General Office for JPIC Joined Interfaith Youth Forum in Nairobi, Kenya

From 18-19 September 2026, General Office for JPIC OFM in Rome, Br. Daniel Rodriguez Blanco OFM and Br. Taucen Girsang OFM, Director and Vice-director, attended an event of Interfaith Dialogue for Peace and Renewable Energy in Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya. Their presence was a part of the JPIC Office’s commitment to collaborate with University, JPIC Franciscans Africa, Franciscan Family Association, Franciscan Network for Peacebuilding and Environmental Justice in East Africa, and Laudato Si Africa movement. 

The event was organized by Sr. Mary Wangari Sebastian, LSSJ, Director of JPIC Franciscan Africa, and was attended by more than 300 participants from around Nairobi, included Br. Francis Mbuvi OFM, local JPIC animators. The theme was “Young People Building a World of Peace and Justice for Our Common Home for Future Generations.” Different representatives from various religions and NGOs came together in the spirit of unity in diversity to demonstrate their commitment to environmental justice, renewable energy, and peacebuilding.

There was an opportunity to meet with the incoming Vice Chancellor of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Very Rev. Prof. Elias Omondi Opongo, SJ. During our meeting, we spoke about collaboration between the Franciscan Network and the University on activities related to caring for our common home, for example, creating a Laudato Si’ garden and planting trees. At the same time, we visited our partner, the Center for Justice and Ethics, to discuss running a project to help people, named the Laudato Si’ Center.

A March for Peace and Renewable Energy

Together with the other participants, Br. Daniel and Br. Taucen joined the march for climate justice, peace, and renewable energy. The more than 300 participants carried slogans and pamphlets to raise their voices and demand climate justice, peace, and renewable energy. The march started at Nairobi Animal Orphanage. It took two hours to arrive at the Catholic University of eastern Africa for the subsequent presentations. The young people read their declaration to the press, calling for a complete transition to green energy.

At the Langata formation house, we had the opportunity to meet and dialogue with young friars studying at Tangaza University College. It was a great opportunity to introduce the tasks and duty of the General Office for JPIC to the students. At the same time, it was a chance to invite the friars to deepen their awareness of and involvement in JPIC. Working for JPIC is always an open invitation, and there are many things that we, as Franciscan friars, can do by recognizing that JPIC is a lifestyle, our witness, and our mission.