NEWS FROM NATIONAL MOVEMENTS

MADAGASCAR  :

1.   SEMINAR ON LEADERSHIP TRAINING

From the 5th to the 7th of September, representatives of students who are members of the IMCS-Madagascar from six Universities in Madagascar together with youth representatives of different denominations i.e., the Muslims, the Pentecostals, Campus for Christ.... congregated at Maibahoaka-Ivato (Antanarivo) after reflecting under the theme: “INTEGRAL LEADERSHIP IN AID OF YOUNG MALAGACHES”.

It was a training seminar which concentrated on the sense of leadership from the students. The students positively overcame their differences in an interreligious and ecumenical ambiance, with an attitude for dialogue and openness in order to deepen their reflection on youth and leadership together.

This session was made a success. Thanks to the partnership between IMCS Madagascar and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung foundation. We would like to take this opportunity to express our profound gratitude to the persons in charge of this foundation and we reiterate our sincere thanks to the speakers, to the personnel of Maibahoaka National Center for Training and particularly all the participants.

The seminar came to an end with the closing speech coming from Mr. RAVELOSON Jean Aime of FES and Mr. LEZY Frogin of IMCS Madagascar.

This (IMCS SEMINAR ON LEADERSHIP 2007) was a very important moment in the life of IMCS Madagascan chapter, because it was an occasion for the members of this movement to gather together with other youth members so as to discover the different nature of the youth. It was equally a moment to reinforce the credibility of the movement towards the partners.

2. NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE OF IMCS MADAGASCAR . 

The statutes of IMCS Madagascar Pax Romana, recognizes the usefulness of a structural meeting for the evaluation of the council in regard to the activities of the movement at all levels. Which is the National Management Council? After the 8^th National Congress of IMCS Madagascar, the national office decides the organization of this meeting for the year 2007.

The objective of this meeting was to evaluate the activities of the movement and consult with the members of the Management Council on how to make use of the activities to come, without prejudice in the implementation of orientations for IMCS and to reinforce the capacities of the leaders of the movement in the implementation of orientations of  IMCS, it’s in this way that this Management Council was organized jointly with the (LEADERSHIP SEMINAR).

After evaluations, the national steering committee made the following recommendations:

    To the National Office:

-          The connection bulletin TSIRY has to be republished to the training of members of IMCS Madagascar

-          The members of the national office are encouraged to make official visits to redynamise the movement

-          On the organization of the 9th National Congress of 2008, the number of participants has to increase to five and the regional teams and the participants have to work out a sequence.

-          The national team has to help the regional teams in setting the orientation tasks of IMCS on AIDS and Peace in 2008 .

-          The reduction of T-shirt prices to 4000 Ariary.

           To the regional teams:

-          The orientations and methodologies of IMCS have to be applied by all the regional teams.

-          With a view to promote solidarity, there should be cooperation between the sections within IMCS Madagascar.

The steering Committee held all its meetings in the evenings of 5^th to 7^th September 2007 at Maibahoaka (Ivato) and it was closed with a mass on the 8^th of September 2007 at Antanimena.

Frogin LEZY, National Chairman IMCS- Madagascar

RWANDA :

THE NATIONAL MEETING OF IMCS RWANDA

On September 2^nd 2007, the catholic students from Rwanda   had the opportunity of meeting on the National holiday in the enclosure of KIST (Kigali Institute Of Science And Technology). They had gathered under the theme: The role of  the youth in the culture of peace, the mass which was presided over by His Excellency Cardinal Philipe RUKAMBA the Bishop of Butare, started at 9 a.m. During the celebration of this mass, several students from IMCS KIST benefited from the occasion when they received the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.

The message from the mass

The mass was organized by the choir from KIST-KHI. The Bishop of Butare in his homily gave the message on strengthening of faith for the youth in general, insisting on the way the students ought to relate with others in regard to the culture of peace. He thus encouraged the students to be non violent.

Conference on Peace

The lecture was given by Father Faustin NYOMBAYIRE, who is also a doctor and the Rector of the Byumba Polytechnic Institute. What says the intellectual? This is the question that prompted the students at the beginning of the lecture. In his message of encouragement and advises on the culture of peace, he thus spoke of faith and the reason that seems to be the bond of the discussion in the course of this conference. An intellectual is someone who does not lie, who sees everything with intelligence and love, and yes can be a martyr or a witness of Christ. This demands as much wisdom and devotion not only catholic intellectuals

In a message given by one of the manager’s of KIST, he gave a long account on the reason of being a good Christian everywhere, he gave examples showing how the difficult moments in life can be managed and indeed be surpassed because it is God alone who knows how things are. He also thanked the students for having collaborated well with the authorities of KIST.

