Beyond the Social Services

The Protestant Theological Faculty organises a week-long international seminar

This February 26 students from 5 European countries were able to experience Prague first-hand and at the same time to discover new forms of organised love for one's neighbour. Participants at the seminar held in the field of Diaconia Studies on the theme "Beyond the Social Services" had a unique opportunity to extend and reflect on their experiences of the possibilities and limitations of community-based social work – all within the romantic setting of the Prague winterscape.

The seminar aimed to identify, compare and discuss current challenges in this field. The lectures and presentations focused on belonging to certain communities such as the Church or society and the factors that facilitate or hinder this belonging. Reference was also made to the concepts of human rights and the welfare state and how they are put into practice, together with the ethical and historical background, but also the practical implementation of resource-oriented methods.

The theoretical input of the lectures was developed further in intercultural discussions and personal experiences. In this way, the participants could discover the common features and differences between Norway, Germany, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Finland. They also became acquainted with various diaconal projects in the Czech Republic through presentations or visits.

Prague's cultural life was of course not forgotten. Guided tours to Prague Castle, the former concentration camp Terezín, and the Jewish quarter complemented the academic side of the week. Last but not least, a sense of community among the participants themselves was built up during coffee breaks, social evenings, and the discovery of the local cuisine.

The seminar took place on 10-19 February and it is planned to hold another similar seminar in 2014 for other students on the European Master's programme in Diaconia and Christian Social Practice.

Our sincere thanks go to the organisers at the Protestant Theological Faculty in Prague for all the experiences we had during the week.

Angelika Böttle

Participant from Heidelberg