By Mr. Alwin Ingua

Legazpi, Philippines, 12 October 2020 -- Economy of Francesco is a global gathering of young people, entrepreneurs, and economists. It was called for by Pope Francis in 2019 inspired by an ideal of fraternity attentive above all to the poor and excluded. Reimagining Development: Youth Perspectives for a Better World is one of the initiative towards Pope Francis' goal, organized by three organizations: EcoJesuit, Don Bosco Green Alliance and Living Laudato Si Philippines. Some 36 young adults took part in this initiative.

The ‘Reimagining Development: Youth Perspectives for a Better World’, unfolded in three online sessions: August 28 (Setting the Context), September 11 (Digging deeper) and September 25 (Weaving a Common Thread). From the EAO Region Ms September Kelokelo (PGS) and Mr Alvin Ingua (FIN) took part.

In the first series of virtual dialogues, my attention was drawn to the talk by Dr. Iyad Abumoghli pertaining to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the role of the Youth: “Younger Generation will bear the Financial Burden of Future Economy!” Like others in the webinar I took part in order to understand the power of young people in making a change to help the economy by not sacrificing the environment, but rather by caring for it and improving it. According to surveys, schools have the highest role in the development of the economy and the environment. As a staff of Don Bosco Legazpi we truly share our knowledge and passion to help the poor youth and their families in the rural area of Bicol towards social transformation. On this journey we experience the impact of Salesian education with holistic vocational skills training and agriculturally-sustained technical know-how.

The second session was dedicated to group sharing: I’ve learned as a young entrepreneur, that we should start in small things to structure our economy to be friendly, collaborative, faith-based advocacy and address political involvement. Solidarity was emphasized in the group sharing, to design a common vision, to impart the best practices that may contribute to improve the education, not only for the young people but also for their families and local society. At the end of our sharing, I realized that common exchange from different perspective, values, faith, cultures creates some solutions to climate change and address some challenges to care and help our common home.

The third and last session ‘Weaving a common thread’ was a good opportunity to take away some convictions of moving towards the 'Economy of Francesco'. In this session I felt challenged by the paradigm that young people should become the protagonist of change. I have learned the importance of exclusivity and solidarity as principles of what we want to build, an economy for the next generation because everything is connected. The beauty of interconnecting different ideas, facts, practices can be our guiding post to build a community that builds our common home and help the marginalized-poor youth and their families.

Think Global and Act Local: I’m happy and blessed that I took part in this experience to represent the EAO Region: “Creating a better world starts within the locality, then through the networking in one country may spread around the world for the common good of all, caring about our common home. "The part is as important as the whole.”

Mr. Alwin Ingua is a licensed Electrical Engineer, presently works as a TVET trainer, Student Affairs Coordinator and School Internal Affairs / Quality Management System coordinator in Don Bosco Agro- Mechanical Technology Center, Legazpi City, Albay. Also, a Board Member of Don Bosco Multi-Purpose Cooperative- Legazpi; Head Animator of Bosconian Young Farmers Club on Agri- Entrepreneurial Youth Development-Legazpi and Organizer

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