A Network for Ecumenical Learning in Diaconia & Social Action

• VETURI is an international network for the development of local diaconia and social action.
• VETURI brings together training organisations, institutes and local initiatives and organisations.
• VETURI participants are all engaged practitioners, students and trainers.
• VETURI is an initiative that pioneers new models of local and international training based on social analysis, community work methods and contextual theology.
• VETURI seeks to develop the new methods and strategies for social action which are needed to respond to the new realities.  

VETURI - Vocational Education and Training for Urban and Rural Innovation

is a response to rapid economic and social change.

Poverty, unemployment and exclusion are increasing in most countries. The role of the state in social welfare is changing rapidly. The potential for democratic participation in neighbourhood and workplace is reduced as a result of deregulation and economic integration. Local strategies are needed to address racism and the diversity of cultures and faiths that make up urban societies. How can those in church and civil society develop approaches that address these urgent issues?

is an open network based on the following shared commitments and values:

• working with people, empowering groups and communities, and accompanying their responses to their needs and addressing exclusion, injustice, racism and gender discrimination
•  adopting a collective, self-organising approach to diaconia and social action, which is structural and political in its strategies
• developing social analysis and contextual theology
• seeing diaconia itself as a learning process with people and adopting a critical stance to institutional policies and power
• grounding training in local practice, which enables local people to define their issues and develop responses, seeing those people as an important resource
• developing new concepts of professionalism and supporting networks for the development of practice

network participants aim to:

• build new models of diaconal and community work practice through processes of multilateral, multicultural training, research and reflection and develop models of contextual theology and social analysis

• create new opportunities for contextual learning in different countries

• promote diaconal practice and community work models which are based on the shared commitments of the members

• critically review and develop academic and practical curricula which address the challenges facing church and society

• analyse the changes taking place in the global context, especially with respect to poverty and exclusion and develop appropriate strategies

• support research and evaluation of diaconal and community work strategies in relation to specific contexts

• explore ways of using new technology to develop and support local work and international learning processes

VETURI - Vocational Education and Training for Urban and Rural Innovation

Bringing together local projects, movements, training institutes, colleges and universities in seven European countries and South - East Asia:

Czech Republic - England - Estonia - Finland - Latvia - Romania - Scotland - Hong Kong

 members organise:

• international, multilateral processes of placement learning in local diaconia, community & youth work and social work

• an international forum for the sharing of experience in international training programmes and of models of good practice in local diaconia

• research and evaluation of international training programmes and specific models of diaconal and community work practice

• the exchange of information, dissemination of insights and the sharing of models of practice and training

• support networks of practitioners

• advocacy of new diaconal approaches

• training which is grounded in local practice and which enables local people to define their issues and develop responses, seeing those people as an important resource

• the development of new concepts of professionalism and support for networks for the development of practice

now has members in seven European countries and Hong Kong.

For more information:

 Reetta Leskinen, DIAK, FIN00440 Järvenpaa Finland
Tel: + 358 9 271 9626, e-mail:
Tony Addy, ECG, Zitna 45, CZ110 00 Praha 1 Czech Republic
Tel: +420 2 222 11799, e-mail: