It is the partner organisation of the Gustav Adolf Agency of the Evangelical Church in Germany. Rev. Geza Filo is chairman. “Podpornica” means support. Since 1968, the agency of the Evangelical Church A.C. in Slovenia operates under this name as church internal aid agency for the support of its own diaspora parishes. In 1997, it changed its name to EHO. Under this name it was awarded state recognition and was registered.
The new organisation connects church social service and diaspora. The aid does not only apply to members of the Protestant churches, but has an eye on all people in need. With this support relevant to society, the small Protestant Church in Slovenia takes on particular attention and significance. The need of numerous people is great.
Many need help in material and social as well as in spiritual and emotional wants. The care for the people and families who have fallen out of the national social system for different reasons is urgently necessary. Often, loss of employment and living in insecure family circumstances lead to an unstable life situation. For many years, a large part of the relief campaigns pertained to the refugees from Bosnia and Kosovo, with special interventions in Croatia and Vojvodina as well.
Further key activities of the EHO are the ambulant care of ill and disabled people as well as the spiritual care for people in hospitals and nursing homes. A mobile church social service assures home care and the care of old, ill, and handicapped people.
The work of the EHO is being financed by the offerings from the parishes of the Evangelical Church A.C. in Slovenia, by the revenues of church events as well as by donations and alms of partner churches and organisations like the Gustav Adolf Agency. The annual celebration of the EHO Podpornica takes place on the first Sunday of May each year.
