E-NEWSLETTER

International Movement of Catolic Students (IMCS) Asia Pacific Updated Activity October to December 2024

Asia Futures Forum (AFF)

On October 7, 2024, IMCS Asia Pacific actively participated in the 6th webinar series of the Asia Future Forum, focusing on the outcomes of the UN SOTF Pact for the Future (P4F), the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations. This webinar served as both a preparation and a follow-up to the UN Summit on the Future (SOTF), which took place in New York on September 22-23, 2024. The event was organized by the Asia Civil Society Partnership for Sustainable Development (APSD), the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP), the POP Dialogue, PEOPLES20, and the International Youth Training Center (IYTC), in collaboration with the Coalition for the UN We Need (C4UN).

During the webinar, Ms. Bertha, coordinator at IMCS Asia Pacific, shared her organizational and personal insights gained from the Summit she attended, emphasizing three core areas: youth empowerment, climate action, and global cooperation. Her presentation highlighted the mission of IMCS Pax Romana in promoting youth engagement to build a sustainable and equitable future.

Preparations for WYD 2027: A Vision for Youth Empowerment

IMCS Asia Pacific, together with Ms. Stacie Tan and Fr. Pietro Yang Ju Yul, Executive Secretary/Director of Planning for World Youth Day 2027, conducted a meeting in Seoul, South Korea, to discuss the upcoming World Youth Day 2027. The meeting discussed also the pivotal role of IMCS Pax Romana in empowering young individuals as catalysts for peace and justice.

Starting in 2025, IMCS Pax Romana will work closely with the World Youth Day planning committee to create impactful programs designed to inspire youth to embrace leadership roles in promoting dialogue, reconciliation, and global solidarity. This strategic partnership seeks to equip emerging leaders with the essential tools and platforms needed to effect positive change within their communities and beyond.

International Youth Forum on Human Rights and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2024

IOn October 22-23, 2024, Ms. Bertha Samponu participated in the 4th International Youth Forum on Human Rights and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), hosted by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok. This forum served as a venue for the young leaders from around the globe to connect with one another. Through dynamic discussions, participants were able to share inspiring stories, and gained insights on their advocacy efforts for human rights, highlighting their common challenges and aspirations.

Catholic Peace Forum (CPF)

The Catholic Peace Forum (CPF) serves as an open platform for Catholic organizations and individuals committed to peacebuilding, grounded in Catholic Social Teaching. This commitment encompasses influential documents such as Pacem in Terris (1963), Laudato Si’ (2015), Fratelli Tutti (2020), and the Pope’s messages for World Peace Day (1 January).

The CPF is a collaborative initiative involving several Catholic peace and youth organizations, including Pax Christi Korea (PCK), Pax Christi International (PCI), and Pax Romana International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS), alongside their

partner organizations. In 2024, CPF sucessfully conduted several program such as:

  • Nagasaki Catholic Peace Forum (CPF) on August 10, 2024 with the theme: Just and Sustainable Peace without Nuclear Weapons in Asia – Role of Catholic Church and Pax Christi Movement
  • Rome Catholic Peace Forum (CPF) on September 19, 2024 (Thursday) with theme: Youth for a Culture of Just and Sustainable Peace – UN International Day of Peace (September 21), and 2027 Seoul World Youth Day (WYD)
  • Geneva Catholic Peace Forum (CPF) on October 25, 2024

National Movement Building in East Asia

In our ongoing commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for students, we recognize the importance of listening, discerning, sharing, and discussing their realities and needs. Through these intentional dialogues, we aim to deepen our understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by students, as well as to strengthen our community bonds.

Our engagement with students, animators, and chaplains from the Catholic University Students in the East Asia region, which includes representatives from South Korea’s Seoul Federation of Catholic Students (SFCS), Hong Kong’s Hong Kong Federation of Catholic Students (HKFCS), and Taiwan’s University Catholic Chinese Students Association (UCCSA), is a pivotal part of this endeavor. These interactions serve as a platform for meaningful conversations, where every voice is not only heard but also valued.

Building a Movement: Connecting Ideas, People, and Communities for a Just and Inclusive Future

Ms. Bertha Samponu, Coordinator at IMCS Asia Pacific, visited Vietnam from November 9-11, 2024, to meet with partners and networks as well as to lead some workshops for Vietnamese youth. The purpose of her visit was to inspire youth leaders and strengthen ties with stakeholders in the country.

During her trip, Ms. Samponu met with the Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY), providing her the chance to connect with various young individuals. She also conducted a workshop on Laudato Si for students at St. Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate (SJJS). Additionally, she met with Rev. Joseph Dao Nguyen Vu, a representative from the Bishop’s Conference of Vietnam, and engaged in a dialogue with Professor Do Manh Cuong and Sister Bernadette from Hong Bang International University.

This visit not only solidified IMCS Asia Pacific’s commitment to empowering young leaders but also enhanced collaboration with local and regional stakeholders. By connecting ideas, people, and communities, we take one step closer to creating a more just, peaceful, and inclusive future for all.

 

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