The delegation from the Amity Foundation traveled to Europe to conduct the European Network of Amity Partners (ENAP) meeting in Finland, as well as visit various international organizations and social service agencies in Finland, Switzerland, and Germany. These visits were particularly significant as they marked the first time the Amity Foundation had organized a delegation to Europe after three years of the pandemic. The trip served to promote communication and understanding between Amity and its European partners.
From May 29th to June 11th, a six-member delegation from the Amity Foundation, including Chairman Qiu Zhonghui and General Secretary Ling Chunxiang, embarked on this visit to Europe.
At the beginning of June, the European Network of Amity Partners (ENAP) meeting was held in Helsinki with the support of FELM (Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission), the Finnish partner of Amity. Established in 1987, the European Partner Network of Amity is one of the earliest international partner networks of the Amity Foundation. Over the years, it has provided significant support and assistance to the development of Amity and Chinese social welfare undertakings.
This was the first ENAP meeting held in person after three years of COVID-19. There were a total of 20 representatives from the Amity Foundation and 11 European social service organizations from Germany, the United Kingdom, Finland, Norway, and the Netherlands present at the event.
During the meeting, the parties analyzed and discussed cooperation in several fields, including but not limited to, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate change, and disability services of common international concern. They initially expressed cooperation intentions in international exchanges, environmental protection, and social services.
Chairman Qiu believed that this ENAP meeting marked a new stage of development in the relationship between the foundation and its European partners, characterized by more diversified cooperation featuring international exchanges, information and experience sharing, mutual learning, and support; moving away from the past stage where European partners supported Amity in carrying out poverty alleviation and development projects in China.
The Amity delegation paid a visit to several Finnish social organizations, including FELM (Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission), the Finnish Bible Society, and Vamos Youth Costa Rica, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, in response to their invitation. They visited in order to become more acquainted with the social service work that these organizations do both domestically and abroad, particularly in the fields of environmental protection, assistance for young people with disabilities, and integrated education. The delegation sought to learn from the experiences and innovative approaches of the Finnish social organizations' work in these fields.
Geneva, Switzerland, was the second stop of the Amity delegation's journey. In March 2016, Amity established an international liaison office in Geneva in order to enhance cooperation and exchanges between Amity and other international organizations. As the first Chinese social organization to establish such an office, Amity has held many events and activities, such as introduction and exchange meetings for Chinese and foreign social organizations in Geneva.
During the delegation's visit to Geneva, they also visited international organizations such as the World Council of Churches (WCC), ACT Alliance, the International Volunteer Association, and the Lutheran World Federation. They aimed to gain insights into the new developments and strategies of these organizations and shared Amity's development and internationalization concepts. Additionally, consensus has been achieved on a range of topics, including international humanitarian assistance, social services, international social service exchanges, and voluntary services.
The United Nations Economic and Social Council granted Amity consultative status in 2014. In recent years, the organization has taken an active role in exploring how to participate in the activities of United Nations multilateral mechanisms.
The Amity delegation culminated their journey in Germany, where they visited several social service organizations, including Bread for the World and Mission EineWelt. Invitations to the 2023 German Kirchentag hosted in Nuremberg were extended to the delegation, and they had the opportunity to exchange ideas with the leaders of numerous collaborative organizations, gaining insights into a diverse range of social services available to individuals with disabilities and the elderly.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
爱德基金会代表团访问欧洲，在芬兰召开了爱德欧洲合作伙伴圆桌会议，并访问了芬兰、瑞士、德国的多家国际组织及社会服务机构。在经历了三年疫情之后，这是爱德首次组团访问欧洲，此次访问推动了爱德与欧洲合作伙伴的交流与了解。
据爱德基金会，5月29日至6月11日，由丘仲辉理事长、凌春香秘书长率领的爱德基金会代表团一行六人访问欧洲。
6月初，在爱德芬兰合作伙伴FELM支持之下，爱德欧洲合作伙伴会议（ENAP）在赫尔辛基召开。成立于1987年的爱德欧洲合作伙伴网络，是爱德基金会最早的国际合作伙伴网络之一，多年以来对爱德和中国社会公益事业的发展提供了许多支持与帮助。本次会议是时隔三年之后，首次线下召开的ENAP会议，来自德国、英国、芬兰、挪威、荷兰等国的11家欧洲社会服务机构和爱德基金会的代表共20人参加了本次会议。
与会各方就国际上共同关注的联合国可持续发展目标（SDGs）、气候变化、助残服务等多个领域的合作进行了分析与探讨，初步达成了在国际交流、环境保护、社会服务等多个领域的合作意向。
丘仲辉理事长认为本次ENAP会议标志着爱德基金会与欧洲合作伙伴的关系进入新的发展阶段，从过去的以欧洲伙伴机构支持爱德在中国开展扶贫和发展项目为主的阶段迈入合作更多元化，以国际交流、信息和经验分享、相互学习和支持为特点的新阶段。
