Mathieu Bere is an African Jesuit from the West African nation of Burkina Faso in the Jesuit province of West Africa. Born in Koupela, about 150 kilometers outside of the capital city of Ouagadougou, Bere, as he is popularly known, is the first born of his family with three sisters and three brothers.

Bere, began his journey as a Jesuit after leaving the minor seminary school in 1998 to begin his Novitiate in Boufoussam, Cameroon. From 2000 to 2003, he completed his studies in Philosophy at Faculte de Philosophie St Pierre Canisius in Kinshasa, Congo with a major in Political Philosophy. After his studies in Kinshasa, he spent the next two years in Chad where he taught Philosophy and worked as a part-time chaplain at the Centre Catholique Universitaire in N’Djamena.

After leaving Chad in 2005, he completed a B.A in Theology at Hekima College in Nairobi, Kenya where he was a member of the Hekima Peace Forum. At Hekima he was on the organizing committee of the conference, Ethnicity, Conflict and the Future of African States, which yielded a book of the same title which was published in 2009 in Nairobi.

Well educated and well traveled, Bere has also worked as an intern with the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), once in Eastern Chad in 2004 and in Kampala, Uganda in 2006. His publications over the years have included: Le risque de la démocratie (The Risk of Democracy), in Afrique d'Espérance, February - May 2003; Pour une société internationale juste et stable (Advocacy for a Fair and Stable International Society), in Raison Ardente, June 2003; and A World Without Poverty: A Challenging Utopia for Christian Faith. Hekima Review, October 2007.

Bere, is an avid athlete and holds a green belt in Shotokan Karate. He is an accomplished chess player and in his short time in Canada has become quite a hockey fan. He describes himself as in all things a Jesuit and a man who is highly interested in questions of governance, peace and development in Africa and the developing world as a whole.

In the fall of 2009, he began his Masters in Thelogy at Regis College, University of Toronto, with a focus on Political Theology and Social Ethics. Bere is currently hosted at the Ignatius House of the Regis College Jesuit Community here in Toronto.

From your experience so far, how do you think Canada can contribute to greater justice and peace in Africa? I think that Canada in general is trying to keep some ethical standards in its relations with the developing world. Canadian civil society is for instance is very active in advocacy work in favor of Africa. There are a variety of initiatives to challenge Canadian companies that operate abroad on a number of issues. This advocacy work is very important and should be encouraged. However, there is also a need for direct cooperation between individuals and groups from Canada and groups in Africa. This cooperation could take the form of cultural exchange, financial support for income-generating projects and education, etc.

What role do you think CJI and other like organizations can play in building links of solidarity between Africa and Canada? CJI and other like organizations could help a lot by keeping Africa present in the minds of people in Canada and telling them the truth about this continent and what is really happening there. Beyond financial assistance, which is necessary but not enough, I think African countries need to be respected, valued, and encouraged. CJI and other such organizations can help to bring forward those voices that are often absent from the global discourse.

How do you think you can contribute to building these links of solidarity as an African Jesuit while you are here in Canada? My greatest contribution will be to tell another story about Africa that gives hope and encourage Canadians to be hopeful that this continent can do better. Having been in touch with refugees from the Darfur region and from the Great Lakes region, with street children in Yaoundé (Cameroon), and with people in slums like Kibera in Nairobi (Kenya) or in Burkina Faso, I can tell this story to Canadians and suggest how they could contribute to make a difference.

What message do you have for Canadians about Africa? My message for Canadians about Africa is that African countries, despite the great challenges that they are facing now, can do better with the support of each one of you. If Africa, with its immense natural and mineral resources, is doing better, the whole world will benefit, as this contributes to the international economy, regional political stability and peace.