Month: September 2025

29TH INTERNATIONAL RENOVABIS CONGRESS IN BERLIN

Posted on by Melinda Tomić

Representatives of Kolping Serbia joined more than 200 participants from 26 countries – including donors, political leaders, church, academics, and civil society actors – at the Renovabis Congress in Berlin, dedicated to the theme Human Dignity in Practice.

Ukrainian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk opened the congress with a powerful reminder: “Ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things.” Her words underlined the essential role of civil society and personal commitment in defending human dignity.

Discussions, keynotes, and exchanges explored how dignity can be lived and protected today, addressing challenges such as human rights, peace, and social responsibility. The atmosphere made clear: safeguarding human dignity is a shared mission that concerns us all.

 

This international exchange also reflects the spirit of Kolping’s work worldwide: building partnerships across borders, empowering people locally, and fostering solidarity on a global scale. The congress showed how partnership between different stakeholders can join forces to strengthen human dignity — values deeply rooted in Kolping’s mission and lived out in projects on education, social care and sustainable development.

INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP “ONE WORLD, ONE KOLPING” IN BELGRADE

Posted on by Melinda Tomić

Kolping International organized the international workshop “One World, One Kolping,” with Kolping Serbia proudly serving as the host. The event brought together representatives from Kolping associations from Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, and Germany.

The focus of the workshop was on strengthening capacities for the development of international projects and global learning, especially those involving partners from other continents and countries of the Global South.

Through thematic sessions and presentations held during the core part of the workshop, participants addressed contemporary global challenges such as poverty and social inequality. Successful project examples from Africa, Asia, and Latin America were presented, and discussions highlighted the importance of intercultural sensitivity and understanding as foundations for effective international cooperation. Particularly inspiring were the experiences shared by representatives from Poland and Hungary, who spoke about their partnership projects with Mexico and Honduras. Participants also gained detailed insights into the work of Kolping Honduras, which further enriched their understanding of local challenges and approaches to development in that country.

 

The workshop concluded with a collective reflection and the definition of steps for future collaboration and the development of projects with countries of the Global South. Participants expressed great satisfaction with the organization and the overall atmosphere, emphasizing the importance of such gatherings for strengthening the Kolping network at the international level.

 

Additionally, this occasion helped identify the significant potential of Kolping Serbia to develop future projects in partnership with countries of the Global South, particularly in the areas of women’s empowerment, social entrepreneurship, and ecology. These topics are widely present in Kolping projects around the world and represent common points of connection, offering opportunities to create positive change together on a global scale.