爱德代表团在芬兰期间还访问了FELM、芬兰圣经公会、Vamos青少年服务中心等多家社会服务机构并应邀拜访了芬兰外交部。了解芬兰社会组织在本土和国际上所开展社会服务工作情况，特别是在环境保护、青少年助残和融合教育等领域的工作。学习和了解芬兰社会组织在这些领域的经验和创新发展情况。
爱德代表团第二站为瑞士日内瓦。2016年3月，为了推动爱德与国际组织之间的合作与交流，爱德在日内瓦成立了国际联络办公室。作为首个在日内瓦开设办公室的中国社会组织，爱德先后在日内瓦组织了中外社会组织介绍交流会等活动。本次参访中爱德代表团访问了世界基督教教会联合会、国际救灾与发展联盟、国际志愿机构联合会、信义宗联盟世界服务社等多家国际合作组织。一方面了解这些国际性组织新的发展情况和战略，另一方面分享了爱德的发展与国际化思路。并且在国际人道主义援助、社会服务、国际社会服务交流、志愿服务等多个领域达成了共识。
爱德于2014年获得联合国经社理事会咨商地位，近些年来也积极探索如何参与联合国多边机制活动。
德国是此次爱德代表团的最后一站，在德国期间，爱德代表团拜访了粮惠世界、Mission EineWelt等多个社会服务机构，并应邀参加了在纽伦堡组织的Kirchentag活动，和多个合作机构负责人进行交流，了解到不同社会服务机构和其所开展的助残、养老等服务情况。
爱德代表团欧洲访问行记
The delegation from the Amity Foundation traveled to Europe to conduct the European Network of Amity Partners (ENAP) meeting in Finland, as well as visit various international organizations and social service agencies in Finland, Switzerland, and Germany. These visits were particularly significant as they marked the first time the Amity Foundation had organized a delegation to Europe after three years of the pandemic. The trip served to promote communication and understanding between Amity and its European partners.
From May 29th to June 11th, a six-member delegation from the Amity Foundation, including Chairman Qiu Zhonghui and General Secretary Ling Chunxiang, embarked on this visit to Europe.
At the beginning of June, the European Network of Amity Partners (ENAP) meeting was held in Helsinki with the support of FELM (Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission), the Finnish partner of Amity. Established in 1987, the European Partner Network of Amity is one of the earliest international partner networks of the Amity Foundation. Over the years, it has provided significant support and assistance to the development of Amity and Chinese social welfare undertakings.
This was the first ENAP meeting held in person after three years of COVID-19. There were a total of 20 representatives from the Amity Foundation and 11 European social service organizations from Germany, the United Kingdom, Finland, Norway, and the Netherlands present at the event.
During the meeting, the parties analyzed and discussed cooperation in several fields, including but not limited to, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate change, and disability services of common international concern. They initially expressed cooperation intentions in international exchanges, environmental protection, and social services.
Chairman Qiu believed that this ENAP meeting marked a new stage of development in the relationship between the foundation and its European partners, characterized by more diversified cooperation featuring international exchanges, information and experience sharing, mutual learning, and support; moving away from the past stage where European partners supported Amity in carrying out poverty alleviation and development projects in China.
The Amity delegation paid a visit to several Finnish social organizations, including FELM (Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission), the Finnish Bible Society, and Vamos Youth Costa Rica, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, in response to their invitation. They visited in order to become more acquainted with the social service work that these organizations do both domestically and abroad, particularly in the fields of environmental protection, assistance for young people with disabilities, and integrated education. The delegation sought to learn from the experiences and innovative approaches of the Finnish social organizations' work in these fields.
Geneva, Switzerland, was the second stop of the Amity delegation's journey. In March 2016, Amity established an international liaison office in Geneva in order to enhance cooperation and exchanges between Amity and other international organizations. As the first Chinese social organization to establish such an office, Amity has held many events and activities, such as introduction and exchange meetings for Chinese and foreign social organizations in Geneva.
During the delegation's visit to Geneva, they also visited international organizations such as the World Council of Churches (WCC), ACT Alliance, the International Volunteer Association, and the Lutheran World Federation. They aimed to gain insights into the new developments and strategies of these organizations and shared Amity's development and internationalization concepts. Additionally, consensus has been achieved on a range of topics, including international humanitarian assistance, social services, international social service exchanges, and voluntary services.
The United Nations Economic and Social Council granted Amity consultative status in 2014. In recent years, the organization has taken an active role in exploring how to participate in the activities of United Nations multilateral mechanisms.
The Amity delegation culminated their journey in Germany, where they visited several social service organizations, including Bread for the World and Mission EineWelt. Invitations to the 2023 German Kirchentag hosted in Nuremberg were extended to the delegation, and they had the opportunity to exchange ideas with the leaders of numerous collaborative organizations, gaining insights into a diverse range of social services available to individuals with disabilities and the elderly.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Amity Foundation Delegation's Visit to Europe
