AFJN was well represented in Nairobi in January at the World Social Forum. Many of our members attended the WSF, held for the first time on African soil. The excitement of the event is so contagious that we want to share it with as many people as possible. As different members report in we will add their witnessing stories to this one.

The first batch of witnesses came from the Missionaries of Africa who had nearly twenty confreres participating. Many more can be found on the Missionaries of Africa website as well. Just before the WSF, the Second World Forum of Theology and Liberation was held at the Carmelite Center in Nairobi. Wilbert Gobbo, M.Afr. shares with us below his experience there as well as his personal critique of the World Social Forum. We've recently added Comboni Sr. Giovanna Sguazza's reflections on the experience, a report from Board member, John Kleiderer on the Jesuits' experience in Nairobi as well as a link to the reflections of Missionary of Africa, Sean O'Leary, who asks the question, "is another World Social Forum Possible?"

Originally Published by the National Jesuit News, 2007:

They came from far and wide: India and Madagascar; from Peru and from Zambia; from Spain and Nigeria; from Zimbabwe and Jamaica; Japan and Uganda, and many other places; black, brown and white; Jesuit and lay; and from diverse fields as a US university president to those working in AIDS ministry in Togo; all told, around 130 people from over twenty countries were represented, the majority from sub-Saharan Africa. This snapshot of the Ignatian family gathered in Nairobi for the “Ignatian Family Encounter on Spiritual and Social Transformation in Africa and Madagascar.” The Assistancy of Africa and Madagscar (JESAM) undertook this initiative as a prelude to the 7th World Social Forum, which convened several days later just outside of Nairobi.

Father General Kolvenbach, in a welcome address delivered by the Moderator of JESAM, reflected: “In this ‘ocean of misfortune’ as General Congregation 34 described the marginalization of Africa (D 3, n.12), there are many signs of life, and hope, as many Jesuits and other apostolic partners have kept on the struggle to build a future for those who come after them (GC 34, D 3, n.12)…The set of various workshops you plan to conduct during this encounter give us an idea of the immense, and at times, unknown efforts, that the Society in Africa, and more particularly, the social apostolate, have made in many crucial areas.”

And indeed there was much hope. The gathering explored Ignatian themes: a contemplation on the Trinity as a source of our passion and justice; a Christian call to social transformation in Africa; Ignatian values and methods in addressing social issues in Africa; Ignatian pedagogy for social transformation; and collaboration within the Ignatian Family.

Fr. Fratern Masawe SJ, Moderator of JESAM, spoke of the characteristics of the Trinitarian God of Ignatius, including creativity, the capacity to overcome chaos, to spread compassion, to be playful and to spread beauty. He acknowledged that “if we commit ourselves to ensure that God’s creative plan for all is fulfilled, we have to be ready to experience fear and anxiety.”

The Jesuits have played a unique role in the Christian evangelization of Europe and other continents, so surely Jesuit education and pedagogy can play a role in the African continent too, offered Fr. Valerian Shirima SJ, provincial of East Africa, in his talk. Adding to this challenge, he urged the audience to search for a deep spiritual conversion that “may restore in us the fire that drove our founding fathers to the four corners of the world.”

Fr. Augustin Karekezi SJ, regional superior of Rwanda-Burundi, offered his thoughts on Jesuit-lay partnership in Africa and reflected on the advent of the term ‘Ignatian Family,’ which gave rise to a spirited conversation on lay collaboration as experienced in different contexts around the globe.

Participants also chose one of five workshop tracks for the duration of the meeting, which examined pressing social issues on the continent. These themes included: Freedom of Movement, led by the Jesuit Refugee Service; HIV/AIDS, led by the African Jesuit AIDS Network which this year is marking its fifth anniversary; Conflict, War and Peace, led by the Jesuit theologate’s Hekima Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations; Debt, Trade and Development, led by the International Jesuit Network on Development; and the Management and Depletion of Africa’s Natural Resources, led by Jesuit social centers in Chad and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Throughout the days, many spoke of a desire for incorporating advocacy into their work, and concern was repeatedly expressed about the rising influence of China throughout the continent. The range of topics covered, and the Jesuit institutions that facilitated the workshops, gave testimony to the vibrancy of the Society in Africa and were a sign of hope amidst the challenges.

While the days were filled with meetings, there was time for visits to communities where the Society is present such as a Jesuit parish in a slum or the Gonzaga high school sponsored by the CLC. Alicia Reyes, from Honduras, reflected, “The news describes Africa in negative terms. During these days in this warm land, however, I have seen faces of men and women, which in spite of their difficulties have given me the gift of fortitude, joy and hope.”

