Link
This is the on-line version of Link, the bimonthly newsletter of Fimcap.
Edition September/October 2005
| European Chaplains meeting |
14 - 17 November |
Slovakia |
| Euroconference |
17 - 20 November |
Slovakia |
| Afroconference |
10 - 14 December |
Burundi |
| European bureau |
10 - 12 March 2006 |
Italy |
| Euroforum |
7 - 12 April 2006 |
Catalonia |
| Eurocontact |
22 - 28 July 2006 |
Italy |
| World Camp |
6 - 26 August 2006 |
Lubumbashi, Congo |
KJG and Fimcap  at the World Youth day [top]
More than 20.000 people came to the KJG meeting centre “Feel the Spirit”. Young people who wanted to enjoy, to meditate and to pray all together, beyond any borders. One could feel the spirit that unified the pilgrims both boys ands girls at the WYD. The meeting centre of KJG and Fimcap was not only a meeting point, it was a place of community and inspiration.
With the support of the national team and of the diocese of Cologne, 150 people of KJG turned a “waste ground” under the bridge of Mülheim into a festival place full of life with three different areas:
- “Spirit of celebration“a three day-music festival on an open air podium with more than 6,000 people gathered an enthusiastic audience for international music groups till late in the evening;
- “Spirit of communication” was an international café with games and actions like the international picture of the Three Kings and encouraged international encounters, exchanges of addresses and a lot of laughter.
- “Spirit of body and soul“which was the place for meditation, of silence, of prayer and also presented a walk of senses on the theme “Life sources”.
Matthias Koffler, national chaplain of KJG was very positive about the outcome. The three areas complemented each other very well. The holistic concept of our youth work was well accepted. The interest of the visitors for KJG work could be clearly seen.
Politicians, Church leaders and people from the media showed their interest in the centre “Feel the Spirit”. We had the visit of Mrs Renate Schmidt, Youth Minister, the Archbishop of Bamberg, Mgr Schick, Mgr Gaetano di Pierro of Ambatondrazaka, Madagascar, and the president of the Polish Bishops’ Conference Józef Michalik, Archbishop of Przemysl.
Apart from their presence at “Feel the spirit” about 800 KJG volunteers were on the spot during and before the WYD and in fact the largest group of volunteers came from youth organisations. A big number worked as long term volunteers. Pictures and articles are online on www.kjg.de.
KJG and Fimcap  are very positive about the outcome [top]
International solidarity is now stronger
Wherever you needed people like for instance for pitching tents, at the Fimcap information stand or on the podium, Fimcap volunteers were omnipresent on the “Feel the spirit” location. The great commitment of Fimcap people like Tine Cornillie, Fimcap General Secretary, Corno de Mol, vice-president of FIMCAP Europe, Wim Selderslaghs, Chaplain of Fimcap Europe or Bert Van den Bossche, responsible for the Fimcap stand, together with the KJG volunteers and responsible leaders made of the international meeting centre brought about a common success.
For KJG and Fimcap, the meeting centre « feel the spirit » at the WYD in Cologne was exceptionally successful. More than 20.000 pilgrims from all over the world came to the meeting place under the Mülheim Bridge in Cologne. Among them were many young people from KJG and from other Fimcap member organisations.
Alveiro Vásquez Casallas, the  international Fimcap chaplain was very positive about the outcome: “With ‘Feel the Spirit’; the vision of Fimcap has become clear and tangible for young people. You could feel a spirit of solidarity, of openness, and co-operation. This was a fantastic opportunity for a better understanding of Fimcap and KJG. The international dimension and the world community of the Fimcap organisations could be experienced here by so many young people. This experience will be an inspiration for Fimcap beyond the World Youth Day”.
“Feel the spirit” was very international, especially on Wednesday. You could see so many different flags and banners. We could welcome the official delegations of associations of Namibia, Malta, Italy, Catalonia (Spain), Lithuania, the Slovak Republic, the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as young people from associated organisations from Rwanda, Uganda, Ghana, Congo, South Africa, Philippines and Chile. Associations of India and Nigeria were interested in a Fimcap membership. “We really felt this spirit of communion and community while talking to each other, at moments of prayer and at chill out places. The joy of the people really touched me. KJG has shown with this meeting place that it is a strong and very well organised movement and was a very good Fimcap representative at the WYD”.
