Our story | Interdiac - International Academy for Diaconia and Social Action
Back to homepageOur story | Interdiac - International Academy for Diaconia and Social Action
Back to homepageThis is an invitation to undertake a journey with interdiac from its foundation up to today.
Follow these steps which continue to impact the life and work of those who have been involved in interdiac.
You are invited to continue the journey with interdiac by joining our learning community.
interdiac invites all who share its aims to join in developing the Academy and its activities
June 2008
18. – 20. 6. 2008
Český Těšín (Czech Republic)
The 1st Curriculum Development Workshop with experts from interdiac partner organisations took place. The meeting laid the ground for the curriculum of the Pilot Module “Social inclusion, participation and diaconia.”
December 2008
10. 12. 2008
Český Těšín (Czech Republic)
Interdiac was founded in Český Těšín. The founders are two social service providers, Slezska Diakonie (Czech Republic) and Helsinki Deaconess Institute (Finland).
Diaconia University of Applied sciences (Diak) becomes the Programme Supporter of interdiac.
June 2009
12. – 17. 6. 2009
Odessa (Ukraine)
The CABLE (Community Action Based Learning for Empowerment) workshop used an interactive programme, which tested the participatory and person centred approach of the CABLE approach for Diaconia in Central and Eastern Europe.
August 2009
Český Těšín (Czech Republic)
1 Contact Teaching
31. 8. – 11. 9. 2009
2 Contact Teaching
2. – 4. 10. 2009
3 Contact Teaching
13. – 15. 11. 2009
The Pilot course, accredited by Diak, developed multi–perspectival understandings of Social Inclusion and Participation. It analysed the impact of globalisation on local contexts and on diaconal work. Based on the good practice of this learning model, the three and half year study programme at degree level was elaborated.
January 2010
Český Těšín (Czech Republic)
23. – 25. 1. 2010
March 2010
14. – 18. 3. 2010
Bratislava (Slovakia)
The Bratislava conference fed into the development of interdiac development by contributing to the formulation of the training, research and development programme. It was also a moment to celebrate the completion of the first one semester course and launch new initiatives. The Declaration was a public statement concerning policy on social inclusion in church and society.
Publication: "Bratislava Declaration" as output
June 2010
The One Semester Course on ‘Social Inclusion, Participation and Diaconia’ was accredited by Ministry of Social Affairs, Czech Republic as approved vocational training for social workers for a four year period.
June 2010
7. – 11. 6. 2010
Tbilisi (Georgia)
October 2010
11. – 15. 10. 2010
Novi Sad (Serbia)
The workshops introduced new analytic and methodological approaches to working with excluded young people. The programme expanded and diversified participants’ capacity for promoting social inclusion and enabled the transfer of this to their respective countries.
April 2011
10. – 15. 4. 2011
Yerevan (Armenia)
The training contributed to gaining new knowledge, skills and competences on how to approach to marginalised young people and how to work with them. The new Handbook and the accompanying DVD, which is a part of the Handbook, were used for this purpose and further developed. Further, the project created a resource bank of trained trainers.
June 2011
13. – 17. 6. 2011
Helsinki (Finland)
The study visit aimed at working on the issue of participation and empowerment of ´forgotten young people´ in marginalised local communities. This contributed to clarifying and elaborating the root concepts for volunteering and the development of local initiatives.
September 2011
29. 9. – 10. 10. 2011
Český Těšín (Czech Republic)
The participants represented the non–governmental and governmental sector of 3 different regions of Georgia, Tbilisi, Guria, Imereti, Kvemo Kartli. The focus was put on how to tackle poverty and social exclusion of children and young people.
October 2011
10. – 14. 10. 2011
Český Těšín (Czech Republic)
The study visit was a follow up learning event of study visit in Helsinki. A special focus was put on developing the culture of voluntary action and the recognition of the developmental dynamics that support voluntary and community engagement.
