Tag: Youth

Companions of aboriginal youth towards a hope-filled future

*Xiaomei, holding a baby in her arms, shifts in her seat. The social worker looks at the certificates on the wall and asks: “Are these all yours?” Xiaomei comforts her infant daughter while stopping a quarrel between her two younger sisters from escalating. She says softly: “Yes! Almost all of them. This one is from a school exam; this is an attendance award; and that one is when I won a running contest! Look, those trophies in the cabinet are also mine. I should have won the championship in the boxing event, but because my teammates were too noisy, the referee called a foul, and I became the runner-up.” “Weren’t you sad at that time?” asks the social worker. Xiaomei looks fondly at the baby in her arms and replies: “It doesn’t matter. I think runner-up is also very good!”

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Xiaomei became a mother when she was not yet 17 years old, and the child’s father had just turned 18. Both of them are aboriginal people, and both come from problematic families, with their parents unable to give them the proper support they need. Xiaomei had to stop school to take care of the baby, while the child’s father worked odd jobs at the construction site to support them. As a young mother, Xiaomei lives a different life than women her age. While students complain about their exam being too difficult, Xiaomei worries about the baby in her arms. She has grown mature and thin from her life experience.

The dilemma of social service organisations is that they want to inform the public about the plight of the people in their care so resources could come in, but at the same time, they must protect the privacy of these people. The Rerum Novarum Center in Taipei has been engaged in aboriginal youth training and service work in Zhudong, Hsinchu County for many years. Since aboriginal people have their own distinct culture, they often have to struggle against systemic discrimination and exclusion. Their experience is different from the experience of Han Chinese, the dominant ethnic group in Taiwan, who from childhood learn how to interact with mainstream Taiwanese society.

People also have general impressions about aboriginal people, such as their happy disposition, and their interesting way of speaking. These impressions may sound delightful, however, the truth is often very cruel, especially when they enter the educational system. Aboriginal children cannot compete with the rest of the students. The content of the course is relatively unfamiliar to them, and the contents of their textbooks are very different from their life experiences. Their lessons do not resonate with them, let alone arouse their interest.

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People hope that disadvantaged groups can rise above their status in life through education, and the public is quick to laud special cases wherein an aboriginal person achieved success through education, but the reality is that most aboriginal youth are limited by their resources and are challenged by the system. In the face of mainstream education, what we see in them is fear rather than hope, and what may constitute as deviant behaviours in the eyes of the public, such as dropping out of school, joining gangs, or even having children out of wedlock. What results is more condemnation and disappointment than understanding of their situation.

Aboriginal students desire a sense of achievement and belonging. Thus, Rerum Novarum’s after-school companionship and learning services include learning resources from different networks, as well as a dream realisation plan for aboriginal teenagers. Being able to see their own value and perceive different paths for success that are not limited to the framework of mainstream society help to make them feel more free to choose the courses they want to take up. This enables them to develop more interests and abilities, express themselves, and gain a sense of achievement through enhanced skills and knowledge.

“Actually, I used to have a lot of dreams. I wanted to be a track and field coach, and a boxer. I used to run really fast,” muses Xiaomei, while watching her younger sisters play with a basketball in a dimly lit street. “You can still do it now!” says the social worker. Xiaomei smiles: “I can’t help it. I have to take care of my child now. And after giving birth, I can’t run as fast anymore.”

Creating a fair society for disadvantaged children is a difficult challenge, and something that cannot be done right away. But there are efforts that can be made to prevent the same thing that happened to Xiaomei from happening to more young people, and to provide them more understanding and support. The Rerum Novarum Center is grateful to the many people who support the Aboriginal Youth Development and Dream Project, which not only brings hope to children, but also gives the staff great motivation to continue to work hard. [Rerum Novarum Center]

Celebrating love and diversity among indigenous youth

This pandemic has inevitably changed the way we celebrate. Physical gatherings are risky, potential super spreader events where people might catch the virus. The next best thing is to take the celebration online: Zoom parties are the norm these days. And while a virtual celebration is certainly different, we do what we can to stay connected.

Last December, two indigenous youth groups–one from the southern Philippines (Bukidnon, Davao, and Culion) and another from the small village of Chingchuan in Hsinchu County, Taiwan–met online for a Christmas celebration organised by the Jesuits working in indigenous ministry. Despite the geographical distance, language barriers and technical difficulties, the youthful energy and spirit of sharing pervaded over the gathering. As Conference President Fr Tony Moreno SJ noted in his message to the group, it was “the only network within the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific to have a Christmas celebration”. This was a true example of how the joy and enthusiasm of the youth, no matter what obstacles they face in life, cannot be extinguished. As Abegelle, a Food Technology student from Bukidnon State University put it, they are “divided by distance, united by the love and hope of our tribes”.

