Twenty-eight members from 13 European countries participated in the Migration Network Meeting 2024 organized by “Apostoli”, as a member of the European Network “EuroDiakonia”, with peace and the social integration of refugees as the central theme of discussion.
In particular, the Meeting discussed the issue of the role of ministerial organizations as providers of social services in shaping migration narratives with the aim of broader social inclusion, the challenges and opportunities for effective social inclusion and integration, as well as actions of advocacy aimed at creating welcoming societies. Peace initiatives in war-torn areas were also discussed.
The members of “EuroDiakonia” were received by the general director of “Apostoli”, Mr. Kon. Dimtsas and his colleagues. Mr Dimtsas, after welcoming the participants and thanking them for their presence, highlighted the following among others:
“Refugees, migrants and asylum are important issues for the European Union, its Member States and Europeans. Continuous flows from Syria, Afghanistan and, recently, Ukraine, but also from other places, have characterized the European reality in the last fifteen years. The debate on the new Treaty on Migration and Asylum is characterized by diametrically opposed approaches. After all, the more general climate across Europe is not at all favorable to immigration, a fact that is reflected in several surveys, in the rhetoric of rejection and exclusion, in the rise of various political forces, which oppose immigration”, highlighted Mr. .
“In this framework, ministerial organizations as providers of social services, as in this case the charitable organization of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens “Apostoli”, as well as the other members of the “EuroDiakonia” network, are called upon to play an important role and a multidimensional in the process of integrating refugees and migrants, shaping inclusive narratives about migration in order to create an effective human community that includes otherness. This process – for obvious reasons – is not easy and presents several challenges. a more general action, which brings together the different native and immigrant communities, so that inclusive and welcoming societies emerge in the 21st century, the century of immigration. Your meeting here in Kleinon Asti, Alma Civitas of Athens, cradle of democracy and the first city of. Europe, which through the Apostle Paul himself embraced the inclusive message of Christianity, acquires from the facts a special symbolic and moral meaning”, he added. the general director of “Apostoli”, giving the trigger to start the discussion of the two-day meeting.
During the two days, members exchanged views on the humanitarian crisis in the war zones in Ukraine and the Middle East, the migration crisis, the recently adopted Pact on Migration and Asylum, discussed proposals and solutions for the harmonious integration process of refugees and migrants and the creation of an effective human community. Furthermore, they visited the Multi-Course “Lela Karagianni”, the welcoming home that “Apostoli” opened in 2023 in Kypseli and where families from the multicultural community find support, help and solutions through a series of programs and activities for children and adults .
EuroDiakonia, of which “Apostoli” has been a member since 2018, is the largest European network of Christian ministerial organizations with the aim of advocating social justice in Europe.