December 2011
7. – 10. 12. 2011
Järvenpää (Finland)
May 2012
10. 5. – 15. 5. 2012
Ostrava (Czech Republic)
Seeking Conviviality, Re–formation of Community Diakonia in Europe: presentation of the outcomes
November 2012
26. – 30. 11. 2012
Suruceni (Moldova)
1st Workshop: Exchange & support networks for a use of the Handbook ´Make change yourselves´ with young people in their communities
January 2013
16. – 19. 1. 2013
Odessa (Ukraine)
Publications as outputs:
March 2013
5. 3. 2013
The study programme Diaconia and Christian social practice was accredited by Ministry of Education in Czech Republic as professional education in social work. The programme is also accredited by the Ministry of Education in Finland as professional education in social service.
April 2013
8. – 12. 4. 2013
Tallinn / Pilistvere (Estonia)
Exchange & support networks for a use of the Handbook ´Make change yourselves´ with young people in their communities The seminars built on the outcomes of the learning process initiated and undertaken with the partner organisations through the Mobile Workshops in Tbilisi and Novi Sad and the follow up training in Armenia. In particular, the project drew out the strategies and developed a process for the ethical use of the interdiac Handbook ´Make Change Yourselves´ and to create a support & exchange network for the multiplicators.
Publications as outputs:
June 2013
2. – 6. 6. 2013
Dnepropetrovsk (Ukraine)
Participants in the interdiac ´Mobile Workshops´ in Tbilisi (Georgia), Novi Sad (Serbia) and Yerevan (Armenia) and Seminars in Suruceni (Moldova) and Pilistvere (Estonia) prioritised participation, empowerment, inclusion and the value based approach as key issues to be dealt with in the light of an overall theme ´Social inclusion, participation and empowerment of marginalised young people´.
November 2013
25. – 29. 11. 2013
Odessa (Ukraine)
The meeting drew on the process of development of the strategies for community work and creating networks locally and nationally. Specific focus was put on community economic development.
January 2014
14. – 17. 1. 2014
Rummelsberg (Germany)
Seeking Conviviality. Re–forming Community Diakonia in Europe
April 2014
28. 4. – 2. 5. 2014
Dnepropetrovsk (Ukraine)
The idea for the feasibility visit was developed at the Evaluation seminar in Dnepropetrovsk. The evaluation dealt with the issues of personal and professional learning with interdiac, the improved competences for personal and professional life and the possibilities for dissemination.
May 2014
25. 5. – 31. 5. 2014
Český Těšín (Czech Republic)
The Workshop promoted learning in support of the development of personal capacity and empowerment of ‘forgotten people’ in multicultural settings and learning for intercultural education.
March 2015
2. – 6. 3. 2015
Manchester (Great Britain)
Publications as output:
May 2015
20. – 23. 5. 2015
Odessa (Ukraine)
The Steering group aimed to support the staff and volunteers of GELCU and Living Hope in their responses to the consequence of the war and to develop and implement the mini projects addressing the needs of the people on grass root level. Since early 2016 there has been no response from the leadership GELCU to follow the conclusions as agreed at the steering group.
November 2015
23. – 26. 11. 2015
Odessa (Ukraine)
The Networking & Learning meeting followed the idea to invite the representatives of churches and diaconia in the Far East, which have not so far been involved in interdiac activities.
February 2016
22. – 26. 2. 2016
Tallinn (Estonia)
This consultation process organised by the Lutheran World Federation in partnership with interdiac ´Seeking Conviviality: Re–forming Community Diakonia in Europe´ was launched by the so called solidarity group, the pan–European gathering of pastors, deacons and social or diaconal workers, students and teachers are exploring their work in diverse local contexts across Europe and in training and support for diaconia. This process started with thematic discussions on: Diaconia as a faithful response to God´s call through the ‘other’. Diaconia as an approach to life in community. How Diaconia combats inequality and injustice. How Diaconia opposes the consuming society and market driven economy.