Holger Witting, national director and responsible for the international work of KJG, added: “During the 2 years of preparation, we focused on communication and encounters. That is why we did not only have a tent with information on the different Fimcap members, there were also presentations of games and other intercultural activities prepared by the youngsters of the Fimcap organisations”.
Some impressions of people at Cologne as co-organisers or visitors of “Feel the Spirit” [top]
The KJG group in  Bad Mergentheim (diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart) and the neighbouring parishes organised the stay of 85 young pilgrims from Malta, 3 from Hungary, 1 from Belgium, 1 from France and 3 from the Netherlands. The Maltese people appreciated a lot the activities of “feel the spirit”. They are already used to Fimcap activities. The bigger problem was the distance and the long journey to arrive to Cologne. It was also a pity that this group was split up in smaller groups in Cologne.
“Feel the spirit” was very positive for KJG and Fimcap. I hope this will go on and that new partnerships will start. The participants were very interested in Fimcap and we should have had Russian folders. It was also very nice to have so many KJG participants here. Once you have experienced Fimcap, you keep in touch.
Markus Veith, KJG, Germany
Our diocese of Limburg hosted 41 young people from Slovakia, from the Fimcap member organisation eRko, and one person from Uganda. It was a fantastic experience, we lived in community and we were on the same wave length. It was a great pity that the 5 Haitians didn’t get the visa. Our Bishop criticised the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We were happy to be the hosting organisation and we accepted the invitation to Slovakia. Fimcap and the international work of KJG have now a face, Thanks to the participation of Alveiro and Wim.
Sascha Spezzano KJG (Germany)
I was in the Church next to this place for the catecheses and we saw that there were many people here. We felt a deep feeling of love which we all carry in ourselves and give to the others. We are all brothers and sisters in Jesus-Christ. We share similar experiences and are united in the Church. It is great to see so many cultures together, an opportunity to learn and to exchange. There were no problems of communication here!
Taurai (19) from Kwekwe (Zimbabwe)
The spirit I feel here is a young spirit. The atmosphere is fantastic here. The people in Germany are known as being cold and reserved, but here, there are no problems at all. We forget about the walls and we meet the others. It would be great if people did the same under other circumstances, without injustices.
Severino (23) de Caruaru (Brazil)
My brother has read the program and decided that our group should come here. It is great here; all people enjoy themselves and are nice. I like this international atmosphere. The people I meet here try to speak Spanish and I try to speak their language.
Ana Sofia (21) de Guadalajara (Mexico)
In front of the  stage of “Feel the Spirit” there was a fantastic atmosphere. People were following the rhythm of the music and singing. And backstage? Here as well there was a great feeling. People danced from time to time, the groups were preparing themselves or having a rest, having a drink or were just leaving their instruments in a safe place. The stressing moments are the connecting of instruments and microphones and the de-connecting business, said Corno, the president of Fimcap Europe and member of Jong Nederland. He presented the groups in English or in German. The first day was rather stressing because he had to improvise a lot. They had agreed on a short presentation with short sentences which were translated in more languages. There was always somebody there to translate. The good ambience was contagious and spread all over the place. Bert was in charge of the French translation but this was no problem for a” chiro and Fimcap” experienced person like Bert. Bert was very positive about the collaboration with KJG and the numerous volunteers. The spirit under the Mülheim Bridge was really sensational.
800.000 pilgrims in Marienfeld [top]
“My dear friends” the Pope says and enthusiastic young people answer him with frantic applause. It gives you goose pimples. No, not because it is cold. This enthusiasm moves me. A crowd is chanting his name “Beeenedettoooo“. There is a sea of flags and banners, a never seen enthusiasm. I see thousands of candle lights. We are sitting under a starry sky.
A few hours later, there is silence, people are praying. Pilgrims keep each other warm, in groups, tightly packed, old and young, boys and girls, North and South. It is a divine present to be given the opportunity to be part of this community. The cold makes way for inner warmth.
