History

1957

EIRENE founded by the historic peace churches (Brethren, MCC); Work starts in Africa. Since then EIRENE has worked with partner organisations in Morocco, the West African Sahel (Niger, Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso), the Great Lakes region (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda), and other regions/countries in Africa.

1971

Official recognition of EIRENE in Germany as a sending agency for development service.

1977

Work starts in Western Europe and North America. Since then EIRENE has worked with partner organisations in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Canada, the USA, and other countries.

1981

Work starts in Latin America. Since then EIRENE has worked with partner organisations in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Bolivia, and other countries in Latin America; Introduction of equal pay for all employees in the international office as an act of solidarity.

Seit 1983

Stronger involvement in the peace movement in Germany, e.g. participation in demonstrations against the deployment of Pershing II nuclear missiles and vigils against military intervention by NATO and the Bundeswehr (German armed forces).

1985

Participation in successful protests against a nuclear power station at Mülheim-Kärlich.

1987

Official recognition as a sending agency for the Alternative Service Abroad under the Alternative Service Act; Creation of the Senior Peace Service.

1993

Work starts in Southeast Europe. Since then EIRENE has worked with partner organisations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Serbia, and other countries.

1995

Participation in the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997.

1997

Founded, jointly with other organisations, the Chad/Cameroon Oil Project campaign, which continued its work under the name AG Chad until 2013 and is now called Fokus Sahel.

2000

EIRENE Foundation established; Official recognition of EIRENE as a sending agency for the Civil Peace Service (CPS).

2002

More than 50 office staff and former volunteers provide emergency aid during flooding of the river Elbe.

2003

Organisation of a demonstration against the Iraq War in Neuwied. More than 1,000 people take part.

2007

2011

Suspension of compulsory military service and discontinuance of the Alternative Service Abroad as a consequence; EIRENE becomes a sending agency for the International Youth Volunteer Service (IJFD), which is set up in place of the Alternative Service Abroad.

2012

EIRENE joins Aktion Aufschrei - Stoppt den Waffenhandel (Outcry: End the Arms Trade)

2015

New programme - International Peace Service in Germany - started. First ten volunteers arrive in Germany.

2016

2017