December 2016
9. – 11. 12. 2016
Bratislava (Slovakia)
2nd international meeting on Educational Concepts for Professionals in culturally and religiously sensitive care of volunteers working with migrants and refugees: Educational Concepts for Professionals in culturally and religiously sensitive care of volunteers working with migrants and refugees
| Year 1 Semester 1 | |
| 25. 1. – 26. 1. 2016 | Český Těšín |
| Year 1 Semester 2 | 27. 1. – 30. 1. 2016 | Český Těšín |
| 14. 3. – 19. 3. 2016 | Český Těšín | |
| 4. 4. – 9. 4. 2016 | Český Těšín | |
| 13. 6. – 15. 6. 2016 | Český Těšín |
| Year 1 Semester 2 | 5. 9. – 9. 9. 2016 | Český Těšín |
| 10. 10. – 14. 10. 2016 | Český Těšín | |
| 4. 4. – 9. 4. 2016 | Český Těšín | |
| 13. 6. – 15. 6. 2016 | Český Těšín |
January 2017
31. 1. – 3. 2. 2017
Höör (Sweden)
Seeking Conviviality, Re–formation of Community Diakonia in Europe: presentation of the outcomes
February 2017
24. 2. – 26. 2. 2017
Český Těšín (Czech Republic)
interdiac was a partner organisation of the project: ‘Education for volunteers in cultural and religious sensitive accompaniment of migrants and refugees’ coordinated by the Society for Intercultural Pastoral Care and Counselling (SIPCC). The project aimed to qualify professionals in adult education so that they can empower volunteers with the cultural and religious sensitivity to accompany of immigrants and refugees.
May 2017
10. 5. – 16. 5. 2017
Windhoeck (Namibia)
Seeking Conviviality, Re–formation of Community Diakonia in Europe: presentation of the outcomes The outcomes of the consultation process were presented at the LWF events of respective governing and operational bodies.
May 2017
30. 5. – 2. 6. 2017
Prague (Czech Republic)
The research platform contextually based in the Central and Eastern European region was established. This initiative will enable the continuous gathering, analyzing, reflecting and sharing of research on:
• People on Move
• Youth on the Margins
• Ecclesiology & the theological understanding of diaconia
July 2017
1. 7. – 3. 7. 2017
Kiev (Ukraine)
Considering the nature of diaconal action in light of the conviviality process, this initiative aims to build a new profile of diaconal practice, built on the concept of conviviality through raising awareness, networking, training and developmental actions related especially to the challenge of the diversity of uprooted people in the local context.
November 2017
13. – 16. 11. 2017
Balatonszárszó (Hungary)
The ‘Kick–off’ meeting for the third phase of the ‘Seeking Conviviality’ process took place 13th – 16th November 2017. The new process will focus on Faithful Living in a Diversifying Europe. The first European meeting will be in Sibiu, Romania in autumn 2018.
December 2017
4. 12. – 8. 12. 2017
Český Těšín (Czech Republic)
| Year 2 Semester 2 & one semester professional course |
13. 2. – 17. 2. 2017 | Český Těšín |
| 3. 4. – 7. 4. 2017 | Český Těšín | |
| 22. 5. – 26. 5. 2017 | Český Těšín | |
| 26. 6. – 29. 6. 2017 | Český Těšín |
| Year 3 Semester 1 & one semester professional course |
4. 9. – 8. 9. 2017 | Český Těšín |
| 9. 10. – 13. 10. 2017 | Český Těšín | |
| 27. 11. – 1. 12. 2017 | Český Těšín |
March 2018
22.-23.3.2018, Český Těšín (Czech Republic)
The seminar explored how different diaconal and ethical perspectives in organisations and projects can be implemented. In particular the seminar focused on approaches to the ethical and theological issues and criteria for developing and managing projects.
April 2018
9.-13.4.2018, Gyumri (Armenia)
The Programme aimed to develop the knowledge and skills for practice, which will enable participants to engage effectively with marginalised or uprooted people in their multi-cultural & multi-denominational/ multi-faith contexts and to work for change.