The final celebration with Pope Benedict XVI starts at 10 am. Music, songs, dances, prayers. More than a million celebrate the Eucharist. This is an indescribable feeling, to be here all together united with all Christians in the world. At the end of the mass, we unfold our banner “Feel the spirit” and at that moment, I can really feel it, I feel the spirit over this huge crowd. I have been waiting for months for the moment I feel very close to God with a million of other people.
Steffi Mayer, Wolfgang Finke, Evelyne A. Solga, Judith Glas
An unforgettable experience in the International Liturgy Group 2005 [top]
When Fimcap asked me to be in the Liturgy group of the WYD 2005 I could not imagine what it was exactly. When we arrived in Cologne, I realised that all the participants of the liturgy group, 174 young people from all over the world, had the same questions. But as the Holy Father said during the welcoming celebration on Thursday in Cologne “We have also come to Cologne because in our hearts we have the same urgent question that prompted the Three Kings to set out on their journey”.
After some ice-breaking games we realised that our task was to get to know each other well so we could communicate more easily during our duties. We got our first tasks during the welcome celebrations in Bonn, Düsseldorf and Cologne. It was very impressive to see millions of young people coming from all nations waiting to celebrate the Holy mass. “It was great; it was going to be such a great experience to us. We have to thank Lord of what he gave us”. These words were coming from all the pilgrims, especially during our evening prayers.
We had a great time altogether especially during our daily prayers, during our lunch time and even while waiting and waiting between the rehearsals, before and after a celebration. The sight of the Holy Father on the boat and the Rhine’s bank full of young people was the biggest reward for all sacrifices.
The fact that I was so close to the Holy Father is something which I cannot describe. I felt peace in my heart and tears rolled down my eyes when he spoke to me. I felt that I had so much responsibility there as a Fimcap representative. Fimcap was near the altar very close to the pope.
Bless us all God for this great experience.
Renard Attard
ZAK Malta
Prayer for the Fimcap Day on 20 November [top]
Today all Fimcap member  organisations celebrate this day and pray for all the children and the young people in the whole world, especially for the children and the leaders who share the Fimcap spirit.
Fimcap is growing,
With the newcomers who are welcome, whatever origin, colour or way of doing they have,
Our languages are different but our culture is similar,
Beyond differences, we all share the same things:
We have been created to God’s image,
And he offers us his protection.
Very dear Father of all children.
Open your arms widely,
To welcome us all.
Holy Spirit, be with us, when anxiety and sorrow is afflicting us.
Jesus Christ, come and help us through the grace of your love,
Whatever colour, race or ways of doing which we have
The Lord loves us; he is caring and waiting for us all.
Amen.
Due to the preparation  work of the World Camp which will take place in Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo 06 - 26 August 2006, three members of the Fimcap presidium stayed some days in Lubumbashi.
13 - 22 July, the Fimcap General Secretary also participated at the Kiro national Camp that took place in Kamina, about 700 km of Lubumbashi, in the North of Katanga.
Carme and Alveiro, Fimcap president and Fimcap international chaplain arrived on the 21st of July and visited on 22-24 July some of local projects that will host the participants of the world camp.
These projects are social projects, e.g. supervision houses for homeless children run by Salesian fathers of Don Bosco and lay people from Lubumbashi, a supervision house for mentally handicapped children led by a lady, a house for re-education for physically handicapped people, and a nutrition centre for children suffering of malnutrition. More details will be given in the next Link editions.
25-26 of July, the presidum had a meeting with the national Bureau of Kiro Congo about the detailed program and a budget draft for the World Camp. On the whole, the proposition of Kiro Congo was seen as satisfactory, but the final decision will be taken at the next ICB.
Kiro Congo wishes to all the participants: “Welcome at his place, at their place”  All energy will be mobilised to make this Worldcamp a success for every participant.
Welcome here and feel at home!
César BAMWEPELA
National Secretary, Kiro Congo
Presidium on visit in Congo [top]
As a visitor at the  national camp of Kiro Congo, I had the chance to experience what Kiro Congo is standing for and what kind of activities they are organising. I must say that I was really impressed by what I’ve seen.
I could clearly see that Kiro is very well known in Congo and they have a lot of respect from everyone. Wherever we were walking in uniform, people greeted us, saying that they also have been members. At some point, I had the impression that half of the inhabitants in the area where I was were Kiro members. It was really amazing to me.
