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LinkThis is the on-line version of Link, the bimonthly newsletter of Fimcap. Edition April 2007
General[top]General Assembly
About St. Claire from Assisi: Her strong personality brought about novelty into a very complicated social and ecclesiastical context - the European Middle Ages - a time when the continent was experiencing crisis and conflicts. Her originality is to be seen from the following perspectives: strength; a strong sense of unity; motherhood and womanliness; mutual love; faithfulness, perseverance and reciprocal help within a community of members with a strong sense of co-responsibility. St. Francis’ experience inspired St. Claire to establish a community of nuns (her “sisters”). She had an attentive and authentic dialogue with people; her prayer was a silent communication with God. Work was also an important aspect in her life. Every nun was requested to work in accordance to her own skills and inclinations. She perceived work as continuation of God’s creation; as service useful to the whole community, especially to the poor and sick - with special attention to lepers. She lived in joyful and simple manner; always thankful for the gifts of fraternity and prosperity.
Clara Biaggio [top]Intercontinental Bureau Meeting in AssisiThe ICB met in Assisi during the last weekend of March. Besides the customary meeting, ICB members had the opportunity to visit “Domus Pacis”, a Franciscan house which will host our next General Assembly. Besides the usual updates about activities and intercontinental news from the organisations, the financial situation and the preparation of the General Assembly (statutory part and study theme) were closely examined. The Intercontinental Presidium, Secretary General and Presidia of Africa and Europe discussed the main issues and divided tasks regarding the statutory part. The study theme, which has been prepared so far by a FOI team, was examined together with some practical issues. Further preparations will be finalised in the coming months. As the hosting organisation FOI is going to help all participants to feel at home as much as possible, to experience Italian history, art and culture, to give a taste of the organisation’s spirituality and working methods with young people. During this ICB meeting we also had the possibility to have a look at the most famous places in Assisi, some of them closely linked to St. Francis’ and St. Claire’s life: the church of St. Mary of the Angels, very near to ‘Domus Pacis’; the church of St. Damiano, dominating a beautiful valley of olive trees and fields; St. Francis upper and lower Basilica; the upper part of the small medieval town, a typical example of the Italian Middle Ages architecture. One last thing needs to be mentioned. This was our last ICB in the actual configuration as Intercontinental President Carme Carrion i Ribas’ mandate is over - after several years of commitment in Fimcap and two terms of office. Secretary General, Tine Cornillie, will also leave for another job in South Africa, after three years of work in Fimcap. It has been a pleasure to work with them and we are looking forward to the work we still have to do together in preparation of and during the General Assembly. We would nevertheless since now wish them all the best for their personal and professional life, thank them heartily for the path we have shared until now! Carla Acerbi [top]Gender issuesUnfortunately we still hear of news about domestic violence mostly representing men being violent to women, sometimes to the extent of murder. This should not be the way we relate to each other. There must be understanding, mutual listening, and dialogue. Violence is not a solution and men are wrong in using violence against women. Men and women have different points of view, which in a good relationship should be complementary. A relationship cannot portray fear or inferiority - inequality. In many homes the children witness violence an may come to think of it as problem-solving strategy; that women are ill-considered and consequently it is allowed to beat them. Men and women are equal in dignity and rights; both are created in the image of God. This thought in mind should guide our youth work. It is clear that all Fimcap organizations provide education for children and young people. In this Link issue we want to express Fimcap’s stance with regards to gender issues. Alveiro Vasquez [top]Being a woman in Uganda
She also has to make sure that there is food at the table for her family to eat and no one even bothers to ask where it has comes from. From the preparation of the foodstuffs till cooking, is a long story which almost accurately maps out a woman’s daily routine. Since she has to make two meals a day and this takes five hour of the her work time. Next six hours are ear marked for gardening-growing food crops and maintaining them. Another two hours restocking regular items like firewood and water. These both must be collected a few kilometres away from her home on her head and walk on foot and quite often with a crying child on her back. She has to see to the goats and the occasional birds which are to safely be in their respective places. She can than think of tidying up the compound, the house, cleaning up the children and finally taking a refreshing bath for a well deserved night sleep.