Therefore, in the learning process, through personal capacity building and by implementing the approach to convivial community development, we aimed to start with the creative involvement of the people affected and seek the ways in which the resources on the spot can be engaged effectively for innovation and change.
The Programme was developed by the interdiac Team and was accredited by the Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, Finland (Diak), Open University (40 ECTS).
May 2018
8.5.2018, Český Těšín (Czech Republic)
The workshop explored the use of social media in work with service users by diaconal organisations and NGOs and by the organisations themselves. In particular the seminar focused on developing the use of social media as a means to reach and interact with specific service user groups.
June 2018
20.6.2018, Český Těšín (Czech Republic)
The seminar considered the development of advocacy as part of the work of Diaconia, NGO and civil society organisations, locally and nationally. In particular the seminar focused on creating and sustaining networks of active people and organisations to work long term on specific issues, especially concerning churches and diaconal organisations working with civil society.
October 2018
8.-11.10. 2018, Kyiv (Ukraine)
interdiac celebrated 10 years by gathering about 60 participants for a Conference in a green suburb of Kyiv.
October 2018
11.-12.10.2018, Kyiv (Ukraine)
The partner organisations of interdiac have recognised the need for a platform to support the
development of research on diaconia in Central and Eastern Europe and the first workshop was organised in 2017 in Prague.
The planning of the interdiac Research Platform continued in Kyiv. Working groups followed up the results of the previous meeting and developed the programme ideas related to the identified challenging issues: People on the Move, Youth in the Margins as well as the need to research the concept of Diaconia in different traditions & contexts. This opportunity brought to the table many practical experiences and questions from international contexts. The outcomes of the discussions were shared in the plenary and the steps for the future action were defined.
November 2018
5.-9.11.2018, Český Těšín (Czech Republic)
The course invited the people who in their everyday practice are involved in conversations with people facing some difficulties or challenges in their life. The programme was based on the practice of communication that accepts people and encourages and supports them to take personal responsibility for their lives. In this process of learning the link between communication and the search for conviviality and social justice was explored.
November 2018
19.-23.11.2018 Gussev (Russia)
December 2018
11.-14.12.2018, Sibiu (Romania)
The workshop was welcomed by the Lutheran Church which is a partner in the process. The location was chosen especially because the local context is affected by different flows of in and out migration and the Lutheran church itself is a minority in the Romanian context.
This proved to be a very rich context for learning for all participants. Following interdiac practice we began with personal experience and use this as a basis for analysis. The first focus was on the ways in which we understand both borders and boundaries and what helps to cross borders overcome them. The second step was to analyse different experiences of ‘People on the Move’ and the reasons people have for moving. Based on this sharing, the group then worked on ideas for practice and policy and theology and spirituality.
| Year 3 Semester 1 & one semester professional course |
15. 1. – 18. 1. 2018 | Český Těšín |
| Year 3 Semester 2 & one semester professional course |
12. 2. – 16. 2. 2018 | Český Těšín |
| 19. 3. – 23. 3. 2018 | Český Těšín | |
| 22. 3. – 23. 3. 2018 : open seminar on Models of Management – ethical and diaconal considerations |
Český Těšín | |
| 7. 5. – 11. 5. 2018 | Český Těšín | |
| 8. 5. 2018 : open seminar on Use of media |
Český Těšín | |
| 20. 6. 2018 : open seminar on Advocacy and Campaigning as part of Diaconal work |
Český Těšín |
| Year 4 Semester 1 | 10. 9. – 14. 9. 2018 | Český Těšín |
| 5. 11. – 9. 11. 2018 | Český Těšín | |
| 3. 12. – 7. 12. 2018 | Český Těšín |
January 2019
January 2019
15.-17.1.2019, Český Těšín (Czech Republic)
The workshop programme was aimed at ensuring that a person who works with people of any age is informed and is able to deal with safeguarding issues correctly and sensitively, preserving the dignity of a person and contributing to building safe environments for all.
