“Our contribution as Church shall consist, first of all, in educating consciences for responsible action in the cause of peace” (1).
“In fact, if we do not exercise capable influence on the man and woman of today, we run a great risk of seeing whatever we build collapsing like a house built on sand” (2).
The New Evangelization can become a reality through new approaches and proper action, aimed at instilling a Christian mentality in our surroundings. We are called upon to uproot from the minds of our young (and not so young) brethren the feelings of hatred and exclusion, thus leading to real love. Such is the education we indispensably need for a New Evangelization.
But what is education? It is a permanent process of control and development of the human being in all the aspects of life: physical, biological, sociological, spiritual and moral. Thus it goes beyond the mere transmission of knowledge: it influences behaviour and attitude, the skill of being and knowing. In other words, the purpose of traditional education was the forming of personality with a certain number of values, such as solidarity, life, and above all, the family. Although this system had its shortcomings and difficulties, it was useful, particularly for the link it provided between knowledge and life in practice, education and the values of a social group.
Unfortunately, the social crisis which has shaken our continent in general and our country in particular has not spared the institution of the family. The result is that the family has given up its noble mission of education and left it entirely in the hands of the school: an impossible substitute. Thus the current moral crisis, arising mostly from an attitude of forgetting, or being indifferent towards such values as identify the human personality. Neglecting an ethical approach we have reached the stage of “letting go” in all matters of behaviour, thus resulting in social disorder. We assert, without hesitation, that what is at stake today is: what values should form and condition the face of humanity.
At a time of new Evangelization, the Church should plan an integrated education, starting with the material, cultural, and spiritual condition of her own members. It would therefore be necessary to train suitable persons in the skills required for ensuring this advancement of humanity. But who are these education experts, and what result would they produce? 
Such questions compel us to describe the qualities necessary for such an educator, a responsible African and Burundian who would have the skill to re-establish a society living in harmony.

1. Towards whom is this education in values aimed?
The crisis we are passing through is no accident. It is rather the result of an ever growing decay in moral norms and an obscuring of the moral conscience. This places on us all, in varying degrees, the responsibility for the downgrading of behaviour. Hence the scheme for education in values should reach all categories of people. To work efficiently towards the renewal of society we have to start by redeeming the human person. 
The Church, as the first institution entrusted with the education of peoples, is to reach out towards the conversion of all her members. There is an advantage in the fact that both men and women in our society are yearning for an atmosphere of harmony, and the majority of them are ready to commit themselves towards the re-building of society. It would therefore be sufficient to start by making use of this disposition, and training leaders capable of working towards the advancement of others in all circles of society. All institutions should keep their eyes open on the moral state of their members and act, in their respective surroundings, as “the salt of the earth” whenever needed. 

2. Who has the leading role in the education in values?
The mission of the present-day educator consists of imitating Christ, who came down from heaven to serve man. A real educator should definitely be at the service of humanity. It would therefore be necessary to re-define the purposes of education to fit such a mission. John Paul II has given the basic points: “Besides good teaching, teachers and educators should dedicate themselves to imparting such moral and spiritual values as are necessary for the existence of humanity, being themselves witnesses to Christ” (3).
The educator should thus know the main challenges facing him today, which belong to varied categories: economic, political, cultural, scientific and technical, and also religious. It follows that the Christian educator should be a prophet in the full sense of the word. He must be a spokesman for God with his people, and share with them all the ups and downs they may be facing at any time. He must be ready to live through the fortunes of his people, understanding their aspirations and hopes. In other words, the meaning of “educational prophecy” is the capacity of understanding the present moment and interpreting the crises we are living through, in the light of the presence of God and the criteria of the Gospel. 
In such manner, fortified by the renewing strength of the Spirit, the educator will be ready to face the different ways and options for such changes as bring hope. On the other hand, the greatness and nobility of this educative mission in the light of the New Evangelization cannot remain the monopoly of the privileged few. It should rather be an active combined effort on the part of Church institutions such as the family, the schools, and Catholic Action Movements, all under constant supervision by the pastors of the Church.
We shall now be giving a glance at these agents of education and their respective roles.

