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3rd Ecumenical Social Week: drawing conclusions

2010-10-28 12:15

In particular to discuss such themes: collaboration of city and church to create new social services, assessment of charity as a moral or material category, role of mass-media in solving important social issues, social volunteering, trust as a foundation of partnership in social initiatives, collaboration of laity in socio-charitable sphere, responsibility of a person for health as a component of social responsibility, and how to reach an agreement in society.

Nina Hayduk, Chief of social work section, assistant professor of Sociology and Social work Department of National University “Lviv Polytechnics”, stressed, that Ecumenical Social Week gathered representatives of state, private and public sectors of social life. “Ecumenical Social Week for the first time let move the accent from negative - complex problems, which exist not only in Ukraine, but also around the world, to the plane of positive view, taking as a foundation those spiritual values, on which we base solving social issues.”Mrs. Hayduk also pointed out importance of discussion of social inclusion theme, activity of public organizations. Antoine Arjakovsky, director of Institute of Ecumenical Studies of Ukrainian Catholic University, in his turn added, that trust and responsibility are exactly those qualities, which develop philanthropy. He also mentioned good experience of talking with international guests, in particular with Martin Raiser, chief representative of World Bank for Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus, which proposed a set of reforms for Ukraine concerning social sphere, which are important to be conducted .As a positive step on a way to agreement, Mr. Arjakovsky pointed out presentation of educational program of “Foundations of Christian Ethics” in the framework of the 3rd Ecumenical Social Week with a purpose of teaching and understanding of Christianity at schools of Ukraine.

Helen Zordrager, pastor, referent in European questions of Department of Mission of Protestant Church in Netherlands, has spoken about the meaning of memory of the past on the way to peaceful future and example of exhibition opening of “Zabutyy Svit” (“Forgotten World”) (about life of Jewish people in Eastern Europe during Nazis’ terror). “We have to build history not only out of collective memory, but also remember the past through history of certain individuals” – highlighted Mrs. Zordrager. Of course, themes of round tables touched different aspects of understanding of trust, responsibility and philanthropy. In particular moderators have noted significant meaning of trust formation through understanding of social initiatives, directed on solving concrete public needs. And this could be reached, when sides take responsibility for their decisions and actions.

Liliya Klos, curator of socially-medical component of social work specialists training, National University “Lviv Polytechnics” has spoken about expediency of forming a mechanism of inter-field responsibility for social health. During round tables there were articulated also motions of creating work groups, associations, that would go beyond Ecumenical Social Week, to activate public sector, to explain these or another social initiatives, which are needed in Ukrainian society. Participants of the session has agreed among themselves, that accents of this year Ecumenical Social Week have brought closer state and private institutions, clergy, public sector to understanding those key foundations, without which firm foundation of building better future is not possible.