Internationaler Christlicher Friedensdienst

EIRENE International Christian Service for Peace

EIRENE - Steps towards social justice in the South and in the North

After 40 years of development and peace service work, some things are certain:

Despite both immense personnel and financial efforts, the gap between the poor and the rich in the North and South continues to widen. After decades of trying to "develop" the South, it has become obvious that human living conditions for the majority of the population of the earth are only possible if fundamental changes are made. According to our understanding, the required changes are as follows:

With our work in the South, as in the North, EIRENE strives to achieve these goals with the North and South Programs.

Who and what is EIRENE?

EIRENE is the Greek word for Peace. It is a recognised German ecumenical peace and development organisation. EIRENE is approved as an international alternative to the required domestic civil service or to the obligatory military service in Germany.

EIRENE was founded in 1957 by Christians from several denominations. They felt committed to the practice of nonviolence. They wanted to show an alternative to the rearmament after the second world war. The founders were members of the historic peace churches - Mennonites and the Church of the Brethren - and the International Fellowship of Reconciliation. These churches still maintain membership with EIRENE. They are active on the council alongside with the German, Swiss and the Dutch branches.

Annually EIRENE has about 100 volunteers who serve as peace workers and/or as development workers. They are working in a variety of projects in many countries to help build solidarity and to provide relief. More than 1,000 volunteers in the last fourty years have experienced that the traditional classic foreign aid is just not enough. It is insufficient to resolve the unjust structures in our world and the root causes behind them. The main issue today is no longer simply how to support projects, but also how to support partner groups. EIRENE works with partner groups that establish just systems and structures in the third world as well as in the northern hemisphere.

At the Heart of EIRENE

Our service projects are in both:

The Northern and Southern hemispheres.

The close connection between the North and the South is an essential cornerstone toward building a more just world. We want to bring together the peace work in industrial countries with the development and teaching services in the developing countries. This would link all those who strive for an ecological healthy and just society throughout the world. We know that it is not sufficient to make verbal demands for a just economic system, for the dismantling of armament production, or to introduce ecological economic reforms. We are convinced that change to the essential political structures can happen only when people change their own personal lifestyle. The EIRENE staff members in the Neuwied branch have unanimously decided to limit their wages. They do this as a sign of their willingness to participate in change. It is also a sign of credibility toward our partners in the southern hemisphere.

This uniform and self imposed wage limitation also reflects that quality of life is not defined by material values alone. The principle of consensus counts very highly within our work group. Minority votes are taken seriously in every decision making process. Solidarity with coworkers characterises our work environment. Strength comes from within. Within EIRENE there is the opportunity for a time of group meditation or prayer. This is optional and participation is left up to each individual (Christian or not). At EIRENE everyone is welcome.

SOUTH PROGRAM

The South Program offers the opportunity for volunteers doing development work to serve for a minimum of two years. EIRENE currently provides personnel and financial support to project partners in Africa and Latin America. Our main working areas are in Niger, Chad and Nicaragua where EIRENE maintains coordination offices. Besides of the support of agricultural and environmental projects EIRENE also financially supports other projects such as: human rights work, womens' issues, programs to eradicate illiteracy and training in conflict resolution (mediation). These projects receiving financial support are located in Chile, Bolivia, Brasil, Niger, Chad, South-Africa, Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Nicaragua.

NORTH PROGRAM

The North Program offers individuals the opportunity to do peace work for either one or two years in industrialised countries.

Experience gathered from the South Program shows that the northern countries must also develop a new lifestyle of solidarity. EIRENE volunteers live and work in communities with the handicapped, the elderly and other socially marginal groups. These community living groups are located in Switzerland, Belgium, and France. In Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland the work is concentrated on reconcilliation. Some volunteers, however, also work with youth and marginalised groups. In the USA volunteers work with local peace organizations. They live with and support the homeless, refugees and those suffering from AIDS.

EAST PROGRAM

Since 1995 EIRENE works in cooperation with the German organisation "Students help to live" (Schüler helfen Leben) in Bosnia-Herzegovina to support the conconciliation between the different ethnic groups.

A new program has currently been developed for Romania and Bulgaria, where in 1999 the first volunteers began their volunteer service in projects helping marginalized groups, like homeless children living in the streets.

