Diakonia Württemberg: 30 years since the launch of the “Hope for Eastern Europe” campaign
During a festive event, Diakonia Württemberg representatives celebrated the 30th anniversary of the “Hope for Eastern Europe” campaign with their partners, in Stuttgart, on 28 September 2023. This campaign, raising donations, focuses on the living situations in Eastern European countries and thus strengthens solidarity within Europe.
International guests of the evening included Mr. Rolf Bareis, the Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Georgia and South Caucasus, Mrs Wanda Falk, the director of Diakonie in Poland, Mrs Anna Brtka, the Director of the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization EHO in Serbia and Mrs Elena Timofticuc, Executive Secretary, Ecumenical Association of Churches in Romania, AIDRom.
In the opening of the festive evening, Senior Church Councillor Dr. Annette Noller reminded the audience that 30 years ago, the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) initiated the “Hope for Eastern Europe” campaign for people in difficult situations in Eastern European countries. Unfortunately, the world is “in many places more characterised by the powers of chaos than by the good works of God’s creation”, added Dr Annette Noller, who also pointed out that “it is the task of Christians to stand up against injustice and for a humane way of dealing with one another”.
Prof. Dr. Klaus Gestwa, President and Director of the Institute for Eastern European History and Regional Studies at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, spoke about Eastern Europe between the two turning points of 1989 and 2022. For a long time, the turning point of the 1980s and 1990s was understood primarily as a story of freedom and peace. However, the period of upheaval also left behind a lot of unresolved issues – which have now become visible.
”We learned a lot from our partners,” said Mr. Klaus Rieth, Church Counsellor, who has long headed the Württemberg Regional Church’s Department for Mission, Ecumenism and Development. He was impressed by how much the partners have managed to achieve despite reduced funding. The links between church and diakonia were also particularly strong, he said.
”The “Hope for Eastern Europe” campaign is a living proof of faith in the Christian principles of compassion, love and care for others. For 30 years, through the efforts of the special people of Diakonie Württemberg, we have succeeded, together with 8 other Eastern European countries, in giving hope to people in need. Generous donations made by people who understand that “helping your neighbour who is far away from you” is a Christian gesture have enabled the AIDRom team to be able to help and give hope to those facing various difficulties”, said Mrs. Elena Timofticiuc, Executive Secretary AIDRom, after the event.
The event awarded the Research Award Eastern Europe for reporting on people’s lives in Eastern Europe, as well as the Research Award Eastern Europe.
More details about the event: HERE
Thanks to photographer Manfred Neumann© for shooting the photos and permission to use them.