On the 9th to the 13th of September 2024, IMBISA hosted a conference in Pretoria for the youth on various matters affecting young people in the region.
Youth representatives and chaplains from eight out of nine member countries of IMBISA attended the conference, namely Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The young people and their chaplains gathered at Padre Pio Retreat Centre with the theme, “Responding to the Challenges of Young People in IMBISA Region according to Christus Vivit”. The conference’s focus points were; death in the region and how it affects young people, speaking freely in church and society on women, drug abuse, depression and mental health and speaking freely in church and society on silent matters including LGBTQI+.
One of the most important things that learnt from the conference according to representatives was the opportunity to use the Conversation in Spirit approach to discuss and ponder on the issues presented by experts from Angola, South Africa and Namibia. This allowed for listening to each other without judging or arguing and managing coming up with solid presentations as groups.
Representatives spent Thursday morning interacting and praying with the elderly at Nazareth House in Pretoria.
Young people value the chance that IMBISA provided them to engage and exchange experiences as young people in the region. In order to ensure that there is constant open communication and input, they suggest that IMBISA hold these conferences more frequently. Another recommendation was that the church should help young people overcome the obstacles they encounter on a daily basis. Forums such as these provide a safe space for young people to talk freely about what they are going through. Further research and presentations should be made, they felt, in each country especially on speaking freely in church on silent matters and on single mothers.
Young people said they appreciated their responsibility to bring the change they want to see in the world. They look forward to future workshops, and are dedicated to ongoing formation in a synodal spirit.
#we want a church that moves the world not a church that moves with the world.