A global movement
Diakonia works with around 350 local partner organizations in 25 countries. Together we work for a sustainable change for the most vulnerable people in the world.
thematic areas
We and the change makers in our global network know that it is possible to change the world. Our work is based on the firm belief in people’s equal value and the right of all people to a dignified life.
Latest news and publications
Paraguay
FUEGA - A Game to Prevent Gender-Based Violence
With the purpose to innovate methodologies that help bring the topic of gender-based violence to broader and more diverse audiences, we invited several organizations with extensive experience to join what we called the Gender-Based Violence Gamification Lab. Over the course of several months, representatives from 24 organizations collaborated to collectively create this game.
On November 25th, 2024, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we launched FUEGA in Paraguay — an educational, engaging, and accessible tool for learning about gender-based violence.
Thailand
The Forest as Home for Thailand’s Indigenous People
In northern Thailand, the Karen community of Ban Huai Rai and Huai Ngu is fighting to protect their cultural heritage and secure land rights. With support from Diakonia through the Northern Development Foundation (NDF), they have achieved critical milestones, including the designation of Cultural Protection Zones, blending traditional wisdom with modern advocacy to safeguard their way of life and the forests they call home.
Cambodia
Disability Does Not Define Me
On this World Disability Day, we honour stories of resilience and strength that challenge stereotypes and inspire change. Today, we spotlight Ms. Phally Norm—a woman who proves that disability does not determine destiny, but how we choose to respond to our challenges does.
Latin America
We work for parity
In a context of growing democratic deterioration and structural challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean, CLADEM and Diakonia, with the support of the ASDI Regional Strategy, launch the Parity Program, an initiative designed to strengthen gender equality and the participation of women in all decision-making spheres.
Sri Lanka
Stitching Lives with a Needle and Thread
Forty-year-old Farwin, a happily married woman and accomplished tailor from Kalmunai, shared her journey of self-discovery through the activities of the Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum (MWRAF) in collaboration with Diakonia, and how it enabled her to help others along the way.
Sri Lanka
Women’s Resilience in Sri Lanka Post-War
In the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s devastating civil war (1983-2009), communities in the northern regions faced unprecedented challenges of rebuilding their lives and social structures. Women, in particular, bore the burden of rebuilding their lives while confronting deeply rooted gender inequalities.
Sri Lanka
Rebuilding Coexistence with Traditional Wisdom
Ethnic tensions have shaped Sri Lanka’s history, resulting to a 26-year civil war that ended just over a decade ago. Now, the Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum (MWRAF) is utilizing the power of traditional storytelling to bridge communities and revive a once-thriving culture of coexistence. This innovative approach, developed in partnership with Diakonia, demonstrates how age-old wisdom can tackle modern challenges of social division.
Thailand
Indigenous Voices Shape Thai Bill
Sakda Saenmi adjusted his traditional Lisu collar as he entered the towering Parliament building in Bangkok, a world away from his misty mountain home. As the Secretary-General of the Council of Indigenous Peoples in Thailand (CIPT), senior staff member of Inter Mountain Peoples’ Education and Culture in Thailand Association (IMPECT), and now a committee member reviewing the draft Indigenous Peoples in Thailand bill, he had made this journey countless times.