March 2019
19.-22.3.2019, Driebergen, (The Netherlands)
The overarching theme for the period 2018 - 2020 was ‘People on the Move’.
‘People on the Move’ relates to issues which arise from migration and uprootedness
and from asylum seeker and refugee movements. It also relates to the understanding that personal identities are also ‘on the move’ in response to the changes in society and new understandings around the issues of identity in general.
The workshop focussed more clearly on diversity and aimed at creating the basis
for a concrete work programme for 2 years, including a third workshop in spring 2020 with a focus on convivial theology and the development of the future publications as well as considering the future of the process overall.
April 2019
8.-12.4.2019, Tallinn (Estonia)
October 2019
Český Těšín (Czech Republic), 30.-2.10.2019
November 2019
11.-14.11.2019, Tallinn (Estonia)
Participants from 14 countries came together to open the topic of the conflict starting from biographical reflection on their experience of conflicts, their nature and the impact on personal identity. The visit to a prison opened the perspective for reflection on the picture of society which solves conflicts through the isolation and stigmatization of the individual. Consequently, in the process of working together, the participants developed ideas for the content of new learning programme and relevant competences.
| Year 4 Semester 1 | |
| 14. 1. – 17. 1. 2019 | Český Těšín |
July 2020
13.07.2020, on-line
The learning programme formed a response to the numerous challenges to peaceful living in
this region. It aimed to revisit the underlying grounds and conditions of relations between people, seeking the answer to ‘how can we live together’ through turbulent times, what innovative practices support social justice and how can we become active peacebuilders in our relations with other people at our work, in our communities or in personal relations.
Our goal was to reveal new ways of recognising and handling differences and diversity through work on conflict transformation.
The Programme also invited theological reflection on dynamic peace, based on justice and
equality (shalom), and by doing so, develops a Biblical and theologically grounded
understanding of peace as a basis for peace-making.
Nine Thematic Experts from across the region contributed to the conceptualization of this innovative programme and its delivery through the year 2021 and 2022.
September 2020
08.09.2020, on-line
October 2020
13.10.2020 (on-line)
Workshop was of a result of the research process conducted throughout the years 2019 & 2020. It brought together the desk researchers from six countries and the confessional backgrounds include Lutheran, Orthodox, Pentecostal, and Reformed.
The first publication in the interdiac Research Series “Ecclesiology & the Theology of Diaconia and Christian Social Practice - Case Studies from Central and Eastern Europe & Central Asia” is the output of the interdiac research programme devoted to the theme ‘Ecclesiology and the Theological Understanding of Diaconia’. It gathers together chapters produced by desk researchers, some of whom are engaged in local diaconia and others who are engaged in diaconal organisations or in research. This publication provides a window into diaconia across the region, produced by people with first-hand knowledge, who take an inquisitive look at their own church and its self-understanding and practice.
October 2020
14.10. 2020 (on-line)
Workshop was of a result of the research process conducted throughout the years 2019 & 2020. It brought together the practitioner-researchers from six countries – Armenia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Serbia, Ukraine Ukraine, Georgia, Slovakia, Kyrgyzstan and Estonia.
The theme ‘People on the Move’ brought to focus migrant and refugee experiences in Central and Eastern Europe. At the heart of the research process was the aim to investigate how churches and religious organisations meet and support ‘people on the move’ in that region.
There is very little collected data and hardly any actual research on this issue except the
reports produced by specific organisations and churches in their local contexts.
October 2020
20.10.2020 (on-line)
The Workshop created a space for a creative discussion about the texts of four books of 4 stories each on aspects of conviviality and diaconia.
Alongside this, the 3 – years process (since the year 2018) with regard to personal and organisational impacts and on the process as such was evaluated and the ideas for the future follow up of the joint LWF & interdiac initiative were presented.
