The first network practitioner annual meeting

Brussels, May 10-12, 2022

For the first time Network Practitioners alongside A World of Neighbours researchers and practitioners within the broader network met in person.

Being the first annual meeting and in a formative phase of A World of Neighbours development, the meeting was dedicated to strenghtening the bonds between people and setting the structure.

A World of Neighbours Network is an outcome of the programme Interreligious Praxis for Peace – A World of Neighbours which was run by the Church of Sweden between the years 2018-2022. At the first annual meeting an interim board was elected and the interreligious European network for practitioners, A World of Neighbours, will now be registered as a foundation.

The purpose of the foundation is to provide practitioners with a useful and relevant network of colleagues working with people on the move  in order to facilitate: mutual support, good practice and learning exchange, communications including rapid response, in country collaboration, advocacy and research.

The interim board
The meeting voted in favor of a 9-person board, with quorum of 5 people and decision possible with only 4 votes, making sure we can move forward dynamically:

  1. Jean Duff, Partnership for Faith & Development, Ireland (cohort 4)
  2. Atallah Fitzgibbon, Islamic Relief Worldwide (cohort 2)
  3. Rebecca Lillian, rabbi at Shir Hatzafon in Copenhagen (cohort 1)
  4. Ryszard Bobrowicz, researcher and acting director for the Network Practitioner Programme and
  5. Maria Kjellsdotter Rydinger, theologian and practitioner
  6. Aude Sathoud, Public Relations & Lobbying Manager at Voice of Ezidis, (cohort 4)
  7. Aida Moayedzadeh, project leader for social innovation at Church of Sweden, (cohort 1)
  8. Alaaddin Uslu, student (cohort 2)
  9. Sayed Parviz Khyber, student and member of the European Commission Expert Group on the Views of Migrants

Next annual meeting
Next annual meeting will be held some time between May 29 and June 2, 2023.

Editorial team
To work on the development of strategy and content of internal and external communications the meeting elected Magdalena Wernefeldt, journalist working for the Church of Sweden, Zoé Balakrishnan, project manager Jesuit Refugee Services, Amloud Alamir, journalist working at Amal, Berlin! and Aude Sathoud, Public Relations & Lobbying Manager at Voice of Ezidis.

CALAIS/DUNKIRQUE 
A group of twelve people went to Calais and Dunkirque directly after the meeting for The Walk of Shame. It is a project where people join people on the move in places where they are temporarily staying with no other intention than spend time together. It’s proven to be an excellent way to ‘rehumanise Europe’ bit by bit.

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