Similarly, this also explains why Xaveri as an organisation for young people which has majority of its members as young girls who are still in school. It really becomes difficult to get them after school or when they drop out of school. To track them especially after getting married becomes much more difficult. Xaveri Uganda targets especially young people continuing in school. Unfortunately it is voluntarily with almost no physical gains. Attracting them to the organisation is a bit difficult and even parents always want them back quickly to learn household chores in preparation for their future homes. Yet girls are the majority and most active. We have been more challenged here!! The organisation has no policy yet on this because we do not have means. We work with those around this year and the next year we get others and the cycle continues. This means that we do not get full members for ever because when they get married it all stops there. Women are much more in the clutches of poverty than men so, giving them the tools and the know-how will almost certainly stop to the cycle of poverty in my organisation. It is a long and arduous road but with the on set universal education coupled with other positive policies like gender issues, a woman will be enlightened of her opportunities. [top]Gender issues in the European Union, Germany and KJG – a brief overview
Especially, in Germany, this is true with regard to the labour market. Women are only a minority in leading positions and they still earn less money for the same kind of work than men. The issue of the compatibility of family and work still is regarded as a problem apparently only women have to cope with it. There have been legal attempts such as a new model of paid parental leave to encourage men to take more part in the bringing up of children. Not only this is crucial for women’s life but having a family and children often decides negatively on the job-careers of women. A few number of companies would accept the wish of their male employees to spend more time within their families at all. The German situation differs immensely from other European countries such as Sweden, for instance. Thus, in Scandinavian countries it is much more standard that both parents are working, whereas in Germany the concept of a single (male) bread winner is still dominant. In recent years the introduction of a new kind of gender policy, called “gender mainstreaming”, was a big issue in the European Union and also in Germany as well. It aim’s to make the impact of gender in all areas of political, economic and social life and to analyse its particular consequences for women and men. It is assumed that gender mainstreaming is a legal top-down approach which will be more successful than former strategies. Moreover, this has emphasised on the advantage of gender mainstreaming measures to bring benefits for women and men both. KJG is highly engaged in the realisation of equal rights to women and men and the creation of equal opportunities for boys and girls, adolescents irrespective of sex, to enable them to develop their capacities to the fullest. Gender Mainstreaming has been introduced as the policy of the organisation and is promoted continuously. Besides, KJG traditionally gives its female and male members special places to discuss women’s or men’s issues separately. There are women’s and men’s conference within the context of the annual federal assembly of the organisation and most of the diocesan branches have similar institutions as well. Further on, events and projects dedicated for girls or boys issues are also offered. Finally, KJG is much concerned about a gendered staff policy. Thus, there has to be the same number of women and men in almost every committee and working team. Women and men represent KJG in public on equal terms and have, of course, the same rights and duties within the organisation. In meetings a gender related way of discussion is practised which allows women and men to debate alternately. [top]Practice: Gender DialoguesThis following method is a good introduction to start a discussion on how it is or how it may be to live as a woman or man in a given society. The aim is to play with gender roles and concepts, because people get to know how other women and men or girls and boys feel about their own and other’s gender identity and what they like and dislike about it. You need four big sheets of paper to put on a wall, (or four columns on a black board, flip chart, etc.), each has got one headline: I like to be a girl/woman, because… First, everyone thinks and writes of one reason each for himself/ herself. Then the participants will write down their views according to headline, i.e. boys write down why they’d like to be a woman as well as girls say what they do not like about being a boy. It is useful that female and male participants write in different colours, thus one can see potential gender-related differences between the reasons given. Finally you can talk about the views expressed by the participants. Some questions which may help you to lead the discussion are what are striking for you? What is surprising? Do all women hate about being a woman? What are the main and favourite aspects to be a man – in the eyes of men and also from the perspective of a woman? Is there anything girls and boys both think of, as the best in being the same? Heike Berger, Holger Witting [top]Almost equal? Pedagogical tools
