A new Paradigm for African Development

“True African development must involve the spirituality of communion, a concern for others and solidarity with the needy. This is a great opportunity to introduce a new dimension in the curriculum of studies on economics and human development.” This is what Prof. John C. Maviiri from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), said commenting on the international conference organized jointly by his university and the Focolare.

Over 300 participants had filled “Jubilee” hall, full of expectations and high hopes for this convention based on dialogue, and in search of insights for a new model of economic development. Economists and other experts gathered from different disciplines from North to South, from East to West of Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond, around the theme: “Economy of Communion: A New Paradigm for African Development.”

During one of the sessions, Dr. Justus Mbae, President of Academics at CUEA, spoke on the dynamics of reciprocity in the African cultures. He noted that if, on one side, there were “strong points” like those represented by living in a community where people help one another, and that the joys and sufferings of the others are one’s own, the other side of the coin is represented by the risk of not giving enough importance to the individual and slowing down development.

Leo Andringa then presented the reciprocity involved in the Economy of Communion. At this point, Justus Mbae commented, “I was very touched by this way of interpreting reciprocity. When Andringa spoke of gratuitousness, comparing reciprocity to a sacrament, I saw new horizons ahead of us…we have much to do, but now the way is ever clearer.”

African challenges were examined with rationality and truthfulness, underscoring the stumbling blocks to development in Africa such as bad governance, social-cultural factors, natural disasters, as well as armed conflicts, lack of intellectual creativity, etc.

To overcome these obstacle entrepreneurs and economists from all around the world gave their testimony on how they had made a strong life decision : to believe in the fundamental values of communion, of reciprocity, of sharing. In brief, people who had made a choice of committing oneself to these abovementioned values in today’s complex society.

Among them, Teresa Ganzon, Managing Director of Bangko Kabayan (Philippines), recounted her experience in microfinance, and John Mundell, president of Mundell & Associates, who shared his day-to-day life in a highly competitive business environment in the United States.

“I am happy that the Focolare Movement has been able to present this message of the EoC which the Pope feels so strongly about,” the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, Archbishop Paul Alain Lebeaupin commented,

In the days preceding the conference, the first “Economy of Communion School” for young entrepreneurs from all over Africa was also held.

“As far as EoC events go, this Pan-African school has had the most impact,” Professor Luigino Bruni affirmed.

As a concrete fruit of this conference, 15 associates of the future business park at Mariapolis Piero, the little town of the Focolare in Kenya, have come forward, and initial funds have also arrived. At the same time, 10 entrepreneurs present have decided to formally adhere to the EoC principles with their businesses. They outlined some concrete projects, starting with their enterprises.

“Here, people want to live,” Luigino Bruni commented at the end of the school. “I was touched by how much the young people here love to study. For them, getting into college is the goal of their life, because it means a future. You see people studying at night, below street lamps because they have no light at home. Without this desire and hunger for the future, our movement cannot grow”.

An economics student commented, “I was deeply touched by the inner strength, by the conviction of these people... Here, we lack trust in the poor, no one ever thinks of them as a resource”.

“Can these experiences be a light for Africa?” some participants asked. “The answer is Yes,” contended Dr. Mbae, “because here we are dealing with a light from the Gospel, from a charism given to Chiara Lubich. The EoC is the fruit of a lifestyle; therefore it can be lived by Africans in their society. It is up to us to find ways to make it fruitful.” He further affirmed that, as the CUEA has embarked on the path of holistic education, “training hearts as well as brains, the EoC approach is the ideal for African development.”

The last day of the conference celebrated a landmark for EoC and CUEA, a partnership that saw the introduction of the Study Center. Come July 2011, the first course will already start for students who wish to register for the program. The partnership was sealed by the welcome signing of a memorandum between the Institution in the person of Vice Chancellor Prof. John C. Maviiri and Prof. Luigino Bruni, central coordinator of the EoC in the world – an act greeted by thundering applause from an audience of over 300 people.

Expressing his gratitude to the University, and to the Focolare Movement on the African continent, Prof. Luigino Bruni affirmed: “Today is a very important day for the history of EoC - Economy of Communion, all over the world; the Focolare will celebrate this day. Although it is just the first step of a journey, it is the most important one.”

Liliane Mugombozi