From Resilience to Reintegration: Jesuit Institutions Spark Hope Across Southern Africa
The multifaceted response by JCED, Loyola Jesuit Secondary School, and Silveira House illustrates the comprehensive nature of the Jesuit mission in Southern Africa. Whether empowering farmers with climate-smart tools, educating young leaders, or providing sanctuary for migrants, the Society is demonstrating that ecological sustainability, social justice, and human development are inseparable.
JCED Empowers Farmers in Kasungu with Cooking Oil Processing and Value-Added Initiative
The Jesuit Centre for Ecology and Development (JCED) has taken a significant step towards improving rural livelihoods and strengthening climate resilience by introducing a cooking oil processing machine and value addition factory in Kasungu District, Malawi.
The initiative is designed to help local farmers increase the value of their agricultural produce by processing crops such as sunflowers and soya beans into cooking oil. By moving beyond the sale of raw produce, farmers will be able to access better markets, increase their incomes, and create more sustainable livelihoods for their families.
Speaking about the project, JCED Field Officer Mr. Simplex Chingota said the initiative is part of the organisation's broader commitment to equipping farming communities with the knowledge and tools needed to adapt to the growing impacts of climate change.
"JCED is working with farmers to help them adapt and become more resilient to climate change. Many farmers in Malawi continue to experience prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall patterns, and destructive storms, all of which negatively affect agricultural production. Through value addition and climate-smart agricultural practices, we are helping communities build more resilient livelihoods," he said.
In addition to providing processing equipment, JCED is educating farmers on sustainable farming methods that promote environmental stewardship while improving food security and household incomes. The organisation believes that value addition is an important strategy for reducing post-harvest losses and ensuring that farmers receive greater economic returns from their hard work.
The introduction of the cooking oil processing facility is expected to stimulate local economic development by creating employment opportunities, encouraging small-scale agro-processing enterprises, and strengthening community-based agricultural value chains.
The initiative reflects the commitment of the Society of Jesus in the Southern Africa Province (SAP) to care for both people and the environment. Inspired by the Society's Universal Apostolic Preferences, particularly the call to collaborate in the care of our Common Home, Jesuit institutions continue to promote programmes that integrate ecological sustainability, social justice, and human development.
By supporting farmers to adapt to changing climatic conditions while increasing the value of their agricultural products, JCED is demonstrating that caring for creation and improving livelihoods go hand in hand. The project offers hope to farming communities facing the realities of climate change and serves as a practical example of how faith-inspired action can contribute to sustainable development and the protection of our common home
Loyola Jesuit Secondary School Learners Share their Loyola Experience
Loyola Jesuit Secondary School (LJSS), one of Malawi's leading Catholic secondary schools, continues to shape young men and women through its commitment to academic excellence, character formation, and Jesuit values.
In the video below, two Loyola Jesuit Secondary School learners share their personal experiences of life at the school. They reflect on how Loyola has nurtured their academic growth, strengthened their values, and inspired them to pursue excellence while living out the Jesuit ideal of being men and women for and with others.
Located in Kasungu, the school provides a holistic education that encourages students to grow intellectually, spiritually, and socially, preparing them to become responsible leaders and agents of positive change.
Journeying with Migrants: Restoring Dignity at the Borders
As thousands of people continue to return to their home countries from South Africa, two Jesuit social institutions in the Southern Africa Province (SAP) are responding with compassion, practical assistance, and advocacy, placing the dignity of every human person at the centre of their mission.
The Jesuit Centre for Ecology and Development (JCED) in Malawi and Silveira House in Zimbabwe have intensified their efforts to accompany migrants and displaced persons returning through key border posts, responding to the growing humanitarian needs of vulnerable individuals and families.
In Malawi, JCED conducted a rapid assessment at the Dedza and Mwanza border posts to better understand the immediate needs of returnees and to identify appropriate interventions that promote their safety, well-being, and successful reintegration into their communities.
Meanwhile, in Zimbabwe, Silveira House carried out a similar rapid assessment at the Beitbridge Border Post, one of Southern Africa's busiest migration corridors. In addition to assessing the situation, the Jesuit institutions noted that many people arrived exhausted, traumatized, and uncertain about the future.
The assessments revealed that thousands of people are making the difficult journey home carrying little more than hope for a new beginning.
The response by JCED and Silveira House reflects the Jesuit commitment to accompanying people on the margins and promoting social justice in accordance with the Universal Apostolic Preferences of the Society of Jesus, particularly the call to walk with the excluded and to promote reconciliation and justice.
Beyond providing immediate humanitarian assistance, the two institutions are advocating for policies and community responses that uphold the dignity and rights of migrants and displaced persons. Their work underscores the importance of ensuring that returning migrants are welcomed, protected, and supported as they rebuild their lives.
The Society of Jesus in the Southern Africa Province is appealing to Jesuits, collaborators, parish communities, and all people of goodwill to extend a compassionate hand to those returning home.