* The family and its basic role in education
John Paul II describes the family as “the first basic structure for a human environment. It is in the family that one receives the very first basic ideas on what is true and what is good, learns the meaning of loving and being loved, and hence, the real concept of being a person” (4). Note that the Holy Father is always preoccupied with the well-being of the family. It was with this thought in mind that he addressed the bishops of Burundi in these terms: “Be the promoters of pastoral activity with the family in all its aspects: this objective should be given priority and followed up patiently together with all those entrusted with pastoral action” (5).
It is in fact thanks to the institution of the family that a human being becomes a human person. The family remains the natural source from which youth receives its education and human formation. But then it is through education that young people realize their calling and their spiritual development is systemized. Unfortunately, the family is nowadays the target for many attacks directed by a perverted modernity which corrupts social relations, and the spread of false values which lead to the culture of death. In a few words, the family in Burundi and all over Africa is facing many problems which weaken, and perhaps even paralyse, its role in education and evangelization. 
And what is the specific role of the family in evangelization?
First of all, the love which is lived day by day by husband and wife is a reflection of God’s unfailing love towards humanity. Moreover, the Christian family has an important role in evangelisation. Parents pass on their faith through their married life and their professional life, in both of which they are witnesses to the Gospel. It is from this point that various expressions arise which are descriptive of the family, such as “domestic church”, “church in miniature”, “sanctuary of the Church”, “prime missionary unity”. The numerous problems facing the family should not be allowed to result in an irrevocable attitude of “let them perish” on the part of Christians. Christian families should be enlightened, by Christian morality, as to how they should react according to current needs. Moreover, in an age which excludes various categories of persons for one reason or another, the family has a calling to rebuild the social structure, particularly by re-introducing the value of brotherhood.
In fact, love constitutes an indispensable climate and condition for the education and development of members of the family. “It is in the heart of a family where love and unity prevail that young people learn the values which are essential to Christian behaviour. And parents, with their way of life enlightened by the Gospel, pass on the significance of faith to their children, and start them on the road of life enlightened by human and Christian values. It is thus that the family can build up the citizens of today, as living witnesses of evangelical charity” (6). It is by following this inspiration that the family will always remain the nursery of religious vocations and vocations to the priesthood, as the Pope said at Songa: “Religious vocations and vocations to the priesthood more often than not know their origin to the life of faith, hope, and charity of the domestic church, which is the family, well integrated into the large community which is the Church… The future priest needs suitable surroundings and most of all a suitable family environment in order to become conscious of his vocation, and act in response to it” (7).
In a few words, the family has an insistent calling from Christ to “Be my witnesses”. The family, by its testimony, becomes a sign and instrument of intimate union with God and of unity in all humanity (8). In this way “the family will be achieving its essential purpose: that of communicating life, bringing up, and preparing persons to reach their full aim” (9).
However, notwithstanding its indispensable role in education, the family cannot fulfil all that is needed in such a task, unaided.

* The school that evangelizes and forms a “new man”
School educators hear families, society as a whole, and the Church telling them as the daughter of Pharaoh told the mother of Moses: “Take our children and educate them for us”.
But what type of man does Africa need today? This question must be continually present in the mind and heart of the educator in order to reach a suitable point of reference for his mission. There are many teachers among us who are taking part in this forum. We feel that we have a fundamental role in our society: that of preparing the new man worthy of “a new heaven and a new earth”. This is the purpose which the New Evangelization intends fulfilling.
In the words of St. John Chrysostom, your responsibility implies two rules: “Day by day, keep the young people carefully under your eyes” and “Educate Christ’s athletes”. By being faithful to this responsibility, you shall be fulfilling one of the essential missions of the Church, as mother and educator. Do your best, therefore, so that the education of young people will serve for the building up of the whole person, and of every person. While teaching sciences, you are called upon at the same time to give each one the opportunity of building up his or her personality, together with a spiritual and moral life.
It follows that the school should be, both for educators and for pupils, a place with a warm atmosphere, a large educative family where every young person has a place as such, and is shown due respect, apart from his or her intellectual capability. Good quality teaching is indispensable, but educators should also commit themselves to communicating moral and spiritual values, being themselves witnesses of Christ, the fountain and source of all life. It is this integrated education which leads to development and advancement of the human person and of whole peoples. It is the way that leads to solidarity and brotherly understanding.
Thus, our pupils will learn how to discover the real meaning of life so as to persevere in hope. These days, more than ever, the world needs your support and care in order to cope with the challenges facing it at the start of this third millennium. Yet it will not be possible to carry out this task efficiently without living deeply in the light of the Gospel. If a school is willing to answer the call for a New Evangelization, those responsible for running it should check their actions, day by day, in the light of the Gospel, and remain always faithful to their vocation.