I work for “Zin-d’erin(g)”, which is the educational institution of Chiro Belgium. We go to schools and reflect with the youngsters on all kinds of subjects. Sometimes we also talk about differences between men and women. Our idea is to make teenagers learn by experiencing and therefore we play games with them by which they think about things and discuss different subjects. We mostly work with youngsters from 12 up to 18. One of our games or methods is ‘questions and statements’. This is a rather simple method, but it works really well. We have a lot of little cards and on every card there is a question or a statement written. The questions are yellow cards, the statements are blue. An example of a yellow card can be: “What is the difference between men and women according to you?” or “Do women have to take care of the children?” And an example of a statement is: “There is a true difference between men and women which is prescribed by nature.” or “Women are more hypocrite than men.”. We lay all the cards on the ground in the middle of the group, so they can walk around and read the cards and we ask them to pick out one blue and one yellow card. This way they can choose a topic of their own interest. To avoid that they will pick a question to ask someone specific in the group, we ask them to tell first what they think about the subject they picked, before asking to the rest of the group. When they picked out two cards they may go back to their seats and afterwards we let everyone read their cards and tell something about it. They also get a green and a red piece of paper to use with every statement. They are asked to hold up the green paper if they agree and the red one if they disagree with the particular statement. Some cards will bring out whole discussions while others will pass pretty fast. Youngsters like this way of talking because they feel in control about the topics and because they can really share opinions and discuss these subjects. When groups are bigger (or for any other reason) we can break them into smaller groups or make a ‘discussion walk’. They need to choose some topics or questions from different options we give them. We also ask them to write down some names of people from their group. The first name is of someone you don’t know that well; the second of someone you always share the same thoughts and beliefs with’; the third of someone you never share the same thoughts and beliefs with; the fourth of someone who changed your view on some topics and the last one of someone you really don’t understand. Then they have to start a conversation about the chosen topics with the people they’ve written on their paper during the walk. This way they also talk with people they normally don’t talk this much with. It is important to tell them that they don’t have to tell why that particular person was on their list. This is a method youngsters mostly appreciate because they can talk more private about some subjects and it also gives them a reason to talk with some people and about some topics they might otherwise be afraid of. Youngsters have clear opinions about everything, but there not always correct or might be a bit extreme in some cases. These methods make it easier to let them hear to other peoples’ opinion, to confront them with other points of view and to question their own point of view. Sofie Leemans Africa[top]Xaveri Uganda
The first training workshop was held in Jinja Diocese from 24th - 28th August 2006 which was attended by 52 participants. A lot of charitable works were carried out in the homes of destitute people particularly cleaning homes, washing clothes, slashing down the bushes and constructing stalls and semi- permanent latrines. At the end of the workshop participants were commissioned by the National Patron Rev. Fr. Christian Gillain Kiki. He urged the participants and said “go back to your respective Parishes and give the same help to the needy”. Similarly, two more programs were conducted of the same nature in Mbarara Archdiocese & Kiyinda Mityana Diocese in the month of November and December 2006. This year Xaveri, Uganda is up in taking up major action programs having been, undergone the necessary mobilisation and training last year. Thanks to our friends of the 07 project, FIMCAP, specially the Secretary General, the National Chaplain and the National Patron wished to all the FIMCAP members a successful 2007. Benedict Kiwanuka [top]TrustIn a physical way, young people experience how to trust their friends. How to play
A way to make this person not fall is to stand quite close behind him\her; do not let him\her fall far before catching. It is not easy to close your eyes, let yourself fall backwards and have trust. But if you do it and your friends catch you, it feels great!! That is what it is like to know you can trust your friends. Nasseremba Regina Latin America[top]Jupach Chile Camp
We started with a dream of a great “Froid” in a fantasy world called Trevolandia, and looking for a treasure of gold Froid lost. During one hour journey in the bus heading towards Trevolandia in the area of the Quillayes VIII region all of them sang songs and made lot of fun. Some of them looked a little bit anxious as it was their first camp. As soon as we arrived at the camp site, all started putting up tents and equipment, according to their own age group and the leaders had given other responsibility. Every day had a new challenge coming up. The planned activities made the Jupachinos happy and participants got no time to get bored. We worked, played, bathed in the river, and shared the food, talked with the families until dusk and the day ended happily.
As the days were filled with challenges with topics like" adapt oneself” to this different world, sometimes inconvenient; "sharing ", and experiencing something very interesting. We JUPACHINOS celebrate together, with creative ways, sketches and songs. Searching for the pot of gold of Froid, we discovered no gold inside, but happiness of each Jupachino. The last day with the topic of "friendship", ended our camp. The most emotional moment personally for me was when we were back in our hometown and our families were expecting us. I thank, God the father almighty for everything he gave us, to all our leaders who worked for making possible the coronation of the year 2006 and in a very especially way all the participants. Daniela, Joaquín, Sigrid, Marjori, I Read, Macarena, Ricardo, Juanito, Claudia, Toño, Leandro, Peace, Jaime and Even [top]JUPAE needs volunteers
The movement needs help from some organisations that could help them to train their organisation leaders. They do not have many leaders in the parishes but only a priest to take care of 30 small parishes. The priest says that it is necessary to form the leaders on the spot, as they can not afford travelling. They also need financial support to go on with the activities in the groups, but this is something they could manage. The bigger concern is that without leaders training and pedagogical tools the movement is going to disappear. Those interested in having contact and more details of this small organization you can mail at alveiro.vasquez@fimcap.org.
