Emmaus Movement has a long history of helping the most disadvantaged members of society. Emmaus was created in 1949 by Abbé Pierre in France and today the Movement has spread to 42 countries. The first community was created when Abbe Pierre met a man who was in a difficult situation. The man had just been released from prison, had no home and in his desperation had tried to commit suicide. Abbe Pierre spontaneously made an offer to this man to help him to help others by building accommodation for homeless families. The man got a home, and at the same time he found a sense of purpose for his life in helping people.

The Emmaus communities around the world provide a home and a meaningful work to people who have experienced homelessness and social exclusion. These communities offer companionship and support for people who have been social excluded. They can stay in these communities as long as they want and get help in regaining the sense of control and stability in their lives. The main activity of Emmaus is to collect and recycle second-hand items and materials, and through this empower the men and women working in the Emmaus community to have pride in their work and make a dignified living. Other activities of Emmaus are producing handicrafts, organic farming to help street children and providing microcredit.
Emmaus also give out a great amount of support to different vulnerable groups of people in the world. For example in Bosnia, they have focussed their solidarity work towards human trafficking victims and victims of war. The fundamental values of the Movement are serve first those who suffer and address the root causes of extreme poverty.

The 'Universal Manifesto' was adopted at the first Emmaus assembly in 1969.

It provides a set of rules that all Emmaus communities and groups, uniting Emmaus as a movement.

1. Our law
Our law applies to all humankind and is that on which depends any life worth living, true peace, and joy for the individual and society: “Serve those who are less fortunate before yourself. Serve first those who suffer most.

2. Our conviction
Our conviction is that respect for this law should guide any pursuit of justice and therefore peace among peoples.

3. Our aim
Our aim is to take action to ensure that every person, society and nation can live, have a place and be fulfilled through communication and sharing in equal dignity.

4. Our method
Our method involves creating, supporting and coordinating a system in which everyone, by being free and respected, can meet their own needs and help each other.

5. Our primary means
Our primary means, wherever possible, is the collection work that gives new value to any object and increases the potential to provide emergency relief to help those suffering most.

6. Any other means
Any other means to raise awareness and meet this challenge should also be used to ensure that those suffering most are served first, by sharing their troubles and struggles – whether public or private – until the cause of each ill is eliminated.

7. Our freedom
In the accomplishment of its task Emmaus is not subordinate to any other ideal than that expressed in this manifesto, or to any other authority than that established internally according to its own rules. It acts in conformity with the Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations, and with the just laws of every society and nation, without political, racial, linguistic, spiritual or any other distinction. Nothing else is required of anyone wishing to participate in our action other than the acceptance of the content of this manifesto.

8. Our members
This manifesto constitutes the simple and clearly defined foundation of the Emmaus movement. It should be adopted and applied by any group wishing to become an active member of the movement.

Emmaus has been focussed on sustainable development and through practical social work improved the lives of people in disadvantaged situations. The Emmaus Movement has dedicated their work in tackling the global social problems of poverty and exclusion: “It is possible to ´change the world´, so long as we all work together, each according to his ability”. Emmaus community unites its members in diverse programmes that are practical, have tangible achievements and also impacts political side of the issues.

Association Nova Generacija is a trial member of Emmaus International since 2012. Representatives from the Association have gotten the change to visit companion communities in France, Germany and Switzerland, and through this gain knowledge about their work and achievements.