Each day concluded with a plenary gathering to share highlights from the day’s various discussions, followed by mass. “Animated by the scholastics’ choir, the celebrations of the Eucharist allowed one to reap the fruits of each day and lay them at the altar of the Lord, God of life and harmony,” reflected Fr. Antoine Berilengar SJ from Chad. Nairobi Archbishop Ndingi Mwana’a Nzeki presided at the closing liturgy, in which he called upon the Society to assist him and the bishops of Africa in preparing for the 2009 African Synod, especially in the area of enculturation.

Carrie Monnette, Detroit provincial assistant for social ministries and one of five delegates representing the US Assistancy, reflected, “The most concrete knowledge I will take away is the mental picture of the faces that were once foreign and now are friends; that my work will be enhanced because I will feel empowered to reach out and connect with men and women, religious and lay, who understand that closeness with Jesus Christ brings us to work for God’s Kingdom.”

After the three-day Ignatian Family Encounter, participants remained for the World Social Forum during which several important side meetings took place. The International Jesuit Network for Development planned new and renewed activities. JESAM held the second-ever Assistancy meeting of the social apostolate, taking advantage of the many Jesuits who had traveled to Nairobi from around Africa. After much rich sharing, several priorities were suggested: training for peace-building; strengthening advocacy efforts on issues of natural resources, peace, and refugee rights; capacity building in social issues among young Jesuits and laity throughout the Assistancy; and fostering greater communication and solidarity within the Assistancy. A new JESAM Assistancy coordinator for the social apostolate was also announced.

The Society in Africa is vibrant and growing. Today there are nearly 1350 Jesuits in some thirty sub-Saharan countries, and new vocations are steady, with over 100 men in formation in one province alone. A look at the city of Nairobi tells part of the story: in 1972 there was only one Jesuit; today it is the center of a thriving province with numerous works, a theologate, and multiple communities, and with an East African as provincial.

In a land once known as the Dark Continent, there is much to celebrate, to learn from, and to hold up. Of course we know there are immense challenges as well. However, the Ignatian Family Encounter demonstrated the Society’s service to Christ’s mission and gave reason for great hope.

John Kleiderer is the policy director for social and international ministries at the US Jesuit Conference.

Sr. Giovanna Sguazz, Comboni Missionary Sister, sent us this report from the World Social Forum. Below, find more articles.

The curtains of the eagerly awaited World Social Forum meeting opened on January 20,2007 In Nairobi, Kenya with a vow to fight inequality and social injustice in the world.

Thousands of delegates converged at Uhuru Park, Nairobi signaling the beginning of intense discussions on how to tackle some of the world’s major problems.

The delegates, drawn from both “developing” and “developed” world, shared the common goal of making the world a better place. A peace march from Kibera to the Uhuru Park brought people together “for one fraternal world” where there is no more room for wars… The slogan of the World Social Forum was “another world is possible”.

Chanting “a better world is possible” the participants in a colorful ceremony condemned the policies that keep people in abject poverty as well as all the forms of slavery in the modern world. Speakers representing all continents spoke against every kind of injustice. African delegates urged leaders in the continent to fight for human rights, and reject neo-colonialism.

During the following 4 days 1,200 events, workshops, seminars were run by different members of the civil society at Kasarani Moi SportsCenter in Nairobi. At the same time many other events took place in many different slums of Nairobi so that the total number of participants to the whole World Social Forum is estimated around 50,000. The beauty of these events is that youth and women were the protagonists and the slums of Nairobi were in the spotlight of the media.

The Catholic Church was among the organizers of many of the events at Kasarani and of course in the slums. The Ecumenical platform was also very visible at Kasarani with the Catholic Church playing a role. The Comboni Charism was present through the participation of more than 50 members of the Comboni Family: brothers, fathers and sisters.

The closing took place again on the 25th at Park after a “marathon for basic rights” from Korogocho and again with the hopes and expectations of the people about the next good moves of the powerful of the world.

Now the World Social Forum is done and the throng is gone. Nairobi had the honor of hosting this big assembly and did an excellent job in welcoming, hosting, celebrating the event. The delegates from the whole world had the honor of looking African poverty in the eye. And indeed another world, a fairer, braver, more equitable, more just, more fraternal, more sustainable is needed. But now, that the grand event is concluded are we any closer to such a world? That is the responsibility of each one of us.

