The Jesuit Association of Secondary and Basic Education in Africa and Madagascar (JASBEAM) Colloquium 2025, hosted at St George’s College in Harare, Zimbabwe, brought together 160 educators, administrators, and Jesuit leaders from 22 nations across the African continent and beyond under the theme, “Committed to Networking at the Service of the Mission to Educate for Faith in the 21^st Century”.

Organized by the Jesuit Province of Southern Africa (SAP), the colloquium built on the foundation laid at the inaugural gathering in Abuja, Nigeria, in 2022. Over four days (17 – 22 August), participants reflected on how Jesuit education can continue to transform lives in a rapidly changing world marked by social, cultural, and technological shifts.

Central to the gathering was the reaffirmation of holistic, faith-based education rooted in Ignatian values, while also addressing new challenges such as digital disruption, secularization, misinformation, and evolving cultural landscapes.

In his keynote, Archbishop Robert Christopher Ndlovu of Harare urged educators to uphold Catholic values in developing holistic individuals through Ignatian principles like cura personalis, discernment, and social justice. He called Jesuit educators “co-workers in the vineyard of the Lord”. Fr Leonard Chiti, the Provincial of SAP, highlighted the responsibility of Jesuit education to cultivate conscience, competence, compassion, and commitment, particularly in unjust societies. President of the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar (JCAM), Fr José Minaku encouraged viewing Africa’s challenges as opportunities for collaboration and adaptability.

Similarly, Fr José Mesa, the Secretary of Fr General for Secondary and Pre-secondary Education, called the colloquium a milestone, emphasizing networking and collective action in addressing global issues. Mr Mupunza from Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Education acknowledged the importance of faith-based, collaborative methods in shaping students’ intellect and character.

Contributions from presenters across Africa, Europe, and the United States explored ten thematic areas during the colloquium: Jesuit/Catholic Education, Online Collaboration, Networking and Identity, Africa and Madagascar’s Needs, Culture of Protection, Leadership Development, Jesuit Identity, Education for the Marginalized, Global Citizenship, and case studies of St George’s College as an example of the integration of Ignatian values in school life.

Daily Mass (celebrated in French and English) and spiritual conversations fostered prayerful reflection and deepened unity among participants.

The colloquium closed with a symbolic handover: Fr Joe Arimoso passed the role of JASBEAM Coordinator to Fr Chikere Ugwuanyi, marking both continuity and renewal. A gift exchange among schools further underscored the spirit of collaboration and solidarity.

Participants departed with a renewed commitment to collaboration, holistic formation, and the Jesuit mission of educating for faith, competence, compassion, conscience, and social justice.

The JASBEAM Colloquium 2025 stands as a milestone of hope, collaboration, and vision, planting seeds that will nurture future generations across Africa and Madagascar – individuals prepared not only to succeed but to serve and transform society.