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August 11, 2019 —Do you have a passion for social justice? Canadian Jesuits International (CJI) is preparing a study tour in July 2020 for Canadian educators and anyone interested in social justice and global solidarity. Inspired and supported by Ignatian spirituality, CJI works with local partners in Africa, Asia and South America to help the poor and marginalized groups in these regions fight for justice and dignity.

This trip will enable participants to further their understanding of social justice issues related to India by looking through the eyes of marginalized groups. They will also uncover answers to these questions from the perspective of various faith communities and civil society. Canadians will also delve into their personal commitment to faith and justice, in addition to visiting Jesuit-run projects and other social justice projects as well as various significant cultural and religious sites.

Study Tours and Social Analysis 

One of the fundamental principles of Catholic social teaching is the common good. The way in which we organize a society based on economic, political and legal principles directly affects human dignity and an individual’s ability to flourish within his/her community. CJI wishes to visit specific communities to better understand justice and the common good in a global world through the prism of social analysis. The purpose of these visits is to draw from these experiences to find new ways to adeptly respond to the deep causes of injustice and to promote the common good.

Several activities have already been planned for this trip, including a visit to the Indian Social Institute, whose goal is to bring about social change through socially relevant research and pleas in partnership with marginalized communities. Participants will also observe other projects dealing with human rights, workers’ rights, food security, access to education, means of sustainable livelihoods, health and economic development.

As Pieter Niemeyer, Outreach Coordinator of the CJI states, this collaboration between the Jesuits of Canada and the Darjeeling Jesuits makes perfect sense.

There are more than 50 years of rich history between the Canadian Jesuit Province and the Darjeeling Province. A number of Darjeeling scholastics, such as Fr. Roshan, SJ and Oshish Tirkey, SJ, have come to Toronto to pursue their formation and their studies at Regis College and have also helped the CJI with its social justice days (such as Y4O.)

Cost

The approximate cost of this trip is $2,600. This amount covers all travel costs and related expenses in India, including meals, tips, lodging, guidance materials and donations to local communities and projects visited.

This amount does not include plane tickets for India, your passport (which must be valid until February 2021), the visa for India, international health insurance, vaccinations and personal expenses.

For more information about this trip, click here. The application forms are available here. Your application must be submitted no later than December 31, 2019.

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