Joy and commitment are the sentiments that most characterised the 2nd EoC Pan-African Congress, which closed at the Mariapolis Piero on its 31st anniversary, with a big celebration shared
by Steve Azeumo
From 27 to 29 May, the second Pan-African Congress of the Economy of Communion was held in Nairobi, Kenya. It brought together 90 participants, mostly young entrepreneurs, researchers and students from 17 countries, but also saw the participation of numerous people online (via Zoom and Youtube Live) from other continents.
A congress full of colors, characterized by a strong African footprint for Africa, with the aim of marking a step ahead towards the expression of the values of the companies of the young African continent.
Through a very rich programme, the participants had the immense joy of discovering the remarkable steps that have already been taken, an expression of the journey of the economy of communion in Africa. Steps that have been taking shape more and more over the years, particularly since 2011. The experiences of the first and then second generation entrepreneurs have only amplified the practical characteristics of the EoC as a way of life and a vocation.
During these three days of congress, the participants learned from each other, through exchanges of experiences, good practices in an atmosphere of great trust and deep listening between all.
The training modules covering all afternoons focused on creativity, budgeting, business model communion and communication. We have understood that even if, not 
everyone can count on years of experience, each of us has a creative potential, to which we can appeal to try to solve the problems of society, starting from our communities. It was also a question of giving concrete tools for transparent financial and forecast management that helps to ensure the profitability of a company / project and to highlight the impact of communion in order to reduce poverty.
The celebration of the 31st anniversary of the EoC was even more illustrative, because it allowed the participants to make a commitment firstly individual, hand on heart by repeating with one voice the expressions: "I can do it, I must do it, I will do it", then collectively, connecting this hand on the heart to another hand to bind to the other, the brother, the sister; this is to mark the spirit of communion, of community through these other expressions: "We can do it; We must do it; We will do it", as to express their commitment to respect the principles and values of the economy of communion in their businesses/income-generating activities; and in their work without ever excluding or leaving a poor person aside.
Among other highlights of this congress, we note the desire of the participants to see the incubators of the economy of communion, of the Economy of Communion International Incubating Network EoC-IIN, expand in several countries; with the possibility of supporting incubated projects through different types of mechanism.
This congress coming to an end, creates the opportunity for a multiplication of several other meetings locally in the different countries present and the birth of the contact points of the incubators in several other countries in addition to the four incubators already present in Cameroon, Congo, Uganda, Benin.
See the Photogallery on Flickr
You can watch the streamed parts of the conference again by accessing the full Playlist ➡️ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_1EPGbxVVil5aSQ9GviibSLtw_swBEwk
