Putting solidarity into action at the First Catholic Social Days for Europe

Gdánsk, 09 October 2009 - A delegation of Caritas Europa participated in the First Catholic Social Days for Europe, a congress organised by the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), with the assistance of Renovabis and of the European Solidarity Centre. The event was held in the Polish city of Gdánsk from the 8th to the 11th of October and bore the slogan “Solidarity – a Challenge for Europe”.   The principle of solidarity is one of the fundamentals of Catholic Social Teaching, but lays also at the very basis of the project of European unification. This event therefore convened participants from the entire European continent, representatives of Christian Churches in Europe and of the EU Institutions to reflect and discuss over the challenges which solidarity in Europe, particularly in the European Union, has to face today. Caritas Europa was very happy to be offered the opportunity to participate in this event as a partner of COMECE.     Especially in a time of economic crisis and strain on society, solidarity is even more important today both among people and among countries. Solidarity is the major response to the needs of the poor, of the vulnerable and of the marginalized. Solidarity helps families to grow and develop, giving children hope for a better future. Solidarity keeps society together by fostering social cohesion and overcoming exclusion.

keeps society together by fostering social cohesion and overcoming exclusion Photo: COMECE

In this context, it was decided for the congress to give a concrete example of solidarity towards the most vulnerable by supporting a social project in one of the poorest European countries. Caritas Europa, the European network of Caritas organizations, was invited - as a major actor of solidarity in Europe – to participate in the congress and especially to present a project worth of support.  

The “Workshop of applied creative work in Bender”, run by Caritas Moldova, was chosen to receive donations collected during and after the event. The project addresses the specific situation of children who are left without parental guidance as a result of the emigration of their parents. These children grow up in unsecure or non-existing family environment, experience distress and sense of abandonment, are likely to have psychological and health problems and drop out of school. Many are drawn into criminality or are subject to human trafficking. The project empowers these children by helping them to build up their lives healthily and independently.  

Fr. Erny Gillen (President of Caritas Europa), Otilia Sirbu (Director of Caritas Moldova) and Natalia Rabei (Project Coordinator) addressed the audience by presenting the project and explaining its value for society and for the Church.

For more information, please contact:
Adriana Opromolla
Social Policy Officer
Tel: + 32 (0)2 235 26 52
aopromolla@caritas-europa.org