During the national camp, a lot of the challenges of the Congolese society have been discussed, experts have been invited. I was really happy to see that Kiro makes a difference in society, by informing their members and by stimulating them to work on different topics in their local communities.
Also the commitment of the national team, leaders, and animators struck me. Kiro is not just one of the things they are busy with, they live Kiro. Being a Kiro member goes further than the gatherings of Kiro. You are a Kiro every single moment of your life and you live accordingly. This means you take responsibility in society and you point other people on their responsibility.
I want to thank everybody from Kiro Congo for this great experience and I’m sure the World Camp in Congo will be a great success!
Tine
General Secretary of Fimcap
Jef Van den Audenaerde, a Fimcap monument, died last August. [top]
Jef van den  Audenaerde who was the administrative director of Chiro Flanders for 37 years and Fimcap Secretary General for more than 20 years died on 23rd August 2005 at the age of 68.
Jef was sometimes nick-named as “Mister Fimcap” and was one of the leading figures in the founding of Fimcap which was recognised by the Holy See 1962. During all his years in Fimcap, Jef has influenced many people by his commitment, enthusiasm, creativity, and his convincing personality. First he was delegate of Chiro, and then became Secretary General of Fimcap in 1968. Jef was Secretary until 1992 and performed his task with an unmatched enthusiasm and a remarkable professional feeling. Jef didn’t abandon Fimcap after 1992. He remained interested in the projects and activities and was in charge of financial matters until 1995. Jef had a great support from his family, who sometimes accompanied him to longer meetings or assemblies. His family also often hosted Fimcap people from the Third World, before and after Fimcap meetings.
Jef was often the spirit and driving energy of many Fimcap activities that remain engraved in the memories of many Fimcap members. I would like to mention activities that have entered the calendar of Fimcap: the International Children’s Camp in Bergharen (NL) in 1979 with 700 children and animators, the Eurocamp 1985, the Euroforums 1984, 1985 and so many General Assemblies. Jef was also fervent in the opening of Fimcap to the Third World recognising the importance of supporting youth movements coming first in Africa, then in South America and Asia.
In the name of everybody who met and worked with Jef during his commitment in and for Fimcap, Pierre Bovy, Franz Denné, Christiane Lambert, Annette Leimer, Roberto Mauri, Christine Meller... I would like to say thank you for the example he has been to all of us and for the time and energy he has given to Fimcap and offer my deepest sympathy to Suzanne, his wife and to his family which he loved so much.
Marleen Deblonde
National camp Kiro Congo [top]
Kiro Congo  organised the second national camp in its history 13-22 July 2005 in Kamina in the North of Katanga. 102 male and female leaders and trainers participated with enthusiasm.
Tine Cornillie, the Fimcap general Secretary, encouraged us with her presence. Coming by plane from South Africa, she immediately stepped on the train that went to Kamina and brought 30 Kiro leaders from the South of Katanga. The journey took 29 hours!
This camp called « Tshondo 2005 » had the theme: « We are all one » with the following objectives:
- to strengthen the national solidarity of Kiro Congo;
- to re-train the leaders on Kiro knowledge;
- to train the leaders on some life issues;
- to encourage the social work project in Kamina.
There were speeches from Kiro trainers, civil society and state institutions about: Democratic elections and good ruling, role of the civil society in the election procedure, family planning and role of the lay-people in the Church, Aids and sexually transmitted diseases … The Fimcap general secretary also gave a very lively speech on Fimcap.
At the end of the camp, the diocesan leadership received boxes with medicine in order to set up a kind of pharmacy for the people in poor districts.
We would like to thank the people who helped us to organise this camp and financial facilitators, especially the parishes that supported the members and the diocese of Kamina that hosted us. Thank you also to the speakers, trainers, participants and the 0, 7% Fund of Chiro Flanders which gave helped significantly the financial support.
