Participants of the JUST Change Advocacy Symposium stand in front of the Parliament Building in Ottawa.
(Photo: CJI)
Canadian Jesuits International brought together secondary and postsecondary students from across Canada from February 9 to 11, to learn about the deep connections between faith, justice and advocacy. Students from various Jesuit and other Catholic schools attended the event at St. Paul’s University in Ottawa.
The symposium helped students understand the importance of advocacy as a tool for change by learning about campaigns in Canada and the experiences of marginalized people in the Global South. They also learned how to engage their political representatives.
Key resource people included Fr Stanislaus Jebamalai SJ, Coordinator of Lok Manch, who shared key principles and meaning of Ignatian advocacy; Jamie Kneen from MiningWatch Canada, who spoke of the Ombudsperson advocacy campaign; and Leah Gazan, MP for Winnipeg Centre, who presented the campaign for the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
Participants also met with the staff of Members of Parliament and asked questions on immigration, refugees, poverty, the environment and Indigenous rights.
The JUST Change Symposium has made an impact on participating students and momentum has been created to equip and shape the next generation of leaders in creating a better world.
To learn more about the symposium, please click here.
