The work program of the last days traced a path from the previous international meeting - held in Hyderabad in 2011 - to the appointment in Nairobi, and thus observed and reviewed the steps taken and what remained to be undertaken and implemented. To this regard, numerous good practices were presented by various Salesian PDOs and NGOs.
Other contributions concerned: a presentation of the challenges PDOs across the Salesian world perceive as priorities; the vision of the PDO as an element that helps to qualify the Salesian service in the Provinces; the contribution the PDO can give to the vision of Salesian Youth Ministry ...
On the final day of the meeting, the Councilor for the Africa-Madagascar region, Fr Américo Chaquisse, also took part. In his detailed speech, he stressed the importance and role of lay people in the PDOs and Provinces, and the change in mentality required in the Congregation to move from a model of centralized government over religious to one of effective cooperation with lay workers and volunteers.
"Our first objective are young people," the Councilor said, indicating to all participants the need to proceed with conviction with the formation plans and the qualification projects without, however, losing sight of the Christian nature of Salesian institutions, which cannot therefore limit themselves to the management of activities based merely on efficiency.
Finally, Fr Chaquisse emphasized the importance of equipping oneself with a culture of planning even in the management of emergencies.
After several group work sessions from which a number of recommendations emerged, Br Jean Paul Muller, SDB, Economer General of the Congregation, offered the final intervention.
"Now we begin a journey towards the General Chapter 28, in 2020. We must focus on young people and we need Salesians at the service of the young, who know how to work and live with others, willing to get their hands dirty." In concluding, he expressed interest in the idea of carrying out regional conferences of the Economers, in which the leaders of the Youth Ministry also take part, since "our mission is aimed at young people."