César BAMWEPELA
National Secretary, Kiro Congo
Living with the wind and the sun [top]
Amahoro! May peace be with you? Here in Burundi, you greet people with these words. A meaningful gesture in a country which suffered so many violent conflicts. I have been hosted for two months by Chiro Burundi as volunteer from Broederlijk Delen in order to support the projects of boys and girls of Chiro Burundi. My long experience of the Chiro movement in Flanders was an ideal basis for an enriching exchange from culture to culture, from organisation to organisation and from people to people. I was very surprised to see the importance of the movement and its impact in spite of the poor financial support.
The Chiro movement is a well respected organisation with a large social network of members, of leaders, of former members and numerous supporters. It is an organisation of the Catholic Action engaging itself for the poorest. Their motto is in fact: “Play, work and pray”.
Their social commitment is to be seen for instance in the construction of a house for the homeless, at workcamps, and the training of young people which is essential in the struggle against AIDS.
Conflict prevention also takes an important place in their activities. Like in Belgium where Chiro started in order to offer good activities to young people after the war, also in Burundi, the youth movement is an essential tool for a new world. The youth movement in Burundi plays an important observer role at the elections. The new born democracy needs all the support. What strikes me is the warm solidarity among the people and together with my friends I loved to laugh, to dance, sing, play, work, eat celebrate and especially to have long talks.
In love with the thousand hills, colours, and people!
Mzungu Lies
Burundi: New president of Republic [top]
Our country is gradually  recovering from a deep crisis, which undermined its life. In fact, since 1993 the time when the Army killed the elected president, we fell deep down into a tremendous war opposing Hutu and Tutsi, the two main components of the society. Over 2,00,000 people were killed in only two weeks. Every kind of weapon was used. The crisis took benefit of all unsolved conflicts that took place in the 1960s. In 1995, rebels rose to claim more inclusion into government. It is good to know that since 1993, we had no legal government as political class went on negotiating how to lead the country on a power sharing basis without any civil participation. Deeply weakened by the pressure from rebellion and international community and after an embargo decided by the Regional Initiative for peace in Burundi, the government agreed to launch dialogue with stakeholders including rebellion, all political parties and army but willingly excluding civil society organisations. With the help of regional mediation led by late Julius Nyerere and Nelson Mandela, the leaders tried all their best to restore peace. A peace agreement was fortunately signed in Arusha on august 28th, 2000. This important step allowed the beginning of peace discussions between rebels and government, which came up with a cease-fire agreement in 2002 and a new government team including main rebellion elements. Since then, security was restored. No more weapons noise was heard all over the country except the capital's suburbs and the closest province Bujumbura Rural where the radical rebel group went on fighting legal army and disturbing people's life. Even now this group is the only one to go on fighting and trying to extend the battlefield over the above mentioned area with the intention to light the whole country. Anyway, the electoral process which begun in February 2005 with a referendum is now coming to an end to close the long and boring political transition. According to the Arusha peace agreement, the elected president has to rule for 5 years. The new president Pierre NKURUNZIZA, Hutu, 41 years old, is from the winning party CNDD FDD (National Council for the Defence of Democracy - Forces for Defence of Democracy). The new president is inheriting a very complex situation because during transition all kinds of mistakes and abuses were made: corruption, misuse of state treasure, break down of economy and public health, ill-treating state officers, ongoing strikes, etc. But we are happy to enter a new era of democracy even if the future still seems to depend on the international community's commitment to bring specific contribution for general rehabilitation. During this period, a lot of refugees are repatriating and signs of peace are there. We wish that rebels could stop fighting and join the negotiations table. Burundi is now quoted among African countries, which succeeded to run and monitor free and fair elections. But many challenges are to be faced before reaching political stability and development. And people still remember and fear sad events that happened in 1993. And they say: WAIT AND SEE BEFORE REJOICING.
Zénon MANIRAKIZA
Burundi
We, students of the Xaveri movement are really happy to read LINK. This magazine is really important for us. Our year programme focuses on Apostolate, Charity and development. We have organised a camp for students on the theme "The Xaveri movement from the foundation till today. We will have our Golden Jubilee in 2006 since the Xaveri movement was founded in 1956.
Manirere Jean Damour
Xaveri movement president
In Uganda we have been all along restructuring our operations and renewing our commitments to serve with determination through the Xaverian movement from the grassroots which is the team, to the section, Diocese and lastly the National level.