Fr Ambrosio Flores SJ, coordinator for the Jesuit Companions in Indigenous Ministry (JCIM), and Fr Barry Martinson SJ, a pioneer in this ministry and parish priest in Chingchuan, steered the participants to put together a programme centred on sharing–their identities as indigenous youth, as students, and as talented young people with bright futures ahead. From the livestream in Malaybalay, students from the seven tribes of Bukidnon were resplendent in their multi-coloured traditional clothing. Representatives from the Tagbanua tribe in the island of Culion and the Ateneo Lumad Students Association from Davao also participated.

Meanwhile in Taiwan, the lively group of Ayatal youth–all in high spirits from celebrating their Christmas party in the village church earlier that same evening–were bundled up in winter clothing, some wearing Santa hats and holiday accessories. They all had the chance to introduce themselves to each other. Fr Martinson emphasised using song and dance in the programme, which is universally appealing and easy to translate, as English was not spoken by everyone. The presentations were as diverse as the performers: from indigenous Ayatal songs, to traditional Filipino kundiman (love song) accompanied by acoustic guitar, from original rock ballads with full band to classic Christmas carols–and of course, dancing–the spirit of sharing their talents and expressions of joy for the season were palpable.

JCIM has done over two decades of apostolic work with communities all over Asia Pacific–aside from the Philippines and Taiwan, also Australia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia–and continue to accompany the youth, with a focus on integral formation. As indigenous youth often have to struggle with things other young people take for granted and face obstacles like poverty, discrimination, and maintaining their indigenous identity, it is important to accompany and encourage them and provide opportunities for growth.

Indigenous young people from Bukidnon, Philippines
Indigenous young people from Bukidnon, Philippines

In Bukidnon, the Kapawa hu Paglaum College Scholarship and Formation Programme supports indigenous students as they strive for “self-governance and empowerment, and political, social, economic, and religious inclusion through accompaniment”.

In Chingchuan, while the youth all have the opportunity and resources to complete their education, they are also exposed to the arts through the artistic centres in the village, including the indigenously-designed primary school, a forest arts and crafts village, and the Catholic Church with its mosaics, murals, and stained glass. Thus equipped, they now have to find a way to “advance in society while sustaining and developing their own distinctive culture, to keep their faith in the face of a materialistic society, to preserve their characteristic warmth and hospitality with increasing tourism and opportunities to make money, to find meaning in life when so much has been given to them.” Today, Fr Martinson says, the Ayatal youth “are proud to be what they are. They have come a long way, and it has not been without struggle.”

The gifts from the JCIM online gathering were not in the form of material things. But the participants took home insights with far greater value. “The Christmas encounter made me believe that there is still a thriving fervour of love within the indigenous youth towards one’s tribe, one’s community,” shared Ereca, an agriculture student from the Manobo tribe. Needheart, a sociology major from Bukidnon State University, said: “Sharing with the indigenous youth across Asia Pacific is one of the most memorable moments for me. It reminded me of God’s love for us that is undeniably unending and big.”

If you would like to help the students through the Kapawa hu Paglaum College Scholarship and Formation Programme, please visit this link for more information.

Multiplying the five loaves and two fish

Each semester, students at The Beijing Center (TBC) are encouraged to participate in local service-learning activities to practice the Jesuit tradition of helping others and attaining a sense of social responsibility. This fall semester, TBC students volunteered at Five Loaves and Two Fish, an organisation acting to support migrant worker families. Continue reading “Multiplying the five loaves and two fish”

A Wahyanite becomes the school supervisor – to be a bridge for students

A mile from shore a fishing boat chummed the water, and the word for Breakfast Flock flashed through the air, till a crowd of a thousand seagulls came to dodge and fight for bits of food. But way off alone, a seagull was making hundreds of glides – making a curve, stretching his wings, twisting, stalling. Continue reading “A Wahyanite becomes the school supervisor – to be a bridge for students”

Day retreats for young people in Hong Kong

All of a sudden, 2019 became a very difficult year for people in Hong Kong. Shocked by the unexpected political and social crisis, many were concerned for the welfare of young people. Xavier House Ignatian Spirituality Centre, a Jesuit retreat house located on the small island of Cheung Chau, reached out to the city and organised day retreats for young people. Continue reading “Day retreats for young people in Hong Kong”

JesCom Vietnam trains young Catholics as communicators for the church

In a span of 18 months, Jesuit Communications (JesCom) Vietnam trained nearly 300 young Vietnamese Catholics in media literacy through their Media Education Project.

Inspired by the CommLab programme of SIGNIS, the project, which was started by Fr Nguyen Van Yen SJ and CommLab programme alumnus Vi Cao, aimed at providing media skills and knowledge to young people and to connect them as a network from which they could find spiritual and practical support.

A total of 22 courses have been conducted for 286 young Catholics across the country since March 2017. The alumni network is coordinated by members empowered by the JesCom committee in Vietnam.

On September 29, the programme officially ended with an evaluation workshop. Twenty-two participants representing the 22 courses shared their experiences and motivations along with their vision for a future project that echoes the success of the programme.

