From Europe to the Global South – Kolping connects through cooperation. At the beginning of September, the seminar ‘One World, One Kolping’ took place in Belgrade, organised by KOLPING INTERNATIONAL with the support of Kolping Serbia.
Representatives of Kolping organisations from Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Germany, Serbia and Poland took part in the workshop. We met to strengthen our skills in implementing international projects and global education, with a particular focus on partnerships with countries in the Global South.
The workshop was led by Markus Demele, General Secretary of KOLPING INTERNATIONAL. He provided participants with in-depth knowledge of Catholic social teaching, global educational approaches and the goals of sustainable development. He also shared numerous practical examples and personal years of experience from his travels to Kolping organisations in the most remote parts of the world. He reported on cultural differences, inspiring encounters and unforgettable experiences associated with Kolping’s global commitment.
Especially in today’s world, one of the most important tasks of Kolping’s leadership at the national level is to encourage Kolping Families to open themselves for international solidarity – or, as we call it for short, the ‘One World Initiatives’. This can be a new and valuable area of activity for Kolping Families – also in many European countries.
During the meeting, key challenges facing the world today were discussed, such as poverty, social inequality and cultural diversity. Inspiring projects from Africa, Asia and Latin America were also presented.
The Kolping Foundation in Poland was invited to share its experiences to date in working with partners from the Global South. Patrycja Kwapik presented the COFFEE project – Cooperation for Fair Economy and Education, which we implemented together with partners from Romania, Germany, Mexico and Honduras. Agnes Kaiserné from Hungary presented the partnership between Kolping Hungary and the German diocese of Augsburg, as well as an intercultural initiative by her Kolping Family in Gödöllő. These experiences are a valuable support for organisations in other European countries that are just beginning to work with partners from the Global South.
Another special item on the agenda was the online meeting with Fred Wakisa, Managing Director of Kolping Uganda. He presented the almost 40-year history of Kolping’s work in Uganda and its long-standing partnership with the German diocese of Münster.
A heartfelt thank you to KOLPING INTERNATIONAL for the opportunity to participate in this inspiring seminar, and to Kolping Serbia for their exceptional hospitality, helpfulness and perfect organisation, which made our weekend in Belgrade thoroughly enjoyable and enriching.
Patrycja Kwapik, Chairperson of Kolping Europe