From 25th to 30th January this year, a national council meeting was held and it elected the following National executive committee members: Benedict Kiwanuka as National Coordinator, Prosy Nakkazi Kasumba as Chieftain, Jimmy Wasswa as secretary, Monica Bonabaana as Vice-secretary, Charles Jakwonga as treasurer. We highly hope that with this leadership the Xaverian movement is ready to overcome the challenges ahead.
The plan of action currently in Uganda is that we are going to carry out a Census for Xaverian members in order to plan effectively. We hope to start this exercise by mid-June and to end it in October 2005. Secondly, we have embarked to mobilise our former members and well wishers so that they join up and form a Union, in order to advocate and support the Xaverian Movement activities.
Last but not least, we are organising National Xaverian Camp that is scheduled from the 3rd to 8th December 2005. We expect a turn out of at least 1000 Xaverians. This National Camp is always held every two years. More information about this Camp shall be communicated to you in the nearby future.
The biggest problem I am facing is that my Office has yet failed to secure any funding for facilitation and therefore never certain with the smooth accomplishment of set plans.
Benedict KIWANUKA
National Coordinator
Eurocontact 2005 [top]
Youngsters from  Lithuania, Malta, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Slovakia came together in the southern Dutch city of Tilburg for Eurocontact 2005. All in all about 40 participants between 16 to 18 years old came together, had fun, partied, played games, did workshops and had discussions around the theme of "Forever Friends".
The Dutch and Belgian volunteers who organised this Eurocontact met each other during Eurocontact 2003 in Malta. Since then they meet each other regularly. They visit each others group meetings and even each others homes. They have become friends and wanted to pass this experience on. This is why they chose this theme for their Eurocontact.
The different activities all had another level of contact making and working together. At first the organisers made the groups for the activities. However towards the end of the Eurocontact the participants could choose with whom they wanted to work with.
Each day of the programme had a different kind of activity. There was a day of sports, a day of culture, a day of the city, a day of tourism, a day of getting to know each other, and a day of outdoor life. This way the participants could work together on different levels and learn about the different aspects of each other.
By doing all this the organisers hoped that deeper relations develop. Would it be possible to connect to local groups because they like the same kind of activities. To the organisers the Eurocontact will be a success when new initiatives will come forward as a result of this activity.
However even if this does not happen Eurocontact has been a success. The participants were all very satisfied and surprised by the programme. The atmosphere was very relaxed and the participants surely made a lot of personal friends.
Corno de Mol
President Fimcap Europe
European Bureaumeeting [top]
The European Bureau met 16 - 18 September in the north of Denmark. We were hosted in the big outdoor centre Sletten which belongs to the Danish member organisation FDF. At the same time more than 1000 FDF leader were present there preparing their national camp. We had our meals, some informal evening programme and the Sunday mass together with them. In this way we were able to experience some "FDF atmosphere" as all organisations will be invited to their huge camp next summer.
European Fellowship, our protestant sister organisation also met in the same place. We didn't have a common meeting, but we continued our friendly contacts in all informal moments. FDF organised a visit to our common project: Euroclass. We met the students of the actual course and visited the building and surroundings of Silkeborg Hoejskole. We were very happy to experience the great atmosphere there.
During the Fimcap Europe meetings we listened to a lot of reports about all the successful activities during summer time. Several Roundabouts and leader exchanges took place and, of course, Eurocontact which involved many young and enthusiastic leaders into international activities. Special interest was given to the photo presentation of the World Youth Days in Cologne and of the preparation visit to Congo for the coming World Camp.
Doris Renggli
Vice-President Fimcap Europe
FOI at the National Eucharist Congress [top]
“We can not live without Sunday”.
This is not a sensational slogan, neither the exclamation of someone who needs a free day after a stressful week, It is, on the contrary, the mark of fidelity to the Eucharist expressed in 304 A.C. by the 49 martyrs of Abitene – a locality in the present Tunisia – who chose to die rather than give up the celebration of the Lord’s day, as Emperor Diocletian’s prescription imposed.
How many of us would nowadays sacrifice their own lives rather than give up their Christian identity founded on the common Sunday meeting during which we celebrate the Holy Mass?
