INTRODUCTION TOTHEREPORT

ZuzanaBabicova

WSCF-EuropeChairperson, 2013-19

In 2018, we focused our attention on the areas of solidarity, justice and peace, and we translated these concepts into very concrete events focused on our personal and societal life in Europe. Peacebuilding focused on our conflicts, on many levels, looked at from multiple dimensions, as it is the traditional way in which WSCF considers many issues We used gender, biblical, human rights, psychological, political, legal, ecological and other lenses to understand and address this difficult topic. Solidarity and justice have been underlying themes of our work, as we set to bring attention to all the injustices behind the refugee crisis in Europe. Our international training sessions, conferences and campaign to educate students and young people and raise their understanding of media literacy, aimed to empower them to seek truth in the information they are presented with and to hear and learn from the stories of people on the refugee path.

Inclusion and diversity are concepts that mean something to each of us across Europe, and even if some of us were impacted more, and some of us less, by the refugee crisis, we all critically reflected on, learnt about and took action to advocate for inclusion and diversity as positive forces for everyone’s life

Thankyouforyourtimeandinterestinthe missionofWSCF-Europewhich,withitssmall yetimpactfulwork,bringsforwardefforts towardspeace,dialogueandjustice.

In 2018, we were especially proud to organise an intercultural training with the Council of Europe – the study session “How is Peace Possible?”, that brought European and Middle East youth together. Our learning and education programs delivered for more than 100 young people across Europe and reached digitally more than 1000 people – and they would not have been possible without our team!

2018 was the first full year for a newly-elected Regional Committee, that I had an honour to lead for the fifth year and which was formed by: Emanuelle de Bettini, Clare Wilkins, Lina Leonaviciute, Luise Klein, Pavlina Manavska, Christiane Gebauer, Annika Foltin and Krista Autio. Our volunteering Board’s commitment sustained the work and life of the Federation. Our staff members were also, once again, a stepping stone of all our work. I have always had a great appreciation for our staff members, who all go the extra mile in their jobs, every day, with their impressive attitude. Big thanks to Natia Tsintsadze, Maria Atanasoaei, James Jackson and Melany Bresciani; and my special appreciation to a volunteering Board member, Pavlina Manavska, for her extraordinary service to WSCF-Europe in 2018.

In 2019, the Board, continuing to be powered by great volunteering commitment, organised an intercultural ecumenical training in Georgia, titled “Shared Future, Shared Responsibilities“, a training session in the Netherlands, focused on combating youth extremism, and an all-year-round study and campaign addressing youth extremism in Europe 2019 was my sixth and final year of leading WSCF-Europe A lot was invested in preparing the Regional Assembly to find a new, committed leadership team, to gather more members and expand our community, to gather more friends and partners, and to make meaningful connections on topics that matter to us all Importantly, we also used this opportunity to prepare and empower the community of member movements in Europe for the WSCF General Assembly, which was due to happen in June 2020. Our connections with our friends in the World Council of Churches, the Conference of European Churches and the Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe were f h d f d more ways to common topics

Iexpressdeepgratitudetoeveryonewithwhom wecouldhelpourcommunitiesinEurope,and beyond,tobecomemorepeacefulandjust.Iam gratefultoourteam,ourpartners,andallthe peopleofgoodwillpresentintheteamandlifeof WSCF-Europein2018and2019.Itwasablessing formetoleadandbepartofthewidedialogical communityinthislastsixthyear,intheroleof Chair,servingthemissionalongsidemy wonderfulteam.

I thank God for all the people who - in ways visible and not visible - helped the mission of WSCF-Europe with their good will. I value all financial and non-financial support, in all its forms, that helped WSCF-Europe to realise its envisioned projects May God bless you, all, for giving in good spirit. WSCF-Europe in 2018 and 2019, as in years and decades before, showed we live from motivation, volunteers and also financial resources. May there always be motivated people, who will keep spreading the message of justice, peace and dialogue, as we have done since 1895 And, importantly, may we always have Jesus present, through prayer, uniting us in our actions and efforts. As it is said to us in Psalm 127: “ ... its builders labour in vain, unless the Lord builds the house”. May we always build places of justice and peace in us and for others with God guiding us!