African youth summit: Forward to sustainability with faith, hope, love

In a first for a promising environmental group, young men and women from six African countries kicked off on Monday the 2014 Summit of the Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa, or CYNESA.

Many thanks to our friend Allen Ottaro of Kenya for sending news on how well things have gone so far.

The Summit is made up of twenty participants from six countries—Kenya (the event’s host), Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zimbabwe. Also attending is a guest from the Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church, representing the African Lutheran Youth Network and the Lutheran World Federation Youth.

“This is the first time in our two-year history that CYNESA members from different countries are gathering,” Ottaro said. “The main objective is to provide the space for reflection, for sharing and for the development of a common vision and action plan for our work for the next three years.”

Ottaro noted the significance of the Summit's timing, happening only a week before the United Nations Environmental Assembly (June 23rd to 27th) opens at the UN Complex in Nairobi.

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Murang'a (located in Central Kenya) and Chairman for the bishop's Commission for Pastoral and Lay Apostolate, James Maria Wainaina, officiated at the Summit's opening.

In launching the CYNESA Summit, Bishop Wainaina called attention to the value that the young people are bringing to the future of Africa and the planet. One of the organization's strengths, the bishop noted, was that it is an organization based on faith. “He encouraged us to strengthen that aspect,” Ottaro said.

The bishop also applauded that CYNESA is made up of young people. He said that their youthful energies and vigor can make an important contribution to conservation efforts.

Lastly, the bishop said that it would be important to develop a focus for CYNESA to enable the group to make good and effective use of the limited gifts.

“Bishop Wainaina was gracious and decided to stay on for the rest of the day at the end of the opening ceremony, and sat with us to listen to the first session of the Summit,” said Ottaro.

At Monday’s opening session, participants shared their personal stories of how they came into contact with CYNESA.

Day two of CYNESA Summit 2014 is now underway. Its main theme is "Developing a shared vision."

Ottaro said that the second day of the Summit will have participants working together in both their national groups and regions (Central Africa, Eastern Africa and Southern Africa), to discern and outline their personal vision of CYNESA.

The Summit's concept note stakes out the opportunities for African youth as well as a path forward.

"As the immediate heirs to poor leadership and therefore to this unsustainable future, Africa’s current youth population has an urgent responsibility to ensure that its communities, countries and the continent at large act as frontrunners for a safe, sustainable and productive future for them and their children," the document notes.

Stay tuned for more news from CYNESA, its Summit, and the inspired work of its members. (And follow it on Facebook for postings by its members.)

For now, please say a pray for our brothers and sisters at CYNESA that God may bless them and their work in abundance.

Photos: Courtesy of CYNESA