Africa – An “Ecounter in Nairobi” on the Economy of Francesco
From September 27-29, 2021, young professionals from throughout Africa came together for the “Encounter in Nairobi”. The Encounter in Nairobi was one of a number of regional gatherings which took place in conjunction with the 2021 Economy of Francesco Global Event in Assisi on 2 October in collaboration with the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.This regional gathering in Africa was locally hosted by the Jesuit Justice and Ecology Network Africa (JENA). Young economists and entrepreneurs from Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia joined together to answer Pope Francis’s call to imagine a different kind of economy, one that is life-giving, more inclusive, and recognizes our need to care for our common home.
Recognizing the beauty of diversity and affirming that this is a special gift from God, the participants in the Nairobi Encounter committed themselves to embrace this diversity in developing this common vision even further by becoming catalysts for change in the world. They called for effective cooperation with other young change-makers in Africa and throughout the world in order to bring about a future where the dignity of each person is recognized and respected, and nobody is left behind.
This Encounter was organized by the Jesuit Justice and Ecology Network Africa (JENA). It is worth noting that this year, the Jesuits are celebrating the Ignatian Year, commemorating 500 years since the conversion of St. Ignatius of Loyola, with a the theme ‘Seeing all things new in Christ’. Such an encounter, the first of its kind on African soil, which brings young people together to reflect on the possibility of a new economy which puts the human person at the centre perfectly response to the invitation of the Ignatian year. Also, this come together is in perfect harmony with the Universal Apostolic Preferences of the Society of Jesus, who invites all Jesuits to Walk with the excluded, accompany the youth and care for our common home, in a spirit animated by the Spiritual Exercises.
To Fr. Charles Chilfya, S.J., the Director of the Jesuit Justice and Ecology Network Africa (JENA), “The Encounter stressed learning how to listen to one another in a spirit of charity. Africa’s young change-makers will only be able to bring their vision to life by working together and drawing on their diverse talents and experiences.” Also Dominic Chai, S.J., a Jesuit economist for the Vatican COVID-19 Commission noted that “The vision of the Economy of Francesco is to provide a space for young change-makers to gather in their local communities to share their hopes for the economy of tomorrow, one which according to Pope Francis should be one that fosters life and ensures that nobody is left behind. Towards that end, the Encounter in Nairobi brought together young economists and entrepreneurs together, in a spirit of synodality, to discern on what local communities can do to bring the Economy of Francesco vision to life.”
At the end of this Nairobi Encounter, these young entrepreneurs touched by the call of Pope Francis for a human centred economy, were able to identify the challenges of their context to this new economy. These challenges were more of a motivation to many to commit themselves to this new economy that promotes integral human development and respects the dignity of each individual. They invited all others, especially the young to join them so that they can work in solidarity for this Economy of Francesco, an economy which gives life, not death.
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