Indian contribution to project Africa

With special reference t oEqastern Africa
With their work extended to 45 out of 53 countries, from a mere one province to 13 new delegations or vice provinces, the African mission is at a crossroads being pulled by static consolidation on the one hand and dynamic expansion on the other. Is the term ‘Project Africa’ a closed chapter or a new beginning? Here are the milestones, anxieties, concerns, challenges and preoccupations of a province now left to itself to multiply and bear fruit.



or many, Africa offered a greatfuture in terms of the natural resources. But for most others, Africa was a dark continent as it may seem from the colour of its people. The various outlook people had about African countries and their citizens, led them to a plight and destiny that is not so easy to explain. The tarnished, sub human and impoverished situation seen from a periphery was challenged by the richness of their culture and traditions. The image about their external features was challenged by their internal qualities of love and tolerance. For the Salesians who work there the situation offered both possibilities from its people and much more challenges from those who opted to work there and from the political situation prevalent there.
Fr. Vernal Paul Felix SDB recalls Don Bosco’s touching intervention during the meeting of the Superior Council on 26 May 1886 to show how earnestly he thought of the African mission: "... this mission forms part of my plans and is one of my dreams. If I were young, I would take along with me Fr. Michael Rua and say, ‘Come, let us go to the Cape of Good Hope to Nigritia ( Sudan), Khartoum, the Congo, to Suakin... We could establish a novitiate there by the Red Sea’."
Unfortunately, this dream of Don Bosco remained unfulfilled during his life-time. It was Don Rua who, towards the end of 1896, eight years after the death of Don Bosco, sent the first Salesians to Africa ( Alexandria-Egypt).
It was surprising that the Salesians could not make headway in evangelisation or education even many years after their arrival in Africa.
The year 1978 is a significant one for the African missions. It was at this year that an African Salesian took part in the General Chapter for the first time. He was from Zaire, presently known as Congo DRC.
The African who took part in the General Chapter challenged the participants of the Chapter telling them, Africa needs Don Bosco the most. Remember the Salesians were in very few countries at that time.
It was a big challenge posed, because the vocations were dwindling in Europe and so they were trying to close the existing houses. With all the difficulty in finding vocations, Fr. Vigano urged the members to give priority to Africa. Everyone felt that it is not possible. Many even felt that the Rector Major is catching the bull by its horns. But he was firm; and that’s how ‘Project Africa’ was born.
Along with the appeal of the African Salesian many bishops at that time started writing to the Rector Major appealing for Salesian presences in Africa. The Bishops’ frequent appeal and the Challenge posed by the first African participant were coinciding; therefore the Chapter decided to open missions in Africa.
Today, the African missionaries see this event as a clear sign from God and see it as a move towards the fulfilment of Don Bosco’s dream.
The superiors following the strategy of the Jesuits, gave each African region to the existing Salesian Provinces of the world. Thus, Zambia and Uganda were given to the Polish provinces; Gana to Germans, Liberia to Great Britain and East Africa to the Indian provinces.
East Africa consisted of 5 provinces of which the Indian Provinces were given Kenya, Sudan and Tanzania. On the request of the General Council, the SPCI (now SPCSA) decided to send 2 Salesians from each province every year. The first group of missionaries left for the East Africa accompanied by Fr. Tony D’Souza, Provincial of Bombay and coordinator of Project Africa.
The first batch left for Africa in 1979 though the actual work started in East Africa in 1980. They were taken for a missionary course and they were put in existing diocesan parishes, in order to learn the culture, the language and the customs of the people.
Thus began a new era for the Church and for the Congregation in East Africa, with the pioneering team of 12 priests and 3 lay Brothers with a clear will set on the African Soil and its People. Full of love and dedication they set out to spread the kingdom of God having reassured by the words of Maurice Cardinal Otunga of Nairobi: " Invade Africa with the Kingdom of God."
From then on there was no set back to Project Africa, from this arduous yet cherished challenge of bringing to focus the ‘African Face’ of Don Bosco.
In 2005 the East African province celebrated the silver jubilee( 1980-2005). In August 2005 Fr. Pascual Chavez, visited Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda to celebrate the 25 years of the Salesian presence in Eastern Africa.
Though there was a general scarcity of vocations in 1995, it was stabilised due to the African factor. One of the key factors for the increase in vocation is the increase of vocations in Africa. How it was possible is open for everyone’s guess.
At that time it was thought of as a foolish idea to start new presences in Africa as the number of vocations in Europe started dwindling. As a result combining of provinces took place. But after 1995, the status is stabilised. But in Africa and Asia the existing provinces are divided and there is a new dynamics in the congregation. The Salesian congregation has a lot of scope for the future.