The European Centre for Workers’ Questions (EZA) mourns the death of its co-founder and Honorary President Leo Pauwels, in 19 October 2020 at the age of 84. We at Latvian Christian academy were priveldged to know Leo since beginning of EZA extension in Latvia in 2004.
Leo Pauwels was President of EZA from 07.11.1998 to 02.12.2006. The General Assembly elected him Honorary President in 2006 after his retirement as President.
Leo was a European through and through. For him, education was an essential element for human freedom and for the development and strengthening of democracy.
Since 1960 Leo was active for the Christian labour movement in Flanders. His untiring commitment to workers’ rights and decent work was deeply rooted in his faith and deep conviction that Christian social teaching could make an essential contribution and be a source of inspiration for shaping the economic order and the world of work.
From the very beginning in the mid-1980s and especially after the opening of the Iron Curtain, Leo has shaped all the steps towards the foundation and further development of EZA, so that from the five founding countries a Europe-wide network with 70 members in 30 countries has grown. He brought with him his rich knowledge of the Christian workers’ movement in Europe and his conviction of the importance of European integration.
Leo was therefore also significantly involved in the development of the EUCDW.
Without Leo the European Social Week in its present form would not be conceivable. Since the first European Social Week in 1997 in the European Parliament in Brussels, the exchange between representatives of workers’ organisations, employers’ associations, science, churches and politics about basic Christian social values as a compass and how they can be translated into concrete political action was close to his heart.
With Leo we are losing a cornerstone of our network and a friend.
We are grateful for all the encounters we have had with Leo over the years. He managed to bring people together and to integrate them, to be a source of strength for others. With his optimism, his creativity, his sense of mysticism and beauty, his devotion he has touched our souls and left traces that remain. His life will continue to be a source of inspiration for EZA.
All our sympathy goes to Leo’s wife Ann, his children and grandchildren.
We live in the confidence that he will return home to God.
International cooperation
The European Centre for Workers’ Questions (EZA) mourns the death of its co-founder and Honorary President Leo Pauwels
IXE-Group Statement on Human Dignity and Solidarity as Pillars for a New European Asylum System
“Semaines Sociales de France” (SSF) and the “Central Committee of German Catholics” (ZdK) think-tank “IXE-Group” (“Initiatives of Christians for Europe”) have published Statement “On Human Dignity and Solidarity as Pillars for a New European Asylum System”. The meeting between the Think-tank IXE-Group members (D, D, ES, CZ, LU, F, PL – also GB present) was held in Madrid, October 9-10, 2020 (partially online via ZOOM). ector of Latvian Christian academy prof. Skaidrīte Gūtmane attended the meeting. The discussion touched an integrated and comprehensive approach to the multidimensional migration policy in the EU member states. The Document is available here: 201012 IXE statement asylum en final
Strategic partnerships for interdisciplinary research in modern Social work – discussions
Consortium “BE-YOUNG Strategic partnerships for interdisciplinary research in modern Social work issues” organized online ZOOM discussions between partners (Klaipeda University, Biolostok University, Warsaw University, Malmo University) in October 5, 2020. Discussions were focused on interdisciplinarity and other methodological aspects of “Module for SW education”. The discussion was hosted by Latvian Christian academy.
Initiative of Christians for Europe / IXE-Group online meeting
Next online meeting of the Initiative of Christians for Europe / IXE-Group scheduled forOctober 9-10, 2020. The Agenda of the meeting foresees discussion of the Covid-19 situation in Europe and sharing on the 5th anniversary of “Laudato si’ – On Care for Our Common Home” by Pope Francis on political and institutional levels.
What does the Academy do for the promotion of the Social Europe Consciousness?
In order to promote development of the Social Europe consciousness, Europan Commission organizes a “Have Your Say for Reinforcing Social Europe”. Key documents like “European Social Pillar of Social Rights”, “20 Key Principles” and “Strong Social Europe for Just Transitions” are recommended for discussions and analysis. The seminar for LChrA students was held online in October 6, 2020; the seminar was hosted by specialists of the Caritatyive social work study programme.
Prof. Elvyra Aciene from Klaipeda University – DrHC at Latvian Christian Academy
Honorary title Doctor Honoris Causa was conferred to Mrs. Elvyra Aciene, professor in Social work at Klaipeda University (Lithuania), September 25, 2020. Professor Aciene for long time was Head of the Social Work Chair at the Universitt. She has played important role in launching Social Work Doctoral study programme Consortium at Latvian Christian academy (in cooperation with EZA – European Center for Workers’ Questions), participated in international projects and promoted international perspective of Latvian Christian Academy. The Diploma was presented in a special open Senate meeting in September 25, 2020, via ZOOM. We praise and congratulate prof. Aciene with the award!
International Social Work conference at Klaipeda University celebrating 25 Years of the Department
In September 25, 2020, an International social work conference “Humaneness, Social Work, XXI century” was held at Klaipeda University (Lithuania), celebrating 25 years of Social work department. Rector of Latvian Christian academy prof. Skaidrīte Gūtmane participated in the plenary session with the presentation “Client-focused Caritative Social work in the Risk Society Today”.
Proceedings of Latvian Christian Academy, Vol. 6
The 6th volume of Proceedings of Latvian Christian Academy was published in September 23, 2020, its guideline is “Client and Human Dignity”. Articles are written by researchers and practitioners in the filed of Caritative social work from Germany, Finland, Lithuania and Latvia. Our University specializes in client-focused social work onto which the current volume presents insightful opinions. Editor-in-Chief of the Proceedings prof. Skaidrīte Gūtmane, Rector of Latvian Christian academy, argues “the need for active and powerful impulse from anthropological innovation for further development of social work as an academic discipline”.
Annual RENOVABIS Congress
Rector of LChrA prof. Skaidrīte Gūtmane attended the annual RENOVABIS Congress in September 8-10, 2020 (online). Cooperation models between the Church and educational institutions were discussed. RENOVABIS is a solidarity initiative of the German Catholics with the people in Central and Eastern Europe; Latvian Christian academy is parnering with RENOVABIS since late 1990-ies.
SP-YOUNG strategic partnerships at LChrA
Latvian Christian academy launches strategic partnership research on September 1-3, 2020 in cooperation with Social work experts from Malmo University (Sweden), University of Warsaw and University of Bialystok (Poland), and Klaipeda University (Lithuania). The overall goal of the partnership research is to promote the innovative development of Social work profession within the EU context. The work will go on two more years when strategic guidelines for EU universities offering social work study programmes will be presented aiming at Social work with young people. The new guidelines will comply with EC Social Agenda, and upgraded and innovative, European approach to clients will be introduced. A special course module along with the study material will be worked out. The basis for current discussions is discourse “SP-YOUNG Discourse of Cross-Border Situation”, published by prof. Skaidrīts Gūtmane, Rector of Latvian Christian academy. She worked on the publication whole last year and now it is available for further steps of the partnership project.