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Catholic Youth in Southern Africa Pledge to “tirelessly” Address Drug Abuse Challenge

By Silas Isenjia

Johannesburg, 21 November, 2023 / 8:43 pm (ACI Africa).

Catholic youth from the Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA) are pledging to “tirelessly” engage in initiatives that will see the challenge of drug abuse among young people in the region addressed. 

In their joint statement following a five-day meeting that concluded Friday, November 17, representatives of IMBISA Catholic youth also voice concerns about the mental health, the economic situation, and the spiritual well-being of youth people in the region comprising nine countries, which include Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

Making reference to victims of drug abuse, IMBISA Catholic youth say, “We promise to engage tirelessly with programs that will help them overcome. We accept the role of Ambassadors and Advocates who are going to fight against the use of substances.”

“As IMBISA youth, we pledge our utmost support to all young people who are going through this pandemic of Drug Abuse,” they add following their meeting that was held in South Africa’s Pretoria Archdiocese.

They go on to plead with young people in the nine IMBISA countries to be always empathetic to one another to contribute to ending substance abuse.

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In their meeting that was organized under the theme, “Empowering youth as agents of peace and hope”, IMBISA Catholic youth pledge to reach out to those with “mental health issues”.

“We pledge to create inclusive environments, do awareness campaigns, and keep educating people about mental health issues,” they say, and call upon the young people in the region to speak out since issues of mental health can affect anyone.

Mental health, they add, is “a vital component to the optimal functioning of any human being.”

On the economic situation, IMBISA youth acknowledge with appreciation the reliance that young people have demonstrated amid challenges, adding that some have recorded success in entrepreneurship.

They laud the governments in the region for their efforts in improving the livelihoods of the young people.

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Still, they urge governments to take additional steps to improve the lives of young people, and emphasize the importance of industry regulations that prioritize the needs of people, especially the youth.

Regulating industries, they say, “is essential to safeguard economic opportunities, promote local entrepreneurship, and address socio-economic challenges faced by young people who often struggle with unemployment and economic disenfranchisement.”

In their statement, IMBISA youth share their concerns about the spiritual well-being of young people in the region amid worldly pursuits that negative influence their relationship with God.

They recommend that young people in the region familiarize themselves with the March 2019 Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis to young people and the entire people of God, Christus Vivit.

“The Pope’s letter serves as a reminder of our inherent value and unique identities. ‘Young people, you are significant, you matter, and you are cherished’. This exhortation provides light, guidance, and solutions,” IMBISA Catholic youth say.

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They describe their meeting as a significant milestone aimed at fostering a healthy, “revived” and active youth throughout the nine countries of IMBISA.

“The future of our region lies in the hands of our youth, and we are committed to equipping them with the tools needed to seize opportunities, overcome challenges, and succeed. We will be a revived youth, a youth that knows their identity and faith,” they say.

Silas Isenjia

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.