“BeDoCare” Conference Started in Rome Arrives in Kenya with Focus to Move “beyond aid and paternalism”

She explained that the initiative was born in view of the centenary of Opus Dei in 2028, inspired by the message of the founder, St. Josemaría Escrivá: to live faith in daily life and to turn work, education, and social commitment into service for the common good.

In BeDoCare, ‘Be’ stands for “start with purpose”, ‘Do’ stands for “act with meaning”, while ‘Care’ stands for “culminate in authentic care for others.”

BeDoCare suggests that true change comes from being intentional, acting responsibly, and genuinely caring for people and society.  

Highlighting the importance of the envisioned Nairobi event, Miranda said, “It will be a special moment to bring together people from Africa and beyond around youth, education, work, dignity, and sustainable development.”

Themes for the event have been structured around youth unemployment that, according to organizers, “is one of Africa’s most urgent challenges.” Other themes include inclusive education systems, environmental sustainability, infrastructure development, as well as rethinking international partnerships.

More in Africa

Missionary Congregation Joins Call for Prayers for 265 Children still Held after Nigerian School Abductions

Read the article

On reinventing partnerships, BeDoCare proposes “moving beyond aid and paternalism to models of cooperation that respect dignity, culture, and aspirations of African communities.”  

Among speakers selected for the conference is Archbishop Anthony Muheria of Kenya’s Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri, a member of Opus Dei.

On day one of the conference, participants will engage on the topics “Africa in 50 years: Challenges and Opportunities”, “Telling the African Story” and “Nurturing a Culture of Translating Research into Impactful Policies”.

There will also be education-themed workshops on the first day of the conference. One of the envisioned workshops on this day is titled, “Overcoming Educational Barriers in Low-Income Communities”. 

The theme for the second day of the conference is “Work”. Some of the topics planned include “How Companies Can Improve Competitiveness”, “Future of Work, “Shaping Leaders for the Evolving Job Market” and “Bridging Skill Gaps for Employment”.

According to organizers, the Nairobi Agenda has been shaped directly by African partners, ensuring that local voices define priorities and guide the way forward.  

The highlight of the final day of the conference is the launch of The BeDoCare Hub.

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.