Understanding Practice as Research: 6th International Diaconia Webinar

November 22nd, 2024,  9.00–12.00 (CET) / 10.00–13.00 (EET)

Welcome to join in mutual learning and discussions on this important issue for diaconia and Christian social practice, theology and theory.

Theme

In the international diaconia webinar series we are exploring how everyday diaconal practice with people may become a space of dynamic inquiry which is supportive of innovative change for people.

The webinar will introduce the forthcoming interdiac publication ‘Practitioner-Researcher’, which invites us to broaden and deepen our understanding that all diaconal practice with people is a form of research. It aims to support grass-root practitioners in developing their practice as research. This publication will be co-published by International Academy for Christian Social Action and Diaconia in Central and Eastern Europe (interdiac) and The International Society for the Research and Study of Diaconia and Christian Social Practice (ReDi). It will be available in January 2025.

The webinar will present diaconal practice as research through keynote input and then highlight three examples of how research can enrich practice with people, from engaged
diaconal practitioners. There will be a space for mutual learning in group work and discussions with the webinar speakers.

The organisers invite practitioners, researchers, students, and others interested in the field to join the webinar. It will be in English.

Keynote

The keynote speaker at the webinar will be Oksana Prosvirnina, Programme and Research Leader at interdiac (Czechia). She has been working in interdiac on development of learning programmes which are supported by practice research for diaconal and social workers in Central and Eastern Europe. She graduated in sociology from Odessa State University, Ukraine. Now she is a war refugee and is living in Manchester, UK. Oksana will introduce her work on the upcoming publication ‘Practitioner-Researcher’.

The theme: ‘Understanding practice as research’.

There will be time and space for discussions and questions after the input.

The Challenges for Diaconia & Christian Social Practice

The second part of the webinar will consider practice in relation to the key theme with the following three contributors:

Caroline Powell, who is a South African community developer, activist and practical theologian based in Cape Town, with a 20-year career dedicated to the accompaniment of churches and faith communities towards their outworking of peace and justice in the world.

Her research with churches into contemporary and historical issues of land and spatial justice continues to fuel communal efforts towards faith-based just housing in her context. She has a passion for leadership development and wellness for leaders in the social impact sector with a particular interest in the wellbeing of young leaders in South Africa.

The theme: Future(s) for the church on the corner: emancipatory research towards a praxis of spatial justice for South African congregations.

Petr Sobalík was born and lives in Prague, Czechia. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work from Charles University. Since then, he has been working as a social worker. He has been dealing with migration issues for eight years. First, he worked in the stateestablished organization Správa uprchlických zařízení (Administration of Refugee Facilities) within the State Integration Programme, which aims to help people who have newly acquired asylum status to use the financial resources that the state has dedicated for the integration of each individual. After working in this organization, he moved to the non-profit sector in Diakonie ČCE, to project DOMA (home) Now, He Is now working as the project leader of the DOMA project, which deals with overcoming xenophobia by facilitating meetings between native Czechs and immigrants.

The theme: Critical reflection on the approach to double learning in the DOMA project with ‘people on the move’.

Kari Korslien was until 2019, an associate professor at VID Specialized University, in Oslo, Norway. She trained as a social worker and deacon and worked as a researcher and a
lecturer in diaconal studies. Now she is serving as a deacon, in a local diaconal centre called “The Diakonia House”, Gjøvik, which is part of the Church of Norway. She has contributed to several textbooks on diaconal topics in Norwegian and English (2009, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2019). Her interests are professional practice, recognition, voluntary work, cooperation, Use Your Talents and local community work.

The theme: Working in a rural district – models and methods in diaconal work.

Zoom link for the webinar

https://diak-fi.zoom.us/j/62098179984?pwd=craNTnzCa2aTPz2T9j2ibHqAkW7bNe.1
Passcode: 082792

No pre-registration is required.

Outline Programme (Time Zone: CET)

9.00–9.15 – Welcome and introduction to the event
9.15–9.45 – Keynote input ‘Understanding Practice as Research’ (Oksana Prosvirnina, Programme and Research Leader, interdiac, Ukraine and Czechia)
9.45–10.15 – Break out rooms
10.15–10.30 – Plenary feedback
10.30–10.45 – Coffee break
10.45–11.30 – Presenting ‘local cases’ and perspectives

• Caroline Powell (South Africa) – Future(s) for the church on the corner: emancipatory research towards a praxis of spatial justice for South African congregations
• Petr Sobalík (Czechia) – Critical reflection on approach to double learning in the DOMA project with ‘people on the move’
• Kari Korslien (Norway) – Working in a rural district – models and methods in diaconal work

11.30–11.50 – Panel discussion with Q&A to the speakers
11.50–12.00 – Webinar Closing

More information

The CODE Forum is an international and interconfessional group bringing together practitioners, researchers and academics involved in the field of diaconia and Christian social practice. It has a special interest in community development approaches.

The webinar programme is an activity of the CODE Forum and is jointly organised by the Diaconia University of Applied Science (Diak) and the National Church Council (Finland), VID Specialized University (Norway), the Protestant Theological University (The Netherlands) and the International Academy for Christian and Social Action in Eastern and Central Europe (interdiac).

For more information, or to get the publication in January please get in touch with Oksana Prosvirnina, Programme Leader in the International Academy for Christian and Social Action, Central and Eastern Europe. Email: oksana.prosvirnina@interdiac.eu

The webinar programme is an activity of the CODE Forum and is jointly organised by the Diaconia University of Applied Sciences (Diak) and the Finnish Church Council (Finland), VID Specialized University (Norway), the Protestant Theological University (The Netherlands) and the International Academy for Christian and Social Action in Eastern and Central Europe (interdiac).

Presentations from the previous webinars are available for you on request. Please, contact Ville Päivänsalo at Ville.Paivansalo@diak.fi for access details.