JPIC FA conducted training in Active Non Violence and Human Rights for youth in Eastern Africa October 10-17, 2010.  The workshop was funded by Missionszentrale der Franziskaner.

Br. Joe Ehrhardt, Executive Director of JPICFA, found the workshop very effective in enhancing the Franciscans International trainings' efforts at national advocacy capacity building. He believes our youth participants from the East Africa region were enabled to reflect and then plan on the best way to implement the learned advocacy skills tuned to the unique political/economic situations, which they face in each of their countries.

The participants were young people from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda Tanzania, Uganda and the Democratic republic of the Congo. The selection process followed the JPICFA network in the region. The young people were selected and vouched for by members of the Franciscan family in these countries following and established criterion.

A simulation exercise was held towards the end of the training. The participants prepared to demonstrate against sexual abuse in the neighbourhoods of Catholic University of Eastern Africa. Some of the young people from Rwanda and Burundi were concerned that this sort of activity could not be tolerable in their own countries.

According to Mr and Mrs Ombok Otieno, the facilitators, the reaction of the young people is an indicator that not all is well in these countries: “if young people, more than 2000 miles from home are scared of being involved in a simulation exercise for active non violence just because of the possible reprisal by their government then the peace we have in these countries is negative peace.”

One of the highlights of the workshop, however, was the arrival of the Vicar General of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM), Br Mike Perry and the General Definitor for Africa, Br Vincent Zungu (OFM) who joined just in time to celebrate the closing Eucharist with us. Br Mike was able to contextualize his homily to the particular situations our youth face in each country, using his ability to share the Gospel message speaking in both French and English as needed. It was abundantly clear that our youth were deeply moved by his enthusiasm and sincerity.