Good and great things did happen at Kasarani. It was a platform for all members of the society, especially for the neglected and marginalized. It was an occasion to join efforts on social issues. The on going process of the World Social Forum continues and it is creating a web of networks whose impact will emerge in the next 3 - 5 to 10 years.

Another world is possible

This year the World Social Forum (WSF) was entirely held for the first time in Africa at Nairobi. The slogan of the Forum was “Another world is possible”. For this event representatives of Comboni missionary lay, sisters, brothers and priests gathered from different parts of the world for the reflection and actualization of the Comboni Charism in today’s world at the Amani (means peace in Kwahili) Center in Nairobi

Before starting the WSF, Fr. Marcelo Barros, a Benedictine Father from Brazil, helped us understand the history and context of the Forum so that we could attend it with an attitude of openness and listening towards the great pluralism and diversities present in this world event.

The WSF is a process: an open space where social movements, networks, NGOs Civil society groups from all over the world gather together confront economic inequality fuelled by globalization, to debate ideas, share experiences, formulate proposals, create network, and call for international solidarity for the defense of Human Rights, Justice and Peace and care for the environment. WSF tries to promote an alternative to the neo-liberalism such as global solidarity, alternative economy, equality, and respect for human rights.

We found ourselves inside a global world in the limited space of Kasarani Stadium and the nearby slums. We lived those days of the WSF with intensity, journeying with the people, sharing and confronting ideas, knowledge, and visions. At the conclusion of the Forum many of us joined the marathon that started in Korogocho at St. John Church with 14 Km all the way through the slums of Nairobi until Uhuru Park. This initiative was meant to support slum dwellers struggle in acquiring their human rights so as to live a life with dignity. After the WSF we spent two more days with Fr. Barros and Sr. Patricia Lanigan (MMM) who facilitated our process of analysis, prayer and theological reflection. We tried to understand what the WSF meant for us and where the Spirit of God is leading us in the light of our Charism, our Combonian documents and the Word of God. Out of emerging points and reflections we drew a small document, which is proposing the common vision that we feel paramount as Comboni’s in today’s world.

The first witness came to us from Eddie Ndahinda, M.Afr., who looked at the important role the forum played in bringing out women's issues:

Sometimes God's voice is silent. Just like the prophet Elijah on mount Horeb God's voice is not explicitly manifest in hegemonic thunders of our social world. But silent voices are not necessarily inactive. In fact effective actions often take place in silence! Like the voices of the poor peoples we have witnessed during the WSF in Nairobi over the last few days, especially the voices of Africa's marginalized women, God's voice is often eclipsed by the socio-economic hegemonies of our world to the extent that many people may find it difficult to envisage a just and peaceful world.

During the WSF in Kasarani - Nairobi, the plight of marginalized women has been strongly highlighted. The silent voices of women became very loud and clear, echoing the quiet agonies and groans of the world we live in, in which they are maltreatment, exploited and oppressed. Paradoxically, it is women who shoulder this same world which subjugates them. It is believed that more than 80% of sub-Saharan Africa's economy comes from the efforts of women and yet these same women can hardly afford to access 16% of it! Indeed, the problem of gender imbalance is not just a women question, but rather a predicament of society as a whole. Can we genuinely have a just and peaceful world where the centre is hanging by the margins?

In the WSF platform at Kasarani, women from all walks of life manifested the fact that given space, women are capable of bringing about change and transformation for a better world. Unfortunately, dominating patriarchal structures still stand in their way, and of course the usual rhetoric seems to control centre stage. But even then, the ambiance has been good and the resilience manifested by women activists from various corners of the world is a sign of hope that indeed another world is possible. But as to who will deliver it and by what means, remains another conundrum. It is at the same time a challenge to all of us engaged to issues of justice, peace and integrity. Where do we stand vis-à-vis these submerged voices? Are we willing to stand up and be counted among their advocates?

We still solicit prayers for and from each other, but even these do not suffice. During the final days of our experience here in Nairobi, we are reflecting and deliberating on the appropriate action plan we intend to carry along and incorporate in our pastoral engagements wherever we live and work. A prophetic voice of a late son of West Africa reminds us that this mission of transforming the world entails some kind of madness:

"You cannot carry out fundamental change without a certain amount of madness. In this case, it comes from non-conformity, the courage to turn your back on old formulas, the courage to invent the future. It took the madmen of yesterday for us to be able to act with extreme clarity today. I want to be one of those madmen. We must dare to invent the future." Thomas Sankara, Burkina Faso.

Eddie Ndahinda, M. Afr