By The European Times | Created at 2026-08-03 15:11:44 | Updated at 2026-08-03 16:23:38
1 hour ago
KINGNEWSWIRE // PRESS RELEASE
Programme at the Church of Scientology & Community Centre of Dublin will connect international humanitarian principles with everyday community service
DUBLIN, Ireland, 3 August 2026 — A World Humanitarian Day programme focused on community service and practical methods of helping others will be held at the Church of Scientology & Community Centre of Dublin on Saturday, 29 August 2026.
The three-hour programme, scheduled from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the centre on Firhouse Road, Dublin 24, will celebrate humanitarian service and introduce techniques that people can use when assisting relatives, neighbours, colleagues and members of their communities.
The event will place the international observance within a local context, examining how humanitarian values can be expressed not only during major disasters but also through organised community work and individual acts of practical assistance.
Humanitarian service is often associated with emergency teams operating in areas affected by natural disasters, displacement or severe hardship. At community level, however, the same principles can be seen when volunteers help an isolated resident, support a family facing difficulties, organise essential supplies or provide additional hands to a civic or charitable project.
The Dublin programme will examine skills intended to help individuals respond constructively when someone around them is experiencing stress, confusion or practical difficulty. The subjects include communication, organisation, conflict resolution and methods of providing calm and responsible support.
These areas form part of the training used by Scientology Volunteer Ministers, a religious social-service programme established in the mid-1970s by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.
The programme is based on the principle that individuals can become more effective in helping others when they are equipped with practical knowledge and are prepared to apply it responsibly.
“Humanitarian responsibility is not confined to institutions, governments or international organisations,” said Ivan Arjona, representative of the Church of Scientology to the European Union, the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the United Nations.
“It is also expressed through citizens who notice when help is needed and who possess the skills, discipline and willingness to respond. European values of human dignity, solidarity and civic participation become meaningful when they are reflected in practical service within our neighbourhoods and communities.”
Arjona added that humanitarian education can help strengthen local resilience by enabling people to cooperate more effectively during both ordinary difficulties and larger emergencies.
From an international observance to local responsibility
The United Nations observes World Humanitarian Day each year on 19 August to recognise humanitarian personnel and the people who provide assistance to communities affected by crises.
The annual observance draws attention to humanitarian needs around the world and to the importance of protecting those who deliver assistance. It also provides an opportunity to consider the contribution of volunteers and community organisations that work outside the international humanitarian system but share the objective of reducing hardship and preserving human dignity.
The Dublin event will take place ten days after the official United Nations observance, extending its themes into a programme centred on practical community service.
Ireland has a long tradition of voluntary involvement in social care, education, sport, cultural life, neighbourhood development and support for vulnerable people. Much of that work takes place through local associations, charities, faith communities and informal networks whose members contribute their time and experience.
Such activity can become particularly important when public services or specialist organisations require additional community support. Volunteers may assist with logistics, communications, distribution, administration or direct care, depending on their training and the needs of the situation.
Practical tools for everyday situations
The methods introduced through the Volunteer Ministers programme are drawn from The Scientology Handbook, compiled from the works of L. Ron Hubbard.
Its 19 areas of study cover subjects including communication, study and learning, marriage and family relationships, children, workplace difficulties, personal integrity, organisation, setting goals and resolving conflicts.
The Volunteer Ministers training programme presents these subjects through individual courses designed to provide step-by-step methods that can be applied in everyday situations.
A person attempting to help may have good intentions but still lack the communication or organisational skills needed to improve the situation. Training can provide a clearer structure: establishing what has occurred, listening to those involved, identifying immediate priorities and coordinating useful action.
Communication is particularly important when people are distressed or when several groups are attempting to work together. Misunderstandings can delay assistance, create unnecessary tension or lead to duplicated efforts. Clear communication and defined responsibilities can make community responses more orderly and effective.
Conflict resolution is another area with direct relevance to humanitarian and civic work. Volunteers frequently encounter people with different backgrounds, beliefs and expectations. The ability to reduce hostility and restore cooperation can be essential when assistance depends on several individuals or organisations working together.
The programme also includes organisational principles that may be used when coordinating activities, distributing materials, managing volunteers or establishing a sequence of priorities.
Volunteer Ministers and humanitarian service
The Scientology Volunteer Ministers programme in Dublin forms part of an international network whose members participate in community projects and provide assistance following emergencies and disasters.
Volunteer Ministers have worked with public authorities, emergency responders, religious communities, charities and other voluntary groups. Their activities have included organising and distributing supplies, assisting at shelters and collection centres, cleaning damaged premises and supporting logistical operations.
The programme’s motto, “Something can be done about it,” reflects Mr. Hubbard’s view that people should not regard social and personal difficulties as inevitably beyond their ability to influence.
In everyday settings, this approach may involve helping a community organisation prepare an event, assisting someone who is struggling to communicate a problem, supporting a neighbourhood initiative or contributing practical work to a charitable activity.
Participation in the training is not restricted by religious affiliation. The methods are available to people of different backgrounds who are interested in developing their ability to help others.
A home for community activity in Dublin
Opened in October 2017, the Church of Scientology & Community Centre of Dublin was established as a venue for religious, cultural, educational, charitable and community activity.
The multi-acre Firhouse Road property includes an auditorium, meeting and seminar rooms, audiovisual facilities, a café and sports areas. The centre has hosted programmes organised by local associations, cultural groups, charities and organisations working in education and social betterment.
The World Humanitarian Day programme continues the centre’s emphasis on providing space for civic engagement and cooperation among people from varied cultural, national and religious backgrounds.
By focusing on skills that can be used in everyday life, the event will connect a global humanitarian observance with the practical question of how individuals can become better prepared to assist those around them.
About the Church of Scientology in Europe
The Church of Scientology, its churches, missions, groups and members are present throughout the European continent. Inspired by the religious and humanitarian work of founder L. Ron Hubbard, Scientologists support initiatives in education, drug prevention, human-rights awareness, moral education, disaster response and community betterment. Recognition of Scientology as a charitable and bona fide religion continues to grow across Europe, alongside its commitment to education, prevention, volunteer service and constructive participation in civil society.