 It is important to note that this meeting comprised of students who are members of IMCS Rwandan Chapter, who came from different higher institutions of Rwanda namely: L’UNR, KIST, KHI, KIE, ISAE, INES. Their chaplains were also present.

Hormisdas NDAGIJIMANA, National Coordinator IMCS Rwanda

IMCS KENYA ; STUDENTS FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS

IMCS Kenya has been at the fore front in curbing the spread of HIV among the young people in Kenya . Their effort has not gone unnoticed by both the Kenya Episcopal Conference and the Government through the ministry of Youth Affairs. In July 2007,IMCS Kenya represented the youth in Kenya in the first Catholic Aids conference with the theme: “Responding with love, for the body of Christ has AIDS”;  where a policy document: This we teach and do was launched by the bishops in Kenya .

In line with the launch of the Student Test and abstain Campaigns in Togo in 2002, IMCS Kenya has successfully carried on with the annual event for the last four years. In 2007, Four events were held in different campuses with the theme: Sustaining Humanity is my responsibility. They culminated with a grand event funded by GTZ on the 8th of December 2007 with close to a thousand people in attendance and it was evident that IMCS and YCS can actually partner in holding events as the two were actively involved.

We thank the PAT for their continued support.

Catherine Njuguna (National Chairperson):

SOME OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF IMCS-SUDAN

It’s a pride to take this opportunity to convey a Happy New Year to you all dear friends of IMCS Africa. May this year again be of the Lord’s favor for IMCS Africa. I remain thankful to the Lord especially for the successes we had in Sudan last year and the few to mention are: 

The 6^th of September 2007 marked the elections and the beginning for a new national coordinating team of IMCS Sudan to take over. Yes! Leaders come and go! Believing in our principle of IMCS being a field for Leadership formation, then it’s time for the new members to learn. Quoting the summary document of Dec 2005 of IMCS’s Leadership workshop in Kampala “ Africa ’s leaders once they come to power they don’t let it go unless they are taken off by bullet”. We are building a unique form of leadership for a better Africa . As memory transmission makes up the most sensitive part for the smooth continuity of the movement, Charles, Joseph and Paul from the old team remained to fulfill the tradition.

The 6^th of October was the day for the general enlightenment to all IMCS members from the different universities and also an opportunity for the new team to be introduced. A remarkable day in which general assembly came to know Mr.Mut Shiguoh (New National president) and all his cabinet members in the team.

The first activity carried out by the new team was a four day workshop (1^st-4^th Nov) on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) under the theme “Catholic Students Toward A Poverty Free World”. Mr. Victor Schieffers (S.G for the Justitia et Pax Netherlands ), Mr.Derik Hansolm (UNDP officer for MDGs implementation in Sudan ) and the Consol of the Netherlands embassy in Sudan were the main facilitators. 75 students from 8 universities participated.

The 21^st of December was the day IMCS Sudan celebrated the Carols of Christmas in conjunction with the CLC group and the Catholic Students’ choir of Khartoum Archdiocese. Fr.Putman (Chaplain) is behind the progress. Congratulations Fr for the wise chaplaincy. You made it!!!

The team plans to visit campuses in the near future. A difficult thing of cause in campuses without a single Christian chapel but two or even three mosques. Let’s continue praying hard for the IMCS Sudan dear brothers and sisters. Not only Sudan but also Kenya and Zimbabwe whose countries are experiencing a higher degree of political crises these days. Together we shall make the difference. Let the IMCS Africa Live and May Peace Prevail on Earth.

Charles Ochero Cornelius Langoya

EA IMCS Sub-Regional Coordinator

VISIT OF MERON HAILESALASSIE TO IMCS GHANA  

The leader of IMCS Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Meron Hailesalassie) visited the IMCS Ghana from 20^th to 26^th November 2007. She also took the opportunity to visit the National Chaplain of the Catholic Youth in Ghana at the National Catholic Secretariat, in Accra . The visit was intended to learn more about the structure and success story of IMCS Ghana. The national executives represented by the national coordinator were very pleased and glad to welcome Meron in Ghana .

VISIT OF THE PAN AFRICAN TEAM TO INSTITUTIONS IN GHANA

The Pan African Coordinators Aaron and Maurice visited three universities in Ghana after the interreligious and intercultural dialogue Project. The Institutions visited are the University of Cape Coast, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi and the University of Ghana . During these visit the team talked about the orientation documents and had open forum for IMCS members on general issues. The team also had the opportunity to meet the National chaplain of IMCS Ghana and the National Chaplain of the Ghana National Catholic Youth Council. The taems visit was from 4^th to 6^th September 2008.