Kenya – Workshop on"Salesian Pastoral Accompaniment"
Nairobi, Kenya – March 2024 - For the third time, the Salesian Formation Centre Africa-Madagascar (Don Bosco – SAFCAM), organised a workshop on Salesian Pastoral Accompaniment from 4 to 8 March 2024, at the Don Bosco Youth Educational Services (DBYES) centre in Nairobi. The formation was led by three Salesian priests: Alex Mulongo, Philip Lazatin and Richard Ebejer, with eleven participants from various Salesian Provinces and Vice-Provinces: East Africa (AFE), Central Africa (AFC), Africa Congo Congo (ACC), Equatorial Tropical Africa (ATE), Zambia-Malawi-Zimbabwe-Namibia (ZMB), Southern Africa (AFM) and Madagascar (MDG). In the first two days, some necessary information and knowledge were provided by the animators on topics such as Reflection and scriptural foundation starting from the Emmaus event; Theological-pastoral reflection in the current situation, with a general overview of Salesian pastoral accompaniment as a reflection on experiences; "Salesian" approaches to pastoral accompaniment; Formation "in" the Salesian Mission and Pastoral Accompaniment; "Verbatim" Tools; Reports on Incidents and their elaboration; Relevance and method; Tools useful in the elaboration (Listening, Counseling Techniques, Counseling Skills; Emotions and Feelings). The participants were then invited to individually prepare and write an account, so that the last three days were a practical exercise of Salesian pastoral accompaniment. The participants, the facilitators and the SAFCAM team expressed their appreciation for this important formation event in the evaluation of the worshop; they mentioned the value of learning from experiences, touching real situations, gaining new insights, being in touch with previous emotions and feelings.