November 2020
10.11.2020, on-line
November 2020
11.11.2020, on-line
Workshop was a result of the research process conducted throughout the years 2019 & 2020. It brought together the practitioner-researchers from six countries – Armenia, Ukraine, Georgia, Slovakia, Kyrgyzstan and Estonia.
Work on this research theme explored the practice of Youth Diaconia in Central and Eastern
Europe and Central Asia, as reflected by the young people and professional workers. Their
voices shared with the reader stories of development of youth work, which seeks for the ways to create inclusive empowering environments in faith-based youth organisations. In such an environment young people in the “M” experience the feeling of safety, become active
participants in the community and form their own identity through experiencing respect and
acceptance.
January 2021
20.01.2021 (on-line)
May 2021
19.-20.05.2021, on-line
June 2021
9.6.2021, on-line
This programme is a joint initiative of interdiac with eight partners and other organisations working with marginalised young people.
‘Make Change Yourselves’ offers a unique possibility for lecturers and thematic experts to combine knowledge and practice and bring ‘first-hand’ experience into the learning process.
The programme is based on a ‘double learning process’ as professional youth workers and long-term voluntary youth workers will develop new approaches to their work whilst engaging young people in a change process. It supports new ways to empower them to shape their own lives and find ways to contribute to changes of their ‘living & working context’. Therefore, one outcome of this project is expected to be seen in the lives of young people, who will be involved in this programme and in their context.
September 2021
16.9.2021, on-line
The on-line space is an innovative approach to using virtual space to build up the living and learning community through resource sharing and the mutual exchange of practice in Diaconia and Christian social practice globally.
The on-line space should form the centre of a living learning community and therefore each theme has a Moderator whose responsibility is to curate the content of the theme.
September 2021
22.-24.9.2021, on-line
The wealth of experience and expertise shared during the sessions over these days has been built around the concept of practitioner-researcher. There was a common agreement that research should be a part of good practice and organisational development. It should embrace critical reflection on the context and the traditional ‘ways of doing’ of diaconal organisations and on the wider context. Research should be beneficial for everyone involved in it, supported by trust-building and horizontal relations between the practitioners and service-users.
October 2021
1.10.2021, on-line
The international team of practitioner-experts on diaconia came together to outline expectations from their engagement in the learning processes and confirm commitment to particular themes. They discussed relevant approaches, concepts and the content of diaconal learning in response to the more recent contextual and global challenges which both burden marginalised and vulnerable people and disturb social cohesion. The creation of common action and the search for ways to promote advocacy and campaigning, together with people in need was recognised as fundamental.
October 2021
5.10.2021, on-line
November 2021
16.11.2021, webinar
During 2021 the members of the European Group which has been developing the Seeking Conviviality process finalised the last step of this phase. This involved the production of four books which are commonly known as ‘the story books’.
These are inspiring books which inform readers about the work being done on the local level in diverse European contexts to promote convivial life together.
Each book has four stories with an introduction and commentary, ending with the criteria which emerge from these stories which can inform future diaconal work.
A webinar was organised by the Lutheran World Federation in Geneva.
November 2021
29.11.2021, on-line
December 2021
1.12.2021, on-line
The LWF agreed to continue the process for a further period which will lead up to the LWF Assembly in Poland in 2023.
New members were nominated to the international group and several members continued from the previous group, to ensure learning was not lost. This new phase of the programme has as one main aim which is to produce a learning programme on conviviality and diaconia. The idea is to make this available on line and for people to use it locally or regionally. The interdiac on-line space will be used for accessing these resources.
December 2021
15.12.2021, on-line
February 2022
1.- 4.2. 2022, Český Těšín (Czech Republic)
March 2022
2.3.2022, on-line
March 2022
28.-31.3.2022, Prešov (Slovakia)
May 2022
5.5.2022, on-line
May 2022
23.5.-27.5.2022 Helsinki (Finland)
June 2022
7.-10.6.2022, Helsinki (Finland)
International Academy for Diaconia and Social Action
Dukelská 264/5
737 01 Český Těšín - Czech Republic