Alveiro Vasquez Europe[top]FIMCAP Europe Bureau MeetingRudolfstaetten (Switzerland) The Delegates and the European presidium met for a special “bureau meeting” in Switzerland. This encounter was meant to be an extraordinary Euroconference alongside a meeting for the Euroforum organizing committee and members of the international preparation and a Bureau meeting. After the official opening of the meeting news of the organizations and ICB where shared, and then the scheduled extraordinary Euroconference which was called to decide on two proposed amendments in the European Rules of Procedure. The proposed paragraphs were the following:
After intense discussion the first amendment was accepted and the second amendment refused. After these rather formal matters a member form Jubla Organizing committee presented an event which is planned to commemorate the 75th anniversary of JUBLA. Between the 9 and 10 June more than 8000 people will meet in Lucerne to participate in workshops, listen to concerts. International participants are also invited for this event. (Those interested should send an E-Mail to international@jubla.ch). Ateitis gave a short presentation about Eurocontact which will be hosted in Lithuania this summer. The delegate showed pictures and gave details about the program. Those eligible are very much encouraged not to miss the opportunity to participate. FDF made their request for more organisations to host Euroclass students. Mass was celebrated in the evening followed by some informal moments during which everyone could just sit together, chatting discussing and laughing. On Sunday the delegates were asked to present strengths of their respective organization: e.g. training courses for leaders; and also weaknesses. The objective behind this exercise was to find ground where the organizations can learn from each other. At the end the Euroforum Organizing committee presented an update of their preparations: Euroforum 2007 will be in Melchsee Frutt a village in the Swiss Alps near the Flüeli Ranft where the National Saint “Bruder Klaus” was living and where the yearly Ranfttreffen takes place. Important good news about Euroforum is that the application for funds from the council of Europe and federal agencies were accepted, therefore a percentage of the travel costs will be refunded. The venue can hold an unlimited number of participants so just take some time to register! Jörg Brunner [top]ZAK @ National Youth Day
ZAK participated in a national event on the occasion of the National Youth Day organised by the National Youth Council, the Children’s Commissioner and the National Youth Information Centre. This was organised between the 16 and 25 March, as was part of the “All different – All equal campaign”. ZAK contributed to the event by putting up an exhibition board addressing the Right for Education. The theme highlighted the benefits young people acquire from Peer Education.
Vincienne Debono [top]The EUJS interfaith conference “Sharing our faith – Sharing our pride”Brussels - December 6-10, 2006
These and other questions have been the core of the EUJS interfaith conference held in Brussels in December. Many questions, many discussions, many opinions and different interests helped to create an international and open atmosphere where all religions and thoughts were welcome. Our meeting place was one of the most prestigious in Europe: the European Parliament of Brussels. The main panels and discussions took place as these contributed to the political and international meaning of this conference; as a matter of fact religious issues influence also politics and society and are heavily linked to the development of our communities. During the conference we listened to panels held by representatives of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities. The speakers traced challenges which religions have to face today – the extent to which discrimination, violence and stereotypes are spread and rooted in Europe. Discrimination towards Jewish and Muslims were given special attention, as such an attitude was described as concealed by an apparently open and modern society. Discussions with young people helped me to understand better their feelings and their lives. I also learnt that that religion is an essential source of identity for each one of us, and for me. This was the most valuable and special intercultural experience I ever had in my life. I hope for the majority of young people to be able to avail of such opportunities in order to break down barriers and to make Europe a secure and comfortable home for people of different faiths. I strongly believe that the Brussels Interfaith Conference contributed to “build a strong coalition of young Europeans who are proud of their religious identities and who can express it in a multi-cultural and integrated Europe”. I think that this is what every European Citizen should wish for the future. Maria Luz La Rosa [top]Youth representative of the UN General Assembly
Since February, Marah Köberle, president of the KJG association in the diocese Augsburg, in the south of Germany, has been the youth representative of the UN General Assembly for the Federal Republic of Germany.
