My interview with Pavel Novák, head of Diaconia’s low-threshold clubs in Jablonec nad Nisou, took place on-line, like most things do during these difficult times. However, despite not meeting in person, we did get to see and hear each other, and our meeting made me feel quite certain that Pavel Novák was the right man for this job. I’m sure the Roma people, “his Gypsies”, trust him. Continue reading You have to be a bit of a fool not to lose hope →

Proceeds from the Diaconal Lent Collection enabled very rapid relief after the tragic and devastating explosion in Beirut, Lebanon. The explosion killed more than 220 people and left 6,000 injured. It left about 300,000 people without a roof over their head. Continue reading Diaconia helps people with disabilities in Beirut →

Jan Soběslavský has been associated with Diakonia since university studies, as he helped the organization with legal advice. After graduating from law and theology, he was successful in an interview for the post of Director of Diakonia in Brno and held this position for ten years. He is in his third year as the director of the ECCB Diakonie. Continue reading Community is important to me. Talking with the director of Diakonia ČCE about spiritual care, the tasks of Diakonia, and also about one ideology →

Marie Jurošková has a bag ready at home, packed as if she was going for a summer camp. Personal belongings, a mobile phone, a pillow, a blanket, her favourite board game. She is ready to go at any time of the day or night. However, not to a summer camp, but to clients of a Diaconia home with a special condition in Valašské Meziříčí. Together with Mrs. Maria, nine other people are prepared in the same way. Nurses, caregivers, cleaners. Continue reading How Diaconia is facing the current coronavirus epidemic and how it is helping →

We met for the interview at a time when the media were full of the turbulent events at the Turkish-Greek border, where crowds of migrants were attempting to cross. Apparently, Turkey was actually forcing these people to leave. This is a hot issue for   Erik Siegl and Kristina Ambrožová, as Kristina is head of Diaconia’s Humanitarian and Development Cooperation Centre, while Erik is in charge of the foreign section of this centre. Continue reading Helping Both at Home and Abroad →

Families are willing to move over 100 kilometres for this school. As one of the few in the Czech Republic, this school has long been admitting pupils with severe autism and is able to provide them with special education as well as day care. It is attended by 114 children. More than half of them have a certain form of autism, 80% of them do not speak and communicate with teachers through a so-called image exchange communication system. Nevertheless, together with the parents and the staff of the school, they form one large community, as is evident from this interview with the headteacher Ivana Kováčová. Continue reading A school known far and wide. Interview with Ivana Kováčová, director of the diaconal school in Merklín →

Festivities, music, interviews, reflections and screenings.  These were all part of the celebrations of thirty years of Diakonia.  They started professionally: an international seminar on values in diaconal work.  This was followed by two gatherings: in the Salvátor Church in Prague, and then in the Prague Crossroads centre of Dagmar and Václav Havel.  Music was provided by the orchestra of the Evangelical Academy Conservatory, under the leadership of Ladislav Moravetz; and by Hradišťan, a world-famous ensemble combining Moravian folklore and world music.  Taking part in the talks were International guests, clients of Diakonie and founders of the organization, thanks to whom Diakonie resumed its activities in 1989 and grew into one of the most respected care organizations in the Czech Republic.

Jiří Hofman