Political work in Germany

Returning volunteers confirm that the essential root cause for economic injustice and destruction of the environment lies with the industrialised nations.

- We must establish an economic order that does not exploit people or nature.

- We must ensure that the money and raw materials which our government has been using for destructive weapons should instead be used for creating life-preserving technology.

- We support cancelling the debts of the third world and changing the economic mechanisms that led to this debt crisis (Jubilee 2000).

- We must stop the excessive waste of raw materials and energy. We need to reduce energy consumption by the North in order to prevent a collapse of the climate.

We need to be ready to remove the blinders of this materialistic growth ideology. Only then can the people of the third world have the freedom to experience their own power and possibilities. And of course our own survival is at stake!

Solidarity, Study And

Service PROGRAM

Anyone who works with a politically active development group and has personal contact with a partner group in Africa or Latin America can inquire about a possible collaboration between EIRENE and that organisation. With agreement from both EIRENE and the partner organisation, one could serve as a volunteer for one to three years. EIRENE likes to offer exchange experiences between Europe and oversea partners. In the past EIRENE volunteers have worked in the following countries: South Africa, Niger, Chad, Rwanda, Nicaragua, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, El Salvador, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Brasil.

APPLICATION

Development Service in the South Program

To join a development service program, women and men should have some job training and work experience. They should speak French or Spanish. EIRENE, being a small peace development agency, has only several vacancies and accepts no prearranged contracts. The support money is sufficient to maintain a simple lifestyle. Social security including pension insurance is regulated by law.

Solidarity and Service in the South Program

For solidarity teaching and specialized service we expect some former political involvement and readiness to participate in public work. The volunteer needs to provide their own financing with help from a political development organization and also a personal financial support group. EIRENE helps in the preparation of the development service contracts, guarantees support, organises social security and later helps with reintegration.

Peace Service in the North Program

Volunteers need to be at least 19 years old to apply as a peace worker volunteer in the North Program. Recognized conscientious objectors can serve their alternative service abroad instead of in domestic civil service. They must begin their service before their 25th birthday. Older volunteers are also encouraged. EIRENE offers "Peace Service for Older People." These volunteers should already be commited to peace work, community work, social work or ecological work. As there is no state support for the North Program, the volunteers need to provide their own support. Each volunteer must develop a circle of support that will bring in at least 200 Euro for each month of service. Our experience shows that churches, trade unions, local organizations, family and friends are willing to support volunteers with their donations. Volunteers receive accomodation, food and pocket money. In Europe the personal monthly allowance is 90 Euro. Volunteers in the US receive $50 US per month. EIRENE provides private health, accident and personal liability insurance for its volunteers.

How can I participate with EIRENE?

How can I support EIRENE?

You can:

- Join a group that works together with EIRENE. Several churches and political development groups have taken on partnership in EIRENE projects.

-EIRENE does not receive any state subsidies to support volunteers in the North Program. Volunteers are required to raise their own financial support. Financial support not only supports the volunteer, but also the organisation. It also shows solidarity for the redistribution of resources.

-Request an EIRENE-Annual Report.

- Support EIRENE with your financial donations.

Peace and Development Work

Depends on Donations

Currently our development projects in the south are partially financed through the European Union, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and through the churches. We need to provide an increasingly large portion of the costs. This is only possible through donations. Donations are particularly important for the public relations work such as seminars, lobbying and public awareness.

We are looking for donars who make the services of EIRENE possible through their large and small contributions. All donations are welcome.

The German Central Institute for Social Questions (DZI) audits our finances and has approved EIRENE as a legitimate social service agency.

If you are interested in financially supporting the work of EIRENE, you may transfer the money directly to our account. If you are interested in additional information we will be happy to send you an information packet (please send a self-addressed stamped return envelope).

International Christian Service for Peace

Postfach 1322

D-56503 Neuwied

GERMANY

Tel: (049)-02631-8379-0

Fax: (049)-02631-31160

e-mail: eirene-int@eirene.org

www.eirene.org

Bank name: Bank für Kirche und Diakonie Duisburg/Germany

Bank Identification Number: 35060190

Account number: 1011380014

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