The enthusiasm for the World Youth Day, to be held on the 26th of this month in Panama, has spread throughout the world, without neglecting even the most distant and poor areas, such as Karamoja, a northern region of Uganda.

There, for more than 45 years, our organization has been working to bring sustainable and real development to the population, through well drilling, socio-educational projects and rural development projects. Among the many activities, the association manages in Moroto, the regional capital, in close collaboration with the local Church, an important youth center, named in memory of the founder Don Vittorio Pastori and where every afternoon 300 to 400 young people flock. Right in the youth center, the spiritual guide of the Movement, Fr Sandro De Angeli, will organize, as by tradition, the WYD event in parallel with that of Panama. The will is to give young Karamojong the opportunity to "participate" in this world gathering, promoting a moment of strong spirituality and reflection that will begin Tuesday, January 22nd and end Sunday 27th with the celebration of Holy Mass.

On Saturday, the boys representing the parishes of the seven districts of Karamoja will participate in a walking pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine of Lorengedwat.

Throughout the period of the "WYD in Karamoja" the youngsters will be hosted at the "Youth Center", where groups will be organized the in-depth study and theatrical representation of some significant moments in the life of the Madonna as the Annunciation, the visit to Elizabeth and the vigil under the cross of Jesus.

Young people will then be asked to read Pope Francis' message for WYD and, led by Fr Sandro, the young people will reflect and discuss the main themes of World Day.

«Bringing a message of sharing and hope, even in one of the most remote places in the South of the World, is a gesture of great importance - explains the director of Africa Mission Carlo Ruspantini - In the developing countries, in fact, the majority of the young population lives and the Church must continue to be an ambassador of a message of Solidarity, Brotherhood and Humanity, repudiating the rhetoric of the walls and barbed wire that seems to dominate the rich North». 

«But above all - continues Ruspantini - it is important that communication is two-way and that the voice of the young people of Africa, joyful and full of hope in the future, reaches their peers in the" north of the world ", to help them understand that bridges and not walls will guarantee men a more human and worthy life».