Effective Living Workshop
2015 ended with a 3-day ‘Effective Living’ workshop for 55 young people from St. John’s Catholic Parish, Subukia in Nakuru County, Kenya. Between the 28th – 31st December, the ‘Kenya I care’ team moderated the workshop where speakers shared and trained on topics such as Relationships, Personal Values, Nutrition, Health Matters, Vocations, Soul Nurture, Family Life, Life Skills, and Social Responsibility, with exercises that helped participants to gain skills to reflect on in their personal lives.
The Catholic church in Kenya has been trying to win the youth back as its numbers have drastically dropped compared to a few years back. Youth participation in church activities is minimal while other social activities enjoy a gain in numbers. The clergy therefore feel obliged to encourage youth participation through an activity that would realize an improvement of youth participation in church activities.
Their efforts therefore, supplemented by a workshop where these young people could interact and share stories brought turning points and life changing moments for many. “It’s rare for youth to find time to reflect on their lives in today’s world of numerous social platforms where information and communication is faster and affordable. There are challenges in our societies and in families that need every individual’s contribution in order to create better relationships and communities,” expressed Fr. Migwi.
This workshop was aimed at creating awareness for precisely that and teaching the importance of story sharing and introspection, where an individual will find their purpose and live more meaningfully.
After numerous moments of soul nurture and reflections, participants had the courage to share from their experiences. Abigail, a university student pursuing Arts shared; “I am thankful to my parents for bringing me to this workshop. I did not know what to expect but I have learnt so much. I never practised inner listening with this seriousness but now I feel reborn and I know what I need to put right in my own life.”
“Today I feel guilty for my incompetence at work. I always pretend to be working hard and I end up not doing what I am supposed to do. As a teacher I realize that my behaviour and disciplines directly or indirectly affect the school and 2016 will be my year with a change,” shared Peter.
The 3-day workshop was a reconfirmation of a saying from Socrates, namely, "The unexamined life is not worth living."
In April, this team of 55 will meet again for a one-day follow-up meeting which will lead to another 3-day workshop for a different group.
Report by Mike Muikia
Images by John Njoroge