For someone who has never seen Rome, it is hard to believe how beautiful life can be

And it was the same to me, who stood life as an experience of cherishing every minute, It was a gifted opportunity, when I was selected along with few other participants to participate in the IYCS Global Training Session on “Educating Today and Tomorrow, Students Building a Safe Learning Environment” from 10th to 20th September 2018.

                We are actually a group of so many who got selected but we had to face lot of confusions and issues with our Visa Process on our Travel and finally we were only 4 representing India to attend, as you know it’s quite obvious we are in India, and the rest I don’t have to explain.

                We made all much to sacrifice and finally landed to Rome on a day after the start of the Program, better late than never, 11^th September landed in Rome, a dream finally come true, personally, many said, Europe quite an expensive, even the time I started, everything was expensive, and I had just 1000 rupees which is 10 Euros on the day I landed in Rome, but matters is the experience of seeing what western is! Mattered most.

                It was beautiful moment when landing up finally to get introduced to all other friends who had been travelling like me to participate in this session! So much so one Argentinean all the way travelled 4 countries to visit Rome, was a little awe struck in wonder! For me! As an Indian I was hearing al stories of travel like that, but for the 1^st time, experiencing it in real.

                We had a strong foothold for over 8 beautiful days, was like “stopping by the woods on a snowy evening” by Robert frost, so I would request I am consolidating all that happened under various headings! Join me along in this beautiful journey for a fortnight of heaven in real life.

Sessions:

1.       Global Reality of Education

Where it was the matter of serious importance, as we head to understand what is happening, on the Global Context of Education happening in Countries from the Testimonies and Presentations from Various Participants, which made us understand, the key research of drawbacks, the country is facing on education in General, many emphasis are being made but at some point of time, there is the art of making things in a standstill by many in the top management which makes the country still poor, poorer than what we think it is. As India is a country of diversity, we have so many indifferences, but still we can be sure we are making a progress which is not seen in real life, but it is.

2.       Global Citizenship Education and Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable Development Goals, a concept which I was quite amazed of, though I knew it bits and pieces, was quite satisfied is was able to get a clearer picture, we have 17 SD Goals and the prime focus of understanding was on the 4^th Quality Education. Understanding on Global Citizenship Education made me think that to really understand something is to be liberated from it. When learning and teaching continually improves, Education in Global Level is never an accident it is always the result of an intelligent effort. To see is to be with relation with people, working is when you are an active part, was the art which was imbibed on the workshop on SDG’s and the importance to understand the impact of the same, in different contexts of countries.

3.       Education as Human Right and Human Rights Education

This made me understand these aspects.

                                                               i.      Church needs to come to the People to Understand

                                                             ii.      Understanding the Role of Pope Benedictus who emphasized

1.       Solidarity education as a art of life

2.       Lack of solidarity for today world

                                                            iii.      Church admits the flavor of education as the human right but still needs to look into the teachers who hold the key.

4.       Education at the Service of Humanity

This made me understand these aspects.

1.       World is where you are and not somewhere else.

2.       Value of service matters today but still a dream to come out to life

3.       Practical knowledge is still a dream to many

4.       Evangelization system is the need of the hour

5.       Place based education- A trend that needs to be thought in India.

6.       Economy to serve for the common good

7.       We should change the world when they are powerful

8.       Peace is a gift of god but work of humans

9.       Education cannot be reduced to moral principles

5.       Youth Engagement and Advocacy

Understanding the 3 pillars of participation

1.       Wanting to?

2.       Being able to?

3.       Do it knowing how?

6.       Theological Reflections on Young People in Church Today and the 2018 Youth Synod

Was the session that I was more curious to participate, coz, Synod and the buzz around it that’s been happening over a period of time. Understanding more on the necessity and the importance of the intervention of Youth was a priority, and was much happy the Catholic Church is finally addressing!

7.       Personal Reflection

We also had to witness the words from which made us reflect on the key aspects of education in the biblical aspects, and on the messengers of education for the common good.

Others:

1.       Visit to the Parliament- was something special and also the participants we given an opportunity to observe a session in the Parliament which was a dream come true, coz Rome is History and I finally was convinced after seeing the parliament that it was not built in a day.

2.       Papal Audience- Where the golden moment of seeing our beloved Holy Father, was given to all our participants, which was a favorite moment that will go down in History until I lead in the Earth.

3.       Culture & Friends- It was a awe in wonder because of the difference the culture this training program has brought out, an extraordinary chance to meet friends And culture from 18 different countries was something special and the flavor it adds to myself, is not but “ Knowing Thyself”

Conclusion

It has been one life time journey that has made me to realize that life is a journey, and you got to cherish every minute, the value counts. We may have ups and downs and several struggles, but fall down 7 times get up 8. This world is still a dream to many, to realize, and we are born in this unjust society, and it is we who need to take up this cleaning system, for the good of many!

I am grateful to all who have supported me in this never ending journey and this is not the end but the beginning of a dream of a just society.

Joseph Kamal Francis
#rome #seejudgeact #catholicchurch #human #values #metime #culture