At the beginning of the present pastoral year, which He had dedicated to the Eucharist John Paul II invited us to make the Eucharist the centre of our life and of our ecclesial community life.
FOI (Forum of Italian Oratories) has also invited Italian oratories to make a serious reflection on this topic: Is the Eucharist the true centre of our oratories’ life? How could this be experienced better? What is the relationship between the oratory and the Eucharist? and How is the Eucharist celebrated and experienced in every oratory?
As a consequence and as a living experience of this reflection, during the week of the National Eucharistic Congress in Bari in May, FOI had decided to hold one hour of prayer every afternoon. At the same time, every oratory was invited to join this hour of prayer.
During the same week FOI also presented and promoted the world of Italian oratories, in creating and offering to people involved in the pastoral for youngsters several chances to meet, reflect, and exchange ideas… as always with the aim of underlying the importance of oratories as “a bridge between the church and the street”.
Massimo Cicconi
FOI
ORATV is a new project for FOI proposed as an experiment to a widen the number of Oratories in Italy.
It is an absolutely innovative approach to television in our country and we suppose also for Europe.
In fact for the first time, TV will be made by children: they will choose the subjects and programmes and they will use their own language, the language of friendship and solidarity, game, comparison, growth…a real new product quite different from the already existing programmes.
The project concretely consists in the making of some DVDs which will contain a “magazine” of programmes having as main characters the children of all the oratories. These DVDs will be sent weekly to all the oratories. The themes will be various: the World Youth Day in Cologne, the making of useful objects, interviews with VIPs, sports, fair trade and much more.
Every week a training stage will be proposed to a group of 7 teenagers aged between 14-6 from one of the 50 oratories selected for the experimental phase.
Professionals (operators, cameramen, projectionists) will teach the children general knowledge of communication, montage, etc. and as a result the children will learn how to make a TV documentary.
In this way, the children learn how to carry out the project in all its different phases, which will end up in the “making of” the DVD.
At the end of the practical training, each group will receive free equipment which they will use for correspondence of ORATV from their own oratory.
To realize the whole project FOI is looking for several public and private funds.
The purposes of ORATV are basically three: to help children to interact among themselves in a creative and educative way; to experience the world of mass-communications simply starting from the sharing of their personal experiences; and to record some DVDs thanks to the collaboration among all the oratories which take part to the experiment.
The aim of the project is in fact also to form, activate and put on the web the different experiences of each single oratory, and of course let them be available to everybody.
It is envisaged that this project, thanks to the active presence of the children, will develop itself from a “TV made for children” to a “TV made by children”.
Carla Acebri
FOI
Partnership Chirojeugd Flanders – Ateitininkù Federacija [top]
After a lot of  preparation work, we were very happy to meet our 10 Lithuanian delegates. A very enthusiastic and joyful group! We started with some ‘getting to know each other’ games, which followed with several other activities before they went to host families or Chiro camps. We went to church, gave them a lot of information about Chiro and Fimcap and we also talked about their expectations.
Whilst in Antwerp we went to a little festival. We were the only people who danced and in fact some people asked us if we were hired to make good ambience.
After their week in guest families and camps, they came back all very enthusiastic and immediately shared experiences. They all had a really good time!
The next days we had different activities: a self-made raft with ropes, barrels, and wooden beams; a trip to the sea in De Panne where we played, searched for shells and did a first evaluation; a visit to Brussels, where we had an activity with the service of adventurous activities of Chiro; a visit to the European Parliament; an invitation to go to an education and information service for youngsters and their youth leaders “Youth and Sexuality’ where we did some interesting games, parties with good food and a lot of people; a visit to the centre of exploratory games in Leuven, with some interesting and useful games and last but not the least interesting a visit to Fort Breendonk’ with information about the world wars.
During the last evening we had a ‘farewell-party’ and had some really good time!
Well, to be honest, it did hurt seeing them leave! They gave us three wonderful weeks by being so kind, friendly, active, and enthusiastic. We really would like to do it again for sure!! So, thanks Ieva, Jovita, Gytis, Neringa, Andrius, Rasa, Ieva, Jurgita, Justé and Gintare!!!!!!!!
Karen Lanoote
Chiro Belgium
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