria par viesmīlīgo uzņemšanu un iespēju būt daļai no šī nozīmīgā Eiropas mēroga notikuma!

Ar interesi gaidām konferences turpinājumu!

20/05/2026

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20/05/2026

Primeira sessão da conferência e assembleia geral da .

20/05/2026

20/05/2026

🌍Despite being a widespread phenomenon in Europe, family homelessness remains an under-debated and overlooked dimension of homelessness.

📋 The report draws on member experiences and recommendations and highlights the important role that social service providers play in addressing the issue and supporting affected families.

To learn more, read the report here: https://eurodiaconia.org/family-homelessness-in-europe-in-2026/

13/05/2026

🚨 EU Anti-Poverty Strategy is out, but is it enough?

As part of the Coalition on the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, we welcome some important steps forward, but serious concerns remain.

We need a more structural, rights-based approach to truly end poverty in Europe.

Read the latest coalition statement here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tP496F8qyMfm7MQO1S99ymcYq13hgpGo_DcqvFLCcBw/edit?tab=t.0

08/05/2026

📢 The first ever Anti-Poverty Strategy has been published!

The strategy comes at a critical moment as the cost of living rises and social services face mounting pressure.

✅ The strategy is accompanied by documents that address some of the most urgent dimensions of poverty, including:

💠Child poverty
💠Homelessness
💠Inclusion of people with Disabilities

⚠️ Nevertheless, Eurodiaconia is concerned about these gaps:

💠No meaningful connection to the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR).
💠Lack of legislative implementation mechanisms.
💠No new dedicated budget for fighting the fight against poverty.
💠Policy silos that may leave the most vulnerable groups of people behind.

It is now up to Member States to turn words into action. Eurodiaconia stands ready to support a transition from aspiration to reality.

Read the full statement here: https://eurodiaconia.org/statement-on-the-anti-poverty-strategy/

05/05/2026

🌿 Mental Health support is not only about treating the symptoms; it’s also about addressing the complexity of every individual’s life.

For European Mental Health Week (4-8 May), we spoke with four of our members about:

💠 the social challenges people face every day,

💠 the misconceptions of mental health,

💠 and what a supportive response could look like.

🔗 Find out what our members said here: https://eurodiaconia.org/eurodiaconia-mental-health-week/

🎥 Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZBNxrcS5rk&feature=youtu.be