Togo – Educational Camp, Kpalimé 2021
From 12 to 17 April 2021, the Loyola Social Centres, in collaboration with the diocese of Kpalimé and its partners, organised an educational camp for the young people of the said diocese.
They were 40 young people (girls and boys), who came from different deaneries of the Diocese of Kpalimé and stayed at the Diocesan Centre Mgr SESHIE in order to participate in this educational camp which is part of the dynamics of the third Universal Apostolic Preference of the Society of Jesus.
The training team was made up of five people: four members of the Loyola Social Centres staff and Father Gabriel EPHAM, a priest from the Diocese of Kpalimé, who was appointed as the camp chaplain; not forgetting the indispensable support of Bishop Benoît Comlan ALOWONU, the local ordinary, and his secretary, Father Jules AWU.
The different themes developed were: the Society of Jesus in the world (and particularly in Togo), the issue of gender-based violence, how to fight against sexual abuse and how to protect oneself from it, the prevention of diseases (mainly HIV/AIDS STIs, COVID-19), youth entrepreneurship and issues related to peace and an ecologically healthy environment. The AJAN HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme for Youth (AHAPPY) was one of the key tools of this training session. Vocation promotion through the theme: Jesuits, who are they? allowed us to introduce the knowledge of the Society of Jesus to these young people and also to make them discover the importance of listening to the Lord in order to better choose what is right for their lives.
The daily Eucharist, the sacrament of reconciliation, listening and counselling sessions were the main spiritual activities during this time of formation. Through games and sports activities, the young people were able to showcase their different talents, making the camp lively and very animated.
At the end of the camp, the young campers, now equipped, promised to pass on this information to their communities in order to be ambassadors of the Loyola Social Centres.
By Toussaint YANGAMBELE BUREAU SJ - Assistant Director of Loyola Social Centres Lome(Togo)
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