ENFiD Annual Conference and General Assembly
Annually, ENFiD organizes a European conference of Filipino diaspora where current issues in the world and especially in the Philippines that are relevant to the Filipino communities in Europe are discussed after in-depth input from distinguished speakers. The conference is the opportunity to connect face-to-face among members and relations of ENFiD. It is the chance where synergies are formed, partnerships created and camaraderie shared. The general objective is to create a forum where joint standpoints on relevant issues are taken and cooperative projects and activities are chosen.
A Conference declaration or statement is drawn which encompasses the resolutions and recommendations of the participants.
The ENFiD conference is open to all members and interested individuals and groups. Every year an ENFiD-Country Member hosts the Conference and organizes it together with the Secretariat. This year ENFiD Germany is our host-country. Past country hosts are: ENFiD Malta in 2015 and ENFiD Czech Republic in 2016. The Mini-conference and General Assembly in 2014 in Madrid was anchored by some contact points in Spain.
The ENFiD General Assembly immediately follows the conference. This is where ENFiD members make organizational decisions and projects and activities are deliberated and agreed upon. The new ENFiD officers are also elected.
This year, our European conference entitled “Kung sama-sama, kayang-kaya!” (Together, we deliver!) will be held in Essen, Germany from September 30- October 1.
The Conference theme is:
Strengthening Euro-Filipinos as agents of socio-economic and cultural change in Europe and the Philippines and empowerment of the Euro-Pinoy youth as development leaders within the mainstream Filipino communities in home and host countries.
Some of the prominent speakers for this year’s conference are:
Professor Hein de Haas, an internationally acclaimed academician in the field of Migration and Development will be one of the keynote speakers. He will talk about migrants and migration within the international arena (with current political developments) to narrow down on Euro-Pinoy roles as agents of change in the Philippines and in Europe including the roles of young people with mixed ethnicity such as the Euro-Pinoy youth.
The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, Ms. Cecilia Jimenez- Damary will come to talk about current human rights situation in the world and how it (can) affect the lives of Europe-based Filipinos. With special attention to women, the ethnic minorities and marginalized people and the situation of displaced people in Marawi.
Other notable speakers who will honor us with their briefings are: HE Ambassador Nathaniel Imperial of the Philippine Embassy in Tel-Aviv, Rt. Rev.Msgr. Jerry Bitoon, Vicar General of San Pablo City, Batangas, Ms. Regina Galias, OIC of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, Ms. Leila Rispens-Noel, Director and co-founder of WIMLER HK and WIMLER Philippines and Ms. Melanie Cuizon-Baturi, former president of ALAEH, Germany. The topics that will be covered are: social entrepreneurship, youth leadership and organizing, support of the Philippines to European Jews, community organizing and the politics of being non-partisan and others.
For the first time this year, ENFiD is organizing a Youth Forum to give the young Euro-Pinoys the space to define their framework, set their goals and plan their actions. Following the Youth Forum, the Young ENFiD (Yenfid) will be launched.
Participants from 17 member-countries of ENFiD and delegates from partner-organisations and stakeholders are expected to come. It promises yet again to be a meaningful gathering with new information, camaraderie and future plans.
A gala dinner-concert featuring a well-known band in Germany and ENFiD-country presentations followed by dancing are programmed in the evening of Saturday, September 30.
Details of the conference program can be found here.
Information about registration fee, board and lodging and other practical information can be found here.
The campus of St. Alfrid training center in Essen, including the dormitories, is reserved for the whole duration of the conference. The space is limited so we encourage interested parties to register now. Otherwise, if the dormitories are already fully booked we have listed the nearby B&B’s and hotels where conference participants can book their accommodation.