Missionaries of Africa

A NewsLetter of JOHN PAUL II JUSTICE AND PEACE CENTRE

April 08. No. 3

A News Letter of JOHN PAUL II JUSTICE AND PEACE ENTRE:- Consortium founded by : Missionaries of Africa, Mill Hill, Comboni, Holy Cross and Jesuits, at the service of the Catholic Church and all the people of God in Uganda.

Dear friends, collaborators and all those who work towards building a just, reconciled and peaceful world, cordial greetings to you from Kampala-Uganda. We are still in the Eastertide and so we wish you the Easter Peace, Life and Joy of the Risen Lord. May the Spirit of the Risen Lord continue to enlighten our minds and set ablaze our hearts to recognise Him in the sisters and brothers we meet every day on the road, particularly the ones marginalised and suffering in inhuman conditions.

ABUSE OF POWER AND THE COMMON GOOD

We are still perplexed at the deep crisis and spiral of violence generated in Kenya since Dec. 07. We keep our fingers crossed hoping that Zimbabwe will be freed from such blood shed, although it is already reported that the Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has "unleashed an orgy of violence against the people" with opposition supporters displaced, people, homes burned, children molested and women raped.

In Uganda the peace accord which was to be signed between
the government and the Lords resistance Army (LRA) was
put off indefinitely on Tuesday. This failure is big blow to
many Ugandans, who had hoped to strike a deal of permanent
peace after two decades of war.

Deserted villages

Uganda is also mourning the death of 20
children who perished in a dormitory fire
at Budo Junior School on April 15, 08.

"Red Cross personnel searching for the remains"

We have many concerns for Uganda and for our world; the violence, lack in promoting peace initiatives the rising of fossil fuels prices and more so the security issues - food security among others. We are in for a very difficult period. We pray for God s help more than ever before. The poor will suffer most. We hope for a deeper respect and understanding of Human dignity and human life. Why is peace and justice eluding us more and more? What is missing? What is going wrong relentlessly? When the human heart becomes greedy and hard as a stone, we risk loosing values and meaning of life. Positions of power are used to manipulate and even abuse people for personal selfish ends, disregarding the good of the other members in society. Actually many of our leaders in Africa seem not to be concerned about the fact that when power is abused and resources misused, the common good is undermined and life endangered.

WELCOMING NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO PROMOTE JPIC

During the last few months, we have explored two relevant means to bring our training/education in the CST to leaders, teachers, families and the local Christian communities.

- Ministry of Education: Hon. Namirembe G. Bitamazire- Minister of Education in Uganda has given us support and collaboration in promoting education for justice, peace and integrity of creation. JPII JPC is in the process of designing a manual on Social teaching for teachers and the minister is ready to offer professional help to study and promote the manual on condition that we design it after verifying the missing ethical links in the Curriculum and Syllabuses of Schools and Colleges in Uganda.

- Pastoral Coordinators: We remain in close contact with the pastoral coordinators of Kampala Archdiocese Fr. Lawrence Ssemusu after being mandate by the Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese to collaborate in educating families to Justice and Peace according to the theme of the year. Kampala archdiocese has already drafted a program for family education and JPII JPC is asked to contribute on the topics that pertaining to Justice and peace in family life. It is our hope that gradually we shall reach the other dioceses too.

- The Media: We continue to use the radio, news papers and our own publications in educating/training the society and to promote JPIC.

KAMPALA BASIC NEEDS BASKET RESEARCH

The first booklet of our research on the basic needs of the people living in six informal settlements around Kampala is in the process of being. The Centre has focused primarily on the economic facts affecting families living in those slums. Gradually we shall also be focusing on other aspects: cultural, social etc. of this stark reality. The booklet will be available at the Centre, at St. Paul's Bookshop in Kampala and in other St. Paul's bookshops. There are hard and cruel facts of life, similar to the one of the Internally Displace People (IDP), which have been created and as member of the society who share in the social sin, we have allowed those camps and slums to continue existing! It is a most informative and challenging booklet presenting the reality we often forget about.

STRATEGIES

JPIIJPC has developed a clear strategy for each one of the three main Objectives of the Centre:Training, Research and Advocacy. We need clear, efficient and sustainable strategies to carry out the specific activities and so to achieve the chose objectives. Gradually we shall also develop strategies for: Gender, Integrity of creation and Reconciliation.

JPIIJPC CONGRESS

JPIIJPC is still in the very early stages of setting a joint steering committee to start planning a JPIC Congress to take place after the celebration of the African Synod: end of 2009 or beginning of 2010. The BOG of the Centre is full supportive of this plan. The idea is to start locally with the JP groups, centres of learning and other leaders to include faith and culture with one single aim: to promote a more just, reconciled and peaceful Uganda! To the voice and contribution of Ugandans we shall also add some outstanding international personalities.