With self-education youth become the morning watch
Never tell young people that they are the future of the Church. This would be an insult, as it relegates their presence and their action to a distant future. It would also be a grave sin against truth: “young people form part of the Church as it is today” (11). Faced as we are with countless needs and problems in our region, we have to rely on your natural generosity. You have a model for your conduct in John 6,1-13: the apostles worrying at the enormous crowd they had to feed. Just as they were on the point of giving up, and sending the people to town to buy food, Jesus asks them to make an effort and feed the crowd themselves.
A boy interrupts the conversation to offer his five loaves and two fishes. An insignificant offering, given the size of the crowd. But in the eyes of the Lord it is a gesture of rare generosity, and he uses it as a starting point to feed the crowd. 
Here is an example of an important duty to be performed by our young people. They are to become like the boy in the Gospel: generous leaders for the changes needed in our society through evangelization. To reach this aim you have to be conscious of your own riches: the gifts of enthusiasm, courage and love which God has given you and which you are to use for the benefit of others. Faced with the extensive work to be performed to help our society out of the present multiple crises, you should, like Christ, have faith in the future, even if you do not know how it is going to develop. 
Do not be afraid; do not hesitate to commit your lives to peace, freedom, justice, truth, tolerance, solidarity and other values worthy of Christians, because the Lord is with you. Break away from all mediocrity; dedicate yourselves to the ideals which ennoble you. Beware of crying over your insignificance and giving way to despair. You might object to the effect that you do not carry enough weight to broadcast, far and wide, the Good News of salvation. However, in a spirit of shared responsibility with your colleagues in the various associations and movements of which you form part, you can be the salt of your small community and surroundings.
Be conscious of what you are, not to exclude one another, but to enrich and complement one anotherís qualities. In this way you will be able to bring back to the world the joy of living universal brotherhood, and being capable of hastening the arrival of a climate of justice and peace. You shall discover that this is a heartening mission, even if it is delicate and burdened with great responsibility.
In these strange and troubles times we are living through, be aware of the fact that the world expects much from you, in eliminating hatred and building up a civilization of love. We are confident in your determination and commitment to save present-day humanity. In all things remember that Jesus is the only way and light in which to place your trust. Guard this light well, and do not let it be extinguished.
Basing your spirit on the Good News of the Gospel, you shall yourselves be the light and salt of the earth.

Notes
1. ACEAC, Extraordinary Plenary Assembly, Kigali, 13-18 May 2002, “Rechechons donc ce qui contribue à la paix”. Introductory dossier, Kinshasa, 2002, p. 15
2. cf. ibidem
3. Address by John Paul II at the XIV World Congress of OIEC in Rome, 1994
4. John Paul II, Centesimus annus n. 39
5. John Paul II, Meeting with the Bishops of Burundi
6. cf. John Paul II, “Mary Queen of Peace”, homily in the Mauritius Islands, 1995.
7. John Paul II, homily at Songa, September th 1990
8. cf Gaudium et Spes 42
9. J. Maritain, “Man’s Rights” p. 60
10. John Paul II, Address to the participants in the international meeting of catholic teaching
11. Kubler Michel, Youths in the new millennium “La croix” n. 362780 of 19/7/02

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II African Continental Meeting
YOU WILL BE MY WITNESS IN AFRICA. Reality and prospects for the laypeople’s formation. The contribution of Catholic Action/2 – Bujumbura, August 21st/25th 2002