Signs of Mercy

On Tuesday 7th June 2016, the Adiapodoumé community paid a visit to the youth at the Abidjan correction and remand centre (ACRC). This visit, initiated by the superior of the community, Fr Sylvain Dansou SCJ, fell within the year of Mercy as the Holy Father, Pope Francis, wished.

By engaging Christians in the habit of Mercy, the intention of the Pope was to let us experience the love of God who consoles, who forgives and who gives hope. For us, Africans living in the Ivory Coast, the visit to the Youth at ACRC is a symbol.

Indeed, today the Ivory Coast faces an unprecedented security phenomenon, with adolescents from 10 to 16 years old on the front line. Sadly branded “microbes”, these youths sadly make themselves rulers of the streets in the Capital. Armed with weapons (machetes, knives, crowbars and other tools), they coldly attack residents without any qualms. Once put into remand, they nd themselves in prison without any real help from relatives. The state tries to compensate and save them from delinquency.

Conscious that these children also needed a second chance after their crimes, the Adiapodoumé Community, at the end of Lent 2016, felt the need to go and visit them in ACRC’s home so as to show them the warmth of our love and to tell them that everything is still possible despite the wrongs they may have done at their age. Is that not what this holy year is about? Doesn’t it involve experiencing deep within us the joy of having been found by Jesus, who, as the Good Shepherd, came to look for us because we were lost? For administrative, security and legal reasons, the whole community was not able to travel. So, it was down to a delegation of six members (Fr Sylvain Dansou S.C.J. and Fr Vincent Worou S.C.J., Brothers Yelouwassi Abib and Hippolyte Yomafou, aspirant novices Kouamé Emeric and N’Guetta Fulgence) that the visit could go ahead.

We were received by the Leaders in charge of the youth and were given the right to visit some places in order to immerse ourselves in penitentiary realities. Regardless of these realities which are a bit di cult for the youths (dinner at 4pm and being locked in dormitories from 4:30pm until 7am the following morning), we were able to observe good support from the State for these children. Courses in literacy, gardening, textiles, livestock farming and other forms of education are initiated by the State through Social Services in order to reform these youths with a view to a better reintegration into society. In turns, four members of the delegation were able to dispense some advice to these detained youths (76 in number, comprising 8 girls and 68 boys). Fr Sylvain youths to a make a kickstart. He let them know that nothing was lost to them and that we can all make mistakes but the important thing is that we realise it, have remorse, pick ourselves up and give our lives some meaning. Fr Vincent put some emphasis on the good fortune they have to still be young, so everything is still possible.

Brother Abib showed optimism in inviting the youth to cherish their freedom which is a gift from God and he therefore committed them to reclaiming this freedom as quickly as possible. But this happens through best behaviour during the observation period.

Brother Hippolyte, native to an unstable area of Abidjan like some of the detained, invited the youth to  fight to get themselves out of this situation as there is a champion within each of them.

This time of sharing and exchange drew to a close with the beautiful prayer, Our Father, with our hosts repeating it word for word after Fr Sylvain.

At the end of this visit, the delegation extended its heart, the heart of the whole Betharram family, through a tangible gesture as the Pope wanted - traditionally named ‘work of Mercy’ - by offering the fruit of our Lenten eort. This included clothes collected with the brothers of the Community, parishioners of St Bernard and friends of the Community, bags of rice, oil and sugar which were donated as gifts for the youth of ACRC.

Fr Sylvain promised other visits to the Centre’s leaders in his words of departure.

Hippolyte Yomafou scj