EDYN Conference in Riga

"Sveiki, sveiki, kā jums klājas? (Hello, hello, how are you?) 😊 After spending a week in Riga, Latvia at an international conference with our partner organisations, we are full of inspiration and new ideas! In our suitcase we packed especially curiosity, openness and enthusiasm before the trip. After days full of workshops, interesting lectures and discussions, we take away great satisfaction, strengthened partnerships, valuable insights and above all a great experience!

Before I get to the conference itself, let's talk about what EDYN actually means. EDYN stands for "Ecumenical Diaconial Year Network," and it is an umbrella network of Christian organizations that recruit and send international volunteers around the world. Its main tasks include lobbying for our interests in Brussels, quality selection of volunteers, or mutual inspiration and assistance.

But now back to the annual meeting! The conference in Riga took place on 6-10 November 2023 and was hosted by our partner organisation Diakonia Latvia. As part of EDYN, 16 organisations from European countries and the USA participated and we had the opportunity to meet some very interesting guests. One of them, for example, was a staff member from the Latvian National Agency, who gave us an insight into how international volunteering works in Latvia from a practical point of view.

The first (travel) day started with an informal meeting before dinner, which we all used to get to know each other. After a hearty Latvian-style dinner, we all gathered in the conference room to break the ice with fun games. The next day was filled with important reports and formalities. On the third day we had the privilege to meet Pastor Tamás from Budapest who prepared a very interesting workshop on "Self-Care as Care for Creation" where we learned a lot of tips on how to be more environmentally friendly. On the fourth day, after the day's programme, we went to the centre of Riga! The city's architecture was mixed with old German-style buildings, Soviet-style apartment blocks and modern glass towers. The unique atmosphere of the city got under everyone's skin (maybe thanks to the icy Baltic wind)! On the last day we said goodbye to our partners and went on a tour of the centres where Diakonia Latvia hosts international volunteers.

Meeting with EDYN partners was very enriching for me. After the week-long experience, I can confidently say that I am very grateful that I was able to attend the conference, establish new relationships, gain inspiration and plan for future cooperation. We look forward to meeting again next year! "(Terka, International Volunteering Coordinator)