KENYA: Catholic Actors on Education to Showcase Contribution of the Church in Promoting SDGs
Bakhita Partnership for Education. Credit; Courtesy photo
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
As the world looks forward to the 2023 United Nation Sustainable Development Goal (UN SDG) summit slated for 18-19 September, an independently governed faith-based partnership of some Catholic Church actors in the field of education will have a side event to showcase the contribution of the Catholic Church in promoting the SDGs, an official in the partnership has said.
Announcing the participation of Bakhita Partnership for Education in the upcoming summit, the chairman of the partnership Fr. Charles Chilufya said in a statement shared with AMECEA Online, “We are thrilled to announce our involvement in the UN SDG Summit 2023…. This summit provides a crucial opportunity for us to prioritize and elevate the narratives, experiences, and insights of girls from underserved and marginalized communities from across Africa.”
Bakhita Partnership for Education (BPE) was created in October 2020 as an independently governed faith-based partnership aimed to improve access and quality of education for girls in Africa. It supports gender responsive and transformative education and currently has pilot programs in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia.
According to Fr. Chilufya a member of the Order of the Society of Jesus (SJ), the side event will focus on SDG number four that addresses quality education, and will emphasize the instrumental role that Catholic education plays in driving progress towards the SDGs, particularly in the African continent, as some girls who will share their journey in person and online at the event.
“Our side event will highlight the power of education rooted in Catholic values to transform societies and uplift communities. Through our work, we have witnessed first-hand the positive impact that access to quality education can have on individuals and their communities,” Fr. Chilufya noted in the statement dated Tuesday, September 11.
The partnership that is supported by Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has a collaboration team from the Jesuit Justice and Ecology Network Africa (JENA), the Association of Religious of Uganda (ARU), the Association of Sisterhoods of Kenya (AOSK), and the Zambia Association of Sisterhoods (ZAS).
The Zambian cleric acknowledged the work of the Catholic sisters who are fully involved in education of girl child and their holistic upbringing.
“We seek to recognize and appreciate the work of the Catholic Religious sisters in promoting girls’ education and gender-responsive, transformative education,” Fr. Chilufya revealed and narrated, “These dedicated women serve not just as educators but also as advocates, delivering accessible education to girls, particularly in marginalized communities. Their commitment extends beyond academic instruction, focusing on a holistic model of development that encompasses spiritual, moral, and social growth. In this way, they leave a transformative impact on their students and society at large.”
The SDG Summit that will mark the mid-point of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, is expected to bring together political and thought leaders from governments, international organizations, private sector, civil society, women and youth and other stakeholders in a series of high-level meetings.
Fr. Chilufya has encouraged all participants of the UN SDG Summit 2023 to attend the Bakhita Partnership for Education’s side event to learn about the organization’s initiatives and explore opportunities for collaboration saying, “We believe that by harnessing the strength of partnerships and embracing the right educational tools and strategies, we can truly make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities across Africa.”
