King's hosts virtual workshop on just recovery

The King’s Development and Peace Group facilitated a virtual workshop on Just Recovery, for high school youth in Southwestern Ontario on Friday, October 30, 2020.

120 participants, including just over 100 high school students as well as teachers, and chaplains from Hamilton, St. Catharines, and the London Diocese, took part in the workshop, which  focused on Just Recovery, both in the Global South and here in the Canadian context.

The workshop was held in conjunction with Rebecca Rathbone, Southwestern Ontario Animator for Development ant Peace – Caritas Canada.

Students learned about Just Recovery and the ways they can participate in, and advocate for it. They also got a strong sense of the community and how people with a common vision are working together to create a better world. Just Recovery is a recovery oriented towards justice for all following the principals of Catholic Social Teaching which focus on the dignity of the human person, the common good, care of creation, and subsidiarity. A just recovery will put people and creation first.

The half-hour workshop included a 15-minute presentation on the principles of Just Recovery (what does that mean, what does that look like and how do we participate in that). The King’s Development and Peace Group primarily facilitated small breakout groups focusing on the following questions:

• What can we do in our wider community to ensure a just recovery from this pandemic for all, especially those in the Global South?
• What we can do in our schools to ensure a just recovery from this pandemic for all, especially those in the Global South?
• What will you commit to doing in your personal/family life to ensure a just recovery from this pandemic for all?

After these breakout sessions, the participants returned to the larger group to share key ideas, a section also facilitated by the students.

The participants spoke of the way social media can be used for good. Students were encouraged to post a photo of something they felt was symbolic of Just Recovery, as well as success stories, questions, and thoughts on Just Recovery, on the workshop’s private Facebook page. The King’s Development and Peace group will be managing this page, sharing resources, ideas and words of encouragement while keeping students connected.

The virtual workshop also included the campaign prayer by Pope Francis, a land acknowledgment that was led by one of the participating schools, icebreaker games and a KAHOOT, an online quiz organized by our students. A word cloud showing key thoughts about Just Recovery was made.

Annette Donovan Panchaud, Campus Minister for King’s Campus Ministry, says the Development and Peace Group was surprised by the number of participants and are anticipating another workshop, to be held in January, for students unable to participate this time.