SEMINARS

- Gender Seminar in Gulu:

Trocaire organised with its partners a socio-economic justice program, Feb. 25- 29, 08 in Gulu. Several NGO participated in the workshop: Deniva, Uganda Child rights, Kaufo, Pader NGO forum, Uganda development network, Gulu NGO forum, Kitgum NGO Forum and JPII JPC took part. Focus was on gender base value, women empowerment and gender mainstreaming ( gender sensitivity in carrying out organizational activities).

Advocacy training in Kampala

Programme Review Workshop
Trocaire organized partners' programme review workshop on socio-economic justice from Feb.26-29,08. The partners reflected on the progress of the programme and made adjustments accordingly in view of offering members the opportunity for cross-organizational learning/sharing, capacity building. They agreed on joint activities in line with "Gender mainstreaming in policy and Advocacy work" as priorities for the partners.

March 8-10, 08, we attended another seminar on advocacy training organized for "Coalition to stop the use of child soldiers" of which JPII JPC is a member. The coalition has been in place since 2003. The workshop aimed at empowering member organizations with technical skills and tools for carrying out effective advocacy locally and internationally. Since advocacy is one of the objectives of the Centre, the workshop was important in building the capacity of the staff in promotion of Justice and Peace through Advocacy.
Advocacy has highly gained ground in bringing about positive change by influencing people in authority to bring about the desired changed.

April 8- 10, 08, another seminar on Advocacy training was organised in Kampala by several NGO. The area of Advocacy is very relevant to JPIIJPC as it concerns one of our main objectives. So our research and networking are vital for advocacy work and to the promotion of justice and peace. Hence, the Centre devotes resources and time to ensure effectiveness in this respect

PLANNING WITH PASTORAL COORDINATORS IN KAMPALA

JPIIJPC participates regularly in the different planning meetings organised by the Pastoral Coordinators of Kampala Archdiocese. The Archbishop C.Lwanga is very interested that we bring ethical education (CST) to support the families.

OPEN FORUM

April 19, 08 we had an O.F. facilitated by a delegate from the ministry of education, since Hon. Minister of Education Hon. G.N.Bitamazire's could not make it, as planned because she had to attend to the catastrophe of the burnt Buddo Junior School. The topic was "Education as means to eradicate poverty and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)." Focus was laid on the first two goals:- Eradicating extreme hunger and poverty and achieving universal primary education by 2015. It was emphasised that in achieving the MDGs, the efficiency of one's education is highly related to ones ability and potential to survive and to contribute to ones environment. Thus education would:

- eliminate or at least reduce poverty by empowering an individual with the ability s/he needs to set realistic goals,
- help an individual in mapping our resources for achieving realistic goals and carries out self-audit,
- gives one exposure to systems like micro finance institutions,
- Reduce dependency
- Enable a person to create jobs that provide incomes and hence reduce unemployment.

What do we have on the ground? People spending more than 20 years at school and end up being unemployed, unable to do anything tangible a consumer, rather than a resource multiplier.

In the afternoon Fr. Roger Labonte M.Afr. facilitated another forum with the theme: "Intercultural and Inter-religious relations." It was highlighted that Intercultural and antireligious relations are pertinent issues in today's world, given the related concerns, interests and even controversies emanating from stakeholders such as religious leaders, politicians, educationists, believers of different faiths, and policy makers. In Uganda, families where members belong to different religions are very common. In the past, people of different faiths coexisted harmoniously but today, religious differences are one of the causes of conflict.

NEW STAFF: DR. DESIRE NZISABIRA

We are delighted to welcome in our Staff Dr. Desire Nzisabira, a young married man who holds a PhD in law and in human rights and very concerned with education in JPIC. Dr. Desire will give 50% of his time to coordinate the activities of AGEH organization in East Africa and the other 50% will be dedicate to the Centre programs of training in CST, research and advocacy. We are certain that his new staff member will be a great asset to JPIIJPC and to the many leaders and collaborators with whom we work to promote a more just and developed Uganda.

CONSULTATIVE FORUM

The C.F. of the Centre held their second meeting on the April 5th, 08 with some new members attending the meeting. The CF reflected on the present day challenges and how the Centre can help to address them. This meeting was again very enlightening and helpful to keep the centre focused, networking with new partners and addressing the critical issues. One of the points underlined was the need to integrate more the traditional wisdom of the different cultures to the promotion of justice, reconciliation and peace. It was suggested also to prepare two Manuals on the CST, one for all faiths and cultures and another specifically for catholic teachers/ educators.

We thank you for keeping us well informed about your different activities. We trust that the new encyclical of the Pope on social issues will also contribute to promote a more human, just and peaceful society.

Wishing you all God's Blessings and the Peace of the Risen Lord which the world cannot give.

The Staff of JPIIJPC
Box 31853 Kampala
Tel. 0414.267372
Email: jp2justice@utlonline.co.ug

See the center