“Our workshop invitation received a prompt response from youth groups, parishes, dioceses and individuals. However, we must not only ask what JesCom Vietnam can do for us, but also what we have to offer to the church through communications and JesCom,” said Deputy Head of JesCom Vietnam Brother Thien Kinh SJ.

The evaluation sought to improve the programme further by asking the participants to identify gaps in human resource allocation, decision-making processes, training content, network management and financial resources.

At the end of the workshop, Vo Quoc Vuong, an alumnus from the 14th training course in the Vinh Province said: “There are 24 members of our course and after a year, we still keep in touch with each other. We connect with each other beyond the skills we shared, we perform online evaluation every day and we do mission trips even though our financial support is limited and most of us are still students. As millennials, traveling to extremely poor areas and discovering the real struggle of children without basic needs such as clothes, food or school materials, and seeing a dedicated parish priest who has to run back and forth between chapels that are 70 kilometres apart made us burst into tears. We found the true reason for our mission as communicators.”

The Media Education Project will be renewed with improvements to better empower the youth with adequate communication tools.

Xavier Jesuit School children practice mindfulness meditation

2019.06.teachers-guide-students-in-meditationXavier Jesuit School Cambodia introduced “Mindfulness Meditation” to the kindergarten and primary school students during their morning assembly and lunch break.

It was quite a challenge to get the kids to sit still, stay calm and close their eyes while concentrating on their own breathing.

Through hard work and a lot of patience, the teachers were able to overcome the difficulties and successfully accompany and guide the students through a mindfulness meditation exercise every day.

Now the students are very familiar with this daily activity. As soon as prayerful music is played their faces reveal enjoyment of this quiet and peaceful activity. Through mindfulness meditation, the students will develop a gentle and peaceful character, which is central to their Buddhist culture and tradition. [Xavier Jesuit School Cambodia]

Journeying with the youth a step further

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To strengthen the network of youth ministers and better serve the needs of young Catholics in the region, the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) Youth Ministry organised its first meeting for youth ministers in Colégio Mateus Ricci, Macau from March 18 to 22.

More than 30 Jesuits and young people from Australia, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Timor-Leste participated in the meeting.

“For the past five years since the establishment of the JCAP Youth Ministry, we have been focusing on the Magis Formation programme as a way of accompanying young people in our Asia Pacific conference”, said Youth Ministry Coordinator Fr John Nugroho SJ. “This year, we would like to share with the youth ministers another Ignatian method of training young people to be servant leaders.”

The core team plans to hold the youth ministers meeting every two years. For this first gathering, the participants were provided with practical ways they can “journey with the youth”, one of the four Universal Apostolic Preferences of the Society of Jesus.

“We hope to encourage those who have already graduated from the Magis Formation programme to take part in the Church’s work, give back to the community and serve as animators in accompanying their younger friends”, said Fr Nugroho.

He opened the meeting with an update of the projects of the JCAP Youth Ministry. One of these is a manual on how to organise and implement youth ministry programmes in the conference level. Another document underway is a youth volunteer manual that will help connect Asia Pacific youth with Jesuit missions in need of volunteers in the region.

The participants had the opportunity to share how they carry out their youth ministry programmes in their own countries, including their challenges and strengths. Many of them said they were inspired and happy to learn from the experience of their fellow youth ministers.

To deepen their sharing, the participants assembled into small groups of three to four people for Contemplative Dialogue. During the first round of sharing, they each expressed what inspired them from the day’s sessions and where they found God. In the second round, they expressed what touched them from their friends’ sharing in the first round of the dialogue. Then they concluded with conveying a phrase that expressed God’s message for them during the sharing.

The meeting was also a chance to learn about the work of the Chinese Province, which encompasses four places: Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. Fr Vincentius Haryanto SJ from Macau gave a talk on Ignatian Pedagogy and how it can be applied in the youth ministry beyond the school setting.

Nineteen-year-old Renata Tania, who is part of the JCAP Youth Ministry core team, shared about her experience as a trained JCAP youth minister, how it has changed her life and help her to grow in Ignatian Spirituality.

JCAP President Fr Tony Moreno SJ reflected on how young people have a passion for the common good.

“We want to listen to the voice of the youth. God’s voice can be heard through them”, he said. “Sometimes we say we accompany the youth. But actually, it could also be the other way around, that we are accompanied by the youth.”

A path to magis for young people

2017.05.magis_asia_pacific_gathering_poland_-_group_pictureIn 2014, the major superiors of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific decided that the youth had to be a priority for the Jesuit Conference. They saw a clear need to accompany young people in the way of St Ignatius, which is marked by cura personalis (personal care), discernment and magis (more). Continue reading “A path to magis for young people”

Working together to form young persons of faith in our schools

Working together to form young persons of faith in our schools
Working together to form young persons of faith in our schools

How do we accompany young people in the mission of reconciliation and justice? How do we engage students in this digital age? Who are we in what we do? These were some of the questions discussed in the first JCAP Meeting of Chaplains and Campus Ministers. Continue reading “Working together to form young persons of faith in our schools”