Father Simon Asira is the Provincial Superior of Don Bosco Eastern Africa. He inaugurated the first session of the Nairobi International Meeting. Fr. Simon focused during his intervention on the benefits of travelling: “Travelling lets the possibility to see many things”. And in a more informal tone he shared some fun proverbs that made all those present smile: “One who never travels will always marry in the neighbourhood”. The SAAM team had the pleasure to interview him after his intervention during the meeting:
Fr. Simon, how would you describe the mission of DBTA?
The work of Don Bosco regarding education is helping young people to become useful members of the society. In Don Bosco we prepare young people to become good Christians and honest citizens by providing them skills so that they are able to get a job.
DBTA is assisting in this aspect, which links us with partners from Africa itself but also from Europe whose work is also giving skills to young people. So, I find DBTA a very useful instrument for young people here in Africa and Madagascar.
How would SAAM fit there and what was your first impression when you heard about the project?
Young people are eager to go beyond themselves, to go beyond what they know, so those who are from Nairobi they don’t want to stay just in Nairobi or they don’t want only to remain attached to people from Nairobi, but they want to know something beyond Nairobi, beyond Kenya. They want to know what other young people are doing in Uganda, in Sudan and even in Europe, in Latin America and in other parts of the world. So, I find SAAM a tool to respond to the desires of young people. Wherever I go, visiting the communities, young people are always asking me when can we create a kind of inter-community exchange so they can go and meet new friends and see what other people are doing. I find that SAAM, which is supporting these mobilities, is a response to the yearning of young people.
Do you think it is a good example of how the African Union and the European Union can work together to promote the mobility of students and young people in general?
For sure. I think that it is a very beautiful example. Also, because sometimes young people in Africa think that in Europe there is everything, so they have this dream of going to Europe or going to America. But when they go there, they find out that there are also young people in Europe who are jobless. On the other hand, in other parts of Europe they think that Africa is all problems, all hunger, all luck of peace, and when they come, they find out that people are living in tranquillity, there is happiness and joy. So, I think SAAM is a very fine opportunity for young people to come to see how other young people live and to appreciate one another.
Finally, besides all the difficulties we had because of the pandemic, how do you find this event?
This event is charismatic, is prophetic in the sense that many other organisations are suspending their meetings because of the fear of COVID. I find this event very prophetic because despite the fact that there is fear all over the world, yet we can exercise caution, we can exercise care, but at the same time we are able to meet and exchange. So, I want to say congratulations.
