Africa: A continent at war
Matteo Pitotti and Musa Demba, the young men who perform citizen service at the Magis Foundation, participated in a formative event at the State technical Institute «Federico Caffè» of Rome, entitled: «Africa, a continent at war». Here are their impressions on the day.
School is a training ground for life. Since its foundation, Magis has felt the importance of implementing projects of education for development in schools. Raising awareness among the future generations, trying to introduce them into a dimension of active citizenship, is the main objective of these paths in which we, have invested commitment, resources and trust.
Training in order to be trained is the heart of this venture at the Magis Foundation. An experience that has been characterized by reflections and discoveries, comparison and dialogue, are key references for trying to understand the world and the reality to which we relate every day. We did this by starting from a playful dimension with the primary school children of the «Massimiliano Massimo» Institute in Rome, and then reaching a more conscious dimension with their elder secondary and high school children. A continuous exchange, in which the debate and the opinions on different issues – such as mission today and the safeguard and protection of our “common house”, the Earth – have inevitably ended up involving each of us.
Our professional and human growth has been marked by stages of various kinds, which turned out to be opportunities for exchange and reflection. These include the meeting held on 24th April at the State technical Institute «Federico Caffè» of Rome, entitled: “Africa, a continent at war”. The event, organized by Professor Dario De Santis, involved Magis and Religions for Peace.
A debate took place in the presence of some of the classes which will soon take the A level examination. It considered the testimonies of those who in their life – for different reasons – crossed the fate of Africa. Starting from the value of interreligious dialogue as an instrument for realizing a peace process, we could thing together with the students on some elements that notoriously animate the collective imagination.
“It is often believed that Africa is a continent destined only to receive passively, but it is not so. The contrary is quite common. Africa in many cases is a continent from which it is taken, in a predatory way and without any limitation, for the interests and profit of a powerful minority”, said Father Renato Colizzi. He then issued a challenge to the students there: “What can we do, being geographically so far apart? Donations? Supports? Better yet: we can inform ourselves about the context. And then understand and reflect on what happens in Africa as in other places. Reading, informing oneself and travelling are some of the things we can do in order to realise that the good cannot be the prerogative of a few”.
We think that the meaning of this day lies in this invitation to embrace what the world offers us (far away and next to us “here”) without reservation, to appreciate the diversity, to live following a critical approach, where healthy curiosity replaces judgement. It would be nice to imagine our existence as a garden to be adorned with different plants. With the hope that the identity sphere of each of us is not an obstacle but rather an opportunity for greater harmony.