Children recruited have been freed from the armed forces and integrated into educational programs – Mogadishu

About 400 children recruited by armed groups in Somalia have been released and reintegrated into society through educational programs and professional training. Thanks to a project that the United Nations Fund launched 15 months ago in this Country of conflict in the Horn of Africa, 110 children have already enrolled in school. Many have been enrolled in professional training programs such as electronic engineering, administration, mechanics or carpentry. UNICEF estimates that currently about 5,000 children and young people can be exploited as fighters, porters or cooks for armed groups in Somalia. In 2012 the Government of Somalia had signed an action plan to end the recruitment and prevent the use of children in armed conflict. (Source: Agenzia Fides 18/09/2015)

World Peace Day

The International Day of Peace, sometimes unofficially known as World Peace Day, is observed annually on 21 September. It is dedicated to world peace, and specifically the absence of war and violence.

In 2013, for the first time, the Day was dedicated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to peace education, the key preventive means to reduce war sustainably.

In Somalia, multiple Somali peace and reconciliation processes have produced many agreements but have never sufficiently addressed the real grievances that exist among Somali individuals and clans. At each round of talks and conferences the factions and international community members repeated the same mistakes made in previous processes and agreements.

It is a time that all that has been hindering peace in Somalia is addressed to create an environment whereby all stake holders are involved as a one collective entity in pursuit of a lasting peace for the welfare of the nation.

And to the Somali people, peace is the key to a successful nation that respects the right of all in disregard of clans, individualism and factions.

‘Centre for Community Awareness’ (CCA) which is non profit organization is committed to building peace and security in Somalia. As a result to this, the organization conducted wide range of activities, including sporting competition for young people, in an effort to foster peace and reconciliation, to mark this important day in the both Somali and global calendar.

The organizations slogan for this year is: "Be the change you wish to see in this world". We pray that next year there will be more peaceful areas in the country.

(Source: Dalsan Radio (Mogadishu), 22/09/2015) 

Year of Mercy and Indulgences: Papal letter addresses abortion, prisoners, sick and elderly

Pope Francis has issued a letter, describing some specifics on the Jubilee Year of Mercy, which will begin on December 8^th, 2015. It will be a period of grace and forgiveness. 

 ABORTION

In the letter, he states that since forgiveness cannot be denied to those who have repented, during the Jubilee of Mercy, the Pope will allow diocesan priests the discretion to absolve the sin of abortion, for women who have had one and have repented for it. Usually priests can only absolve this sin, with the direct permission of their bishop.           

All faithful are called to make a pilgrimage, literally to the Holy Door, which will be open in every Cathedral or in parishes designated by the Diocesan Bishop. For those who will be traveling to Rome, the Holy Door in the city’s four Papal Basilicas will also be included. 

            The pilgrimage is meant to be a sign of true conversion for one’s past sins. In order to receive the indulgence, it must be linked to the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. 

SICK/ELDERLY 

The elderly and sick who are limited in their mobility, can receive the indulgence by receiving Communion, attending Mass and community prayer. 

PRISONERS

The letter also makes note of prisoners, who can obtain the Indulgence in the chapels of their prisons. The threshold of their cell, it reads, can symbolize the passage of the Holy Door. 

The purpose of the Jubilee Year of Mercy is to forgive the sins of those who have truly repented, so they can strengthen their faith and give testimony. (RomeReports.com)

UN Concerns About Influx of Refugees Back Into Somalia

The newly appointed United Nation's Deputy Special Representative for Somalia, Peter de Clercq, expressed concerns about the influx of returnees and Yemeni refugees into the country.

De Clercq said over 28,000 people have arrived in Somalia since April. "I am, however, encouraged by the positive spirit of cooperation on the ground between humanitarian organizations and the relevant authorities, and, so far, the mechanisms put in place appear to work well," said de Clercq.

The UN envoy has completed his first official visit to Puntland and Somaliland in northern Somalia, urging joint efforts to settle the arrivals to avert a humanitarian crisis.

De Clercq visited reception centers in the coastal cities of Berbera and Bosasso, where he said he saw the newly arrived being registered, provided with food, mattresses and blankets, and medical care. "While their conditions are under control due to a relatively good humanitarian response, limited resources, environmental factors and insecurity continue to pose significant challenges," he said, adding that an estimated 220,000 people are internally displaced in Puntland and Somaliland.

He said more than 60 humanitarian organizations were working in Puntland and Somaliland where thousands of vulnerable people "remain at the mercy of natural phenomena". (Source: allafrica.com)

We Are Keen On Supporting Somalia to Confront Extremism - Al-Azhar Sheikh

Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayyeb asserted on Monday (17/8/2015) Al-Azhar's keenness on supporting Somalia. He was speaking during a meeting with Somali Education Minister Khadra Bashir to discuss fostering bilateral relations in the education field.

Tayyeb said Al-Azhar is keen on increasing the number of scholarships to Somali students to study at Al-Azhar as well as preparing a training program for Somali preachers that aims to confront extremism.

Khadra Bashir hailed Al-Azhar's role in spreading moderate Islam, adding that her country is in need of Al-Azhar to confront extremism. (Source: Egypt State Information Service – Cairo)

The bicentenary of the birth of Saint John Bosco

Saint John Bosco, who is best known as Don Bosco, was born 200 years ago. The Italian saint's influence on education and charity is still felt throughout the world.

Don Bosco was born near Turin on August 16, 1815. At 25, he was ordained a priest. He immediately devoted himself to helping young people who hadn't benefited from the Industrial Revolution.

Education was the key to alleviating their poverty and hopelessness, he believed. The saint spent his days visiting prisons and on the streets with young people, working with them to better their lives. In 1864, he founded the Salesian Order; he died in 1888.

Today the Salesians of Don Bosco serve in 132 countries, where they continue to turn despair into hope and ignorance into knowledge. Don Bosco was beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1929 and was canonized by the same pontiff, five years later.

By 2020, 20 Catholic radio stations will be created to cover the entire territory of Kenya

            By 2020 there will be 20 Catholic radio stations in Kenya. This is laid down in the 2016-2020 plan approved by the Commission for Social Communications/Waumini Communications of the Episcopal Conference of Kenya.
            According to a statement sent to Agenzia Fides the strategic plan includes the development of a "strong media community in the field of information technology and communications across the whole country".
The New Catholic radios will help the process to extend evangelization in Kenya by broadening the base of the 12 million Catholic Kenyans. "We want a social and spiritual transformation of the people, we want to see a transformation of the human person", said Mgr. Joseph Obanyi, Bishop of Kakamega and Chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Social Communications, when he addressed the leaders of the Catholic radio. Waumini Communications, the body responsible for social communications of the Episcopal Conference of Kenya, founded in 2012, reaches 5 million people largely through seven radios distributed in dioceses across the country. (Source: Agenzia Fides)