Link: Where do you come from right now? Link: What are your tasks as a youth representative of the UN General Assembly? Link: How did you become a youth representative? Link: How many applied for this position? Link: How would you evaluate your own political influence?
Wolfgang Finke |
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The study session during the next General Assembly will be a focus on the “Millennium Development Goals” - the United Nations Campaign. Poverty and sustainable development, education and school, gender equality and the role of women in our societies will be highlighted and discussed. In the current and next LINK issues we would like to propose some thoughts about two world-known Saints who were born in Assisi: St. Francis and St. Claire. The values they professed during their life are very much linked to the UN Campaign and are at the same time an invitation for each and every one of us to prepare ourselves properly for the atmosphere we will experience whilst in Assisi for the General Assembly.
In my Ugandan society, women play diverse roles, particularly in their houses. The most important is, that she must bear children, so in this regard she has to make her self available to her husband. At any cost she herself has to prove to her husband and to her in-laws her ‘fertility’. The consequences of infertility are bitter; At times she could be side lined and even get replaced with another woman. In worst conditions she is subject to ill treatment on a regular basis ending up in being chased away back to her parents’ home. There also she has no property of her own except her miserable life because society will look at her as a failure.
In such a tight routine life, it is unthinkable for a woman to have any worth or role to play in society apart from confining herself to her home. Sacrificing her domestic role for a societal role, would have a detrimental effect on the status of her home. Woman is synonymous with home, and when she is out the home it is virtually locked up, dull and lifeless. This explains why husbands for long have been reluctant to release their wives to enrol with women organisations. But sometimes they do so, when they know that such organisations are going to give out loans or farm tools or animals e.g. Friesian cows and other benefits.
The European Union ensures equal right to both women and men in the constitutions of all its member states. Compared with the other regions of the world, it has to be stated as a great achievement within the struggle for equal human rights. This phenomenon is highly worshipped as a democratic value but equality in legal term does not always mean equality in society at the same time.
Are there still big differences between women and men? Some will say there are, while others think women and men are almost equal. Society in Europe in its totality is more and more ‘mixed’ and nobody seems to question this anymore and so much it is part of us. Most of the children go to mixed schools. If we look at the youth movement Chiro in Belgium for example, you can see that more and more groups are mixed today. Boys and girls are used to be together, though there are always some differences between them. Even it is only natural differences, but they look at each other as equals most of the time.
Xaveri, Uganda has added credit to its belts with a period of successes in regard to formation of leaders through training. The last half of the year 2006 was indeed fruitful for Xaveri Uganda because all its Diocesan Leaders in the three ecclesiastical provinces underwent training and leadership formations.
I would like to share the experience of one of our 42 local groups called "Bellavista" of Christ the King, Parish. They had their summer camp last January with 55 children, 13 leaders and 4 mothers (for the cooking).
Before the children could go to bed, the leaders took time to reflect on the day and the activities and thanked God for everything, during the day; the nature, the sun, the stars, the river, the food and so much more. Soon when we know the little ones are exhausted we send them to their tents and say good-bye to each “Family” shouting their respective slogan.
If you are reading for the first time the name JUPAE, then you cannot even imagine that it is an organization or where it is from. JUVENTUD PARROQUIAL ECUATORIANA "Ecuadorian parochial youth" is a small organization in the province of Sucumbios in Ecuador. This province is located in the north east part of the country, about 10 hours by bus from Quito, at the border of Colombia. During my visit to Ecuador I met two leaders of this youth movement. The coordinator, Gioconda Fuel, a young mother is the main leader of the movement. This movement consists of 5 scattered local groups in the region. The young leaders are hardly trained, aged 15+, but they try to do activities for children and youngsters at the weekend according to the economic situation. Like all the groups, they have games, social-cultural activities, animation of the mass and the communitarian celebration.
“Do we Europeans still feel the need of faith? Is it an archaic remnant from earlier times that only breeds hate and intolerance, or is it a way of living a spiritual and meaningful life, embodying ethical and moral norms and responsibilities towards humankind?”
We met Marah at the extended National Committee of the KJG and asked her about herself and the new tasks taken up by her.