Moderators

Nicole Borisuk (1975) is a German social pedagogue who founded together with her husband the Christian faith based NGO “Living Hope” in Ukraine (1999). They have established day care centres for marginalised children, young people and families in disadvantaged urban and rural areas. Nicole Borisuk is a certified coach supporting excluded young people in their transition
from childhood to adulthood. She has served as a member of the executive and advisory board of interdiac since 2010.

Tony Addy is Head of Education for interdiac. He has been involved in local ministry and community development as well as research and training. He was Director of the William Temple Foundation (UK) and has been a consultant on globalisation for the World Council of Churches. He has served as Programme Secretary of a European Network on urban industrial and rural mission and a network on research into work and economy in Europe. Recently he has been Head of International Education and Research Associate for the Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, Finland. He is a founder member and was the first chairperson of the International Society for the Research and Study of Diaconia and Christian Social Practice. He has a long term interest in Central and Eastern Europe and lived and worked in Prague for many years.

When I reflect on my biography, I can clearly see that the issues of social structure and justice were always close to my heart. I was curious to read about them in literature in my teens and I observed my everyday life as a picture of signs that point to the social context one way or another. In Soviet times such signs were everywhere! First, they were presented through concepts of K. Marx. Those were issues which bordered with ideas of humanism in social relations but were subject to the rise of formal bureaucratization and a decline of participatory collectivity which underpinned a lack of meaning and value in human cooperation. Later, after the fall of the Soviet state I dived into reading about how social inequality penetrates the lives of people. It labels marginalised people and places them in ‘boxes’, which deprives them of life chances. This runs against the proclaimed mainstream idea of a liberating free economy. I was also interested to learn how power gains new forms, becoming a controlling bio-policy, which was expounded by the French philosopher M. Foucault. 
In my life these questions prompted me to apply to study at the Faculty of Sociology in the University of Odessa (Ukraine). My motivation was ambitious and was driving me to teach sociology, social theory, and analysis after my graduation. I became a lecturer in Sociology and later Social Policy & Social Work in Odessa State Polytechnic University. However, in my work back in the University, I could clearly see that the systemic means of education are meant to recreate the dominant system in the mindsets of students in the most oppressive way. I did not want to be the part of these systemic means myself! interdiac introduced me to the opposite pedagogical approach, that of the ‘liberating pedagogy’ of Brazilian educator P. Freire, which is close to my heart and inspires me in my work with the participants in our learning community. 
Through the interdiac online space I would like to share, discuss, and learn together with you about the themes that underlie our social life and inform the image of our societies and also about how we define ourselves, through the lens of a sociological perspective. I have a critical eye towards social injustice, hidden oppression and the blaming of the ‘victims’. I invite your inputs and look forward to sharing ideas with you! 
 

Married, two Children (working in refugee integration projects)

Studies: 
Diakonic, social work, human ecology, quality management

Curriculum: 
1956    Born in Lindau/Bodensee, Germany
1976    Student
1982    Youth work in a Deanery
1986    Youth officer in Lutheran Mission of Bavaria
1998    Leader of the Clearing House of Unaccompanied Minor Refugees in North Bavaria
2005    Diaconia Bavaria, desks for poverty, disaster relief, Eastern Europe
2019    Pension

As deacon justice plays a significant role in my life. In my childness labour migrants from Italy and later from Turkey lived as neighbours with us. They were needed for reconstruction our country after World War II. Families shared life with us – often I set on their table for to eat or to make homework after school. We played football and shared normal life.

Attending the Conviviality program of the Lutheran World Federation there was and ongoing process to improve my understanding of peace, justice and integrity of creation. We discussed the understanding of conviviality, created visions of convivial economy and in we analysed movements in and to Europe. In that part I integrated my experiences of working with young refugees as well as refugee families or labour migrants from eastern Europe. The wonderful international meetings showed me, how the art and way of living together works in reality. It’s possible and only a question of will and attitude.

For me as a church worker it’s rather important, to link the questions of society with a theological respond. „What would our Lord say?“, is a continuing question for me. I am sure that we can find answers in the Bible. Sometimes bible stories need special attention, sometime they force a new understanding and sometimes they are real challenges. But it is impressing to interview the Bible on the background of Justice, fair economy, hospitality for all(!), to respect man and woman a.s.o.

On the online space I want to moderate the diaconal theme „people on the move“.  There you will find causes and trends, European policies and positions of different countries, theological reflections, policies of Lutheran churches in Europe and hopefully lots of best practice examples as well as conceptions. 

The platform is a learning platform and lives from your contribution as well as from my research.  I am looking forward for a good cooperation in with You in the different European countries. Please do not hesitate to contact me. 

N.B.: If you contact me by mail, please name in the subject line „People on the move“. Than it will be selected for me.

Martin was born and grew up in Munich, Germany. He studied Social Anthropology, Political Science and Sinology in Munich, Cologne and Beijing with focus on development studies and the Asian region. In 2013, Martin was sent to China by Mission OneWorld, the Bavarian Missionary Organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bavaria, and became an advocate and practitioner of social development cooperation in and between Asia and Europe.

Martin has been living in Hong Kong and working for international exchange and communication with the Amity Foundation, a Chinese development organization founded by Christians. The Amity Foundation is part of a global network of international churches and Christian development organizations (e.g. LWF, ACT Alliance, World Council of Churches), working for disaster relief, integrated community development, urban and rural development, health, education, climate change, poverty reduction, working with disadvantaged groups, as well as capacity building and advocacy.

Participating in various development programs, conferences and other events, Martin gained experience of social development practice and theory, with a strong focus on diaconia and faith-based development. He considers international exchange and mutual learning, in particular among young people, as one of the highlights and most important assignments of his current work.