AFRICA/UGANDA - Caritas activity for development in Africa Meeting: 45 African Caritas offices in Kampala 2 to 7 October

Tuesday, 20 September 2005

Rome (Fides Service)- From 2 to 7 October in Kampala, capital Uganda, there will be a 2nd Forum for African Caritas organisations. “This second forum will bring together 45 delegates of national Caritas offices of Caritas Internationalis Africa region” said Pierre Cibambo, head of Caritas Internationalis Africa service. The forum is a Caritas structure set up four years ago to allow partners in north and south to share ideas and projects on themes of their own choice. the first such Forum meeting was held in Accra, Ghana, in September 2001 on the theme “Gender and Partnership for development”. The theme this year is “Autonomy of Caritas”.
“The choice of theme was chosen purposely” said Fr. Cibambo. “African Caritas are concerned for their autonomy. The question was discussed in 2002 at a meeting of African Caritas in Kigali. A final statement issued by that meeting defined autonomy as “self-determination, ability to decide, draft and apply plans, choose partners and negotiation conditions for collaboration”.
“The meeting this year will also discuss funds of solidarity created on the basis of a decision made by the Kigali meeting. These funds enable African Caritas to contribute towards emergency aid and escape from the logic of always asking for help” Fr. Cibambo said. “Many African Caritas now have “adult” relations with their counterparts in developed countries and we see forms of collaboration among Caritas offices on the continent. For example Caritas Rwanda sent Caritas Niger a donation of 10,000 dollars to help face the food crisis in that country”.
“It should be said that Caritas are no longer simple aid organisations. Emergency aid for catastrophes is still one Caritas mission. But it has many other mission such as: fighting poverty working with local communities, providing clean water and instruction for children and adults; promoting projects to stop destertification and encourage small businesses run mainly by women. At the level of social justice African Caritas are involved in the struggle to stop human trafficking and promote peace and national reconciliation. At the October forum the different Caritas will present their respective plans to reduce poverty elaborated in many cases with local and natioal authorities” said Fr. Cibambo.
Representatives of African Caritas will attend a meeting in Rome of the International Committee for Cooperation 22 to 29 September. The task of the Committee is to coordinate the activity of Caritas offices all over the world. Participants will include representatives of the following Caritas Regions: Africa, South America, North America, Asia, Oceania, Middle East and Horn of Africa. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 20/9/2005 righe 43 parole 518)


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