West African Youth Days end, mission begins

After five days of an intense programme, the first West African Youth Days reached their climax with the closing Mass, presided over by Archbishop Julien Kaboré, Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, on the evening of Friday 11 September.

Expressing his gratitude and satisfaction for the event, the Burkinabè prelate structured his homily around five themes: West Africa, Youth, Sowers of Hope, Agents of Peace, Take Courage.

Archbishop Kaboré began by referring to their shared belonging to the West African region. He invited the young people to take responsibility and commit themselves to its development,

“Young Catholics of West Africa, be artisans of peace, sowers of hope; …this land is yours”, he said.

Drawing on statistical projections, he noted that this part of the African continent, rich in immense human and spiritual resources, will have half a billion inhabitants by 2030, the majority of them young people.

Young people are therefore called to take responsibility for its future, rejecting everything that undermines their dignity and refusing to allow anyone to manipulate them,

“It is up to you, it is up to us, to build its future,” Mgr Kaboré said.

After describing youth as a stage of life marked by dreams and ambitions, the Nuncio highlighted the significant challenges facing the West African region, particularly unemployment and the lack of opportunities.

They can lead young people to discouragement and make them vulnerable, he observed, before exhorting them:

“Do not allow anyone to exploit your frustrations, your ethnic identity, your religion or your political convictions simply to turn you against one another; … reject violence, corruption, hatred, discrimination and superstition.”

The young Catholics were invited to choose discernment and to develop the ability to face these challenges with hope — a hope that is not resignation, but one rooted in courage and capable of bringing about change through solidarity and action.

Mission starts now

“Take courage,” Mgr Kaboré said, pointing out that while the Days are coming to an end, the mission is beginning.

The nuncio’s words summarise the journey undertaken by the young people during these five days.

In an atmosphere of joy, sharing and cultural exchange, cultural activities, catechetical teaching given by the bishops, and various celebrations enabled the participants to become more aware of their values as young Africans, as well as of the responsibility they have to assume in order to contribute to genuine social development.

West Africa is indeed facing major challenges linked to climate change, human trafficking, extremist violence, terrorism, unemployment and poverty, all of which leave many young people without prospects.

Yet, in this context, the figure of Christ, the peace and hope of humanity, shines a light on young people and invites them to move beyond resignation, to take responsibility and, in turn, to become missionaries of peace and hope in their daily lives.

The young people who took part in these Days returned home happy to have met others like themselves.

They returned with renewed hope and a strengthened awareness of the need for a renewed commitment to the service of peace.

They returned conscious that, despite the borders that separate them — and whose crossing can be so difficult — they are, at heart, brothers and sisters.

“In the end, you can see that we are one people,” remarked Sadou Lydia from Niger.

Sharing the same view, Schesky Hervée from Guinea-Conakry expressed the strong hope that the momentum that has now been created, together with the enthusiasm and desire for unity witnessed during these days, “will not come to an end when we cross the borders.”

Father Canisius Metin, MCCJ