Last weekend, the spring meeting of the representatives for international partnership work (BIP) was held: for the first time the meeting was realized in a digital way due to the Coronavirus crisis. More than 40 participants from Germany, South Tyrol/Italy, Poland and Switzerland took part in the online meeting.
The topics were versatile: Ramona Linder, desk officer for international affairs from the Kolping Society Diocesan Association of Paderborn, presented both the challenges and chances of partnership and coffee trade. General Secretary Dr. Markus Demele reported, amongst other things, on the latest developments in the German supply chain law. Ian Mengel from VENRO (umbrella organisation of development and humanitarian non-governmental organisations in Germany) presented the #weltweitwichtig campaign and announced the activities VENRO is planning on the occasion of the German federal elections. Of course, the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic around the world were also a topic of discussion. Our desk officer for education & campaigns Sigrid Stapel informed how thanks to the Kolping Corona Fund at least some distress could be alleviated in our partner countries.
