杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

鈥淭he Economy of Francesco is a really innovative event,鈥� says Si Chun Lam, one of the young people taking part in the meeting.

杏MAP导航 Francis, he says, is hoping that the young economists, entrepreneurs and change makers, as well as some of the world鈥檚 leading minds that have been invited to take part in the event will 鈥渃ome up with some ideas for the global economy that serves all humanity and all creation.鈥�

Listening to young people

In an interview with Vatican News, Si Chun says, 鈥淲hat鈥檚 really quite special鈥� about the Economy of Francesco 鈥渋s that, instead of having the leading minds teach and lecture us, they鈥檙e invited here to listen. They鈥檙e listening to our ideas as young people鈥� about our ideas to transform the global economy.鈥�

Reflecting on happiness and human flourishing

The participants of the event have been grouped into twelve thematic 鈥渧illages鈥� dealing with topics such as finance, the economy, women, and family.

Si Chun took part in the Policies and Happiness Village, which focused on individual and social welfare, relations in families, communities and cities. In the lead up to the final meeting, members of the Policies and Happiness Village learned about, shared, and debated ideas 鈥渁bout what makes our life full of purpose, how our current economic models can hinder and limit our ability to fully prosper.鈥�

After 鈥渕any hours鈥� online and in Zoom chats 鈥渄eveloping and nurturing those ideas and offