The African mission at a crossroads

Statistics show that 75% of theAfrican population is below 30years of age. Where there is youth population, especially at risk, there is work for Salesians. The fact that Africa has the vast majority of their youth population, particularly at risk and below 30 years of age, shows that the Salesians have lot of work. It is quite clear that most of the population belong to the category of children and youth.
The situation of Turin in 1840 is the case in Africa now in 2007. As in Turin, the African cities are becoming hubs of life and services. A lot of industries are being started to meet the needs of the global society. Such industrialisation has led to urbanisation in the case of Africa too. People are flocking to cities to get employed and most often unskilled youngsters are victimised in the process since Africa is a vast land where education and other social amenities are not that easily available. The cities claim to provide many facilities to these vagrant youth. So the young people run to cities and they have the usual problems like housing, unemployment, HIV/AIDS and so on.
The youngsters are victimised particularly when they are not prepared in terms of education and skills. So the relevance of Salesian work is felt all the more. The need, to educate and prevent problems, is felt all the more in the rural areas.
The African morality works on social control, tradition and social taboos. Whereas in the urbanised society there is no social control because there is anonymity and so there is a collapse of moral system.
Against this setting Fr. Selvam classifies the African mission in to two important dimensions. They are : 1. Curative and therapeutic work in urban areas and 2. Preventive work in rural areas.
From the View Point of the African Church
For many here in Africa, The face of Don Bosco, which we are so familiar, is relatively new. But, today Bishops appreciate the Salesians and their work. Perhaps they would have studied a little about Don Bosco when they were young. The face of Don Bosco, which was hazy and muddled, is clearly seen in the faces of the Salesians. They have great expectations from the Salesians. They know that Salesians have solutions to the problems of the African youth. This is the impression they have about the Salesians in Africa.
In East Africa we have about 35 to 40 pending requests from Bishops who want us to work with them and some even give unconditional offers. Even the lay people want to give their property to us but we have no personnel to make use of the places offered. Some of the Italians and even some Goans settled there are ready to give their land to us for our ministry. Thus helps are pouring in a big way.
Local Vocations
In the African province, Sudan is one after Congo to have complete cycle of formation from the aspirantate to the theologate and even the magisterium for Salesian Brothers. There has been a trend to invest on personnel particularly in formation houses, though this reduces the number of Salesian personnel to serve in our missions. It is true that other provinces are benefitting from us as a result of this. "It is worth mentioning that there are over 20 priests from the province of Sudan,"says Fr. John Peter. With limited personnel, a province is able to think of sparing confrerers for the rest of the provinces is something great.
Area of ministry
A variety of ministry is carried out in Africa. Indian confreres are very comfortable with schools. The Polish are experts in running parishes. The Italians are efficient in running technical schools. Holland and Belgium provide many services to the Africans. Africa needs academic schools and that is why, many youngsters come to India for academic studies.
Starting technical schools will not be a solution to the youth of Sudan. Take for example Iringa, a city in Sudan needs 20 carpenters every year. But you train 100 of them. They either become unemployed or are underemployed. After finishing their technical qualification they do not want to venture into other types of jobs, "says Fr. John Peter.
So focus on technical schools will not be a solution to their livelihood. "Initially we focussed on schools but right now our ministry is diversified. Working for Refugees, street children, schools, animation centres, media centre by name Beams and parishes are the ministries that are offered," says Fr.Selvam.
Critical Aspects of Project Africa
The Indian Salesians have carried with them a very rich Salesian heritage, thanks to the early missionaries in India. "As Indian heritage, we have very rich spirituality and deep ascetical life. Our simple lifestyle and deep spirituality pose a big challenge to the African culture," says Fr. Selvam.
The Indian Salesians have transplanted their style, mentality and even their problems into the African situations. The weakness of East African mission model is actually the model that was proposed to the Indian provinces some twenty five years ago, i.e. the institutional model. Too soon the Salesians started setting up institutions and stabilising them. As a result, from 1980 to 1994 there were only three communities in East Africa.
Both the European Salesians and the Indian Salesians went into African mission. While the European Salesians came with a preserving attitude, Indian Salesians came with an expanding attitude. "If only we had international group of Salesians for a joint venture, we would have projected the Salesian identity in a more powerful manner," says Fr. Selvam.
The congregation has done a lot for Africa. With the support of the Salesian NGOs huge sum of money was pumped in. Project Africa is an example of networking. Indians have skills and Europeans, money. When these two can be helped to network the dream of Don Bosco can be kept alive in the African Continent. By working together this great dream can be realised.
There were times when Rome got alarmed about the fast expansion of East Africa. Since 1994, the major superiors started speaking on consolidation. For example, a community should consist of at least three Salesians. It is difficult to realise that the success of the Indian Salesianity lies in its ever expanding nature.
The present crisis, of lack of vocations in Europe, could be attributed to this attitude of limiting ourselves, says Fr. Selvam.
Wherever there is consolidation, there is stagnation. African mission bore the brunt of this stagnating consolidation for a while. This even led many to leave the missions because there were no new challenges and no reality to face. Many Salesians returned to India as a consequence of this consolidation process. This is the situation towards which East Africa is heading. The fact that the confreres were not allowed to go ahead with certain momentum can lull the growth for ever has become a lesson for the future.
Writing for the centenary souvenir, Fr. Joseph Pulikkal SDB, Provincial, wrote about the challenges still faced, " In spite of the progress made in the past 25 years, we still have immense challenges to face, such as poverty, illiteracy, HIV/AIDS, unemployment, corrosion of culture, and want of religious education."
With all these pressing demands placed on the Salesians, there is a move by Salesians to consolidate on the one hand and the desire to expand and keep Don Bosco alive on the other. The Salesians are at a crossroads today as they are having their Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the arrival of Project Africa. Today, there is a need to be challenged by the ‘new frontiers’ that the Rector Major is speaking about. Just as Don Bosco dreamt of going to various places not yet reached by others, the Salesians need to dream about reaching such unreachable shores.