Aid to the Church in Need: Zambia: Support for the youth apostolate in Lusaka

Zambia: Support for the youth apostolate in Lusaka

Posted by Project of the Week on 19/10/2009, 7:46 am
Board Administrator

ZAMBIA

Support for the youth apostolate in the archdiocese of Lusaka

"Imiti ikukula ili mpanga" – so runs a proverb familiar to many Zambians in their native language, Mambwe. It means something like: "The growing trees are the forest of the future". In a country made up of a majority of young people, the Catholic Church is particularly concerned to support these "growing trees" in their spiritual, moral and intellectual life. For young people are the future of the church and of society – the "forest of the future".

The archdiocese of Lusaka is very active in this respect, for the pastors are very much aware of the many challenges facing young people today, including poor education, drug abuse, teenage pregnancies, religious and emotional crises, a profound insecurity in the face of vital life-changing decisions, extreme poverty, HIV/AIDS and the numerous orphans it has brought – children who need not only material support but above all spiritual and psychological support, since they are in many cases deeply damaged, disorientated, wounded and alone in the world.

In response to these problems the archdiocese is offering workshops and seminars, in which particular importance is attached to encouraging and training the young people involved to try and help other young people to order their life according to the Gospel. For it is evident that the example and witness of their own contemporaries can often have a greater effect than the words of adult teachers. Father Oswald Mulenga, the leader and coordinator of the youth work in the archdiocese of Lusaka, writes to us, "The Church must unite all her resources so as to convey the Gospel with great courage, creativity and at the same time patience, to the world of young people". This year alone the programme is hoping to reach some 3,000 young people. In doing so vast distances often have to be overcome, since the archdiocese of Lusaka covers an area of some 25,000 square miles (64,000 km²) – approximately twice the size of Belgium. Hence increasing reliance is placed on the modern media, such as radio, in order to reach as many young people as possible. It is hoped to expand its media work still further, in fact.

For example, the archdiocese is planning an Internet homepage in the future, so that young people from Zambia can make contact with young people all over the world and exchange ideas and experiences. This would benefit not only the young people in Lusaka itself but also their contemporaries in other countries, who could thereby learn about the riches and vitality of the Church in Africa and the experiences, hopes and feelings of their African friends. For generally speaking Africa has no voice in the public media and ordinary people hear little about real life in Africa. Thus the modern media could help strangers to become friends and so discover what it means to be part of the Universal Church.

The Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has promised $16,000 towards this project in support of this creative, well thought-out and valuable programme of youth work in the archdiocese of Lusaka.

To help this cause please contact the Australian office of ACN on (02) 9679-1929. e-mail: info@aidtochurch.org or write to Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148. Web: www.aidtochurch.org

Young people praying together on one of the youth seminars.

This message is locked.

Responses are not allowed!

Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148 ABN: 62 418 911 594
Ph/Fax (02) 9679-1929 e-mail: info@aidtochurch.org web: www.aidtochurch.org