Young people attending the 12th edition of Genfest in Brazil will be able to reflect and act for a more regenerative economy
source: edc Brasil
The 12th Genfest will bring together 6,000 young people in Brazil from 12 to 24 July under the motto “Together to Care”. The event aims to be an immersive and practical journey for young people to learn about and deepen the culture of peace and solidarity. Its programme, divided into three stages, also includes opportunities for reflection and action for a new, more just, regenerative and fraternal economy, which will be able to count on the contribution of the Economy of Communion (EoC).
In Phase 1 (Social Action, from 12 to 18 July), young participants will volunteer in several social organisations in Latin America and the Caribbean. In Brazil, three of these organisations are supported by the Programma di superamento della vulnerabilità economica (Supera) - Programme for Overcoming Economic Vulnerability (Supera), promoted by the Economy of Communion. In 2023, Supera launched a specific call to prioritise initiatives that work with leadership and encourage social volunteering, based on socio-educational or socio-environmental actions that impact communities in vulnerable situations.
EoC-supported projects that will host young people are: Rifiuti Zero (Zero Waste), by the Scuola Santa Maria/SMF Nordeste, located in Igarassu (PE); the project AFAGO Sustainable, by the NGO AFAGO-SP, in the suburbs of São Paulo; and the project Life and Action in Building a Culture of Peace, by the NGO AFAGO-DF, in Brazilândia (DF).
In Phase 2 (Experience It Firsthand #Celebrate, from 19 to 21 July), the 6,000 young people will gather for a large festival in the city of Aparecida (SP). On this occasion, the Economy of Communion will be present in the arenas of dialogue with the participants, bringing important representatives of the New Economies, such as Luigino Bruni, economist, historian of economic thought, and scientific director of the event "The Economy of Francesco", among others. There will also be thematic workshops and ‘dialogue circles’ with young people on Poverty / Inequality, Work and Impact Business.
In Phase 3 of Genfest (United World Community, from 21 to 24 July), young participants will be invited to share their talents and passions in Pathways Communities. The main idea is to form a network of collaborators they can count on when they return to their countries and regions. In this phase, the Economy of Communion will hold the Economy and Work Community on 22 and 23 July in Aparecida, offering practical workshops, real cases, sensory experiences, presentations and dialogues on poverty, work and enterprise. It will be a perfect opportunity to explore new ways of thinking and doing economy, especially in the entrepreneurial and social fields.
A special highlight of the day will be the Dialogue on Impact Economy with business leaders of the Economy of Communion, such as Camila Catelán of
M2G2 Patrimonial, and leaders representing movements for new economies.
For more information on Genfest and to register for the different phases, just visit the website: www.genfest.org.
Also worth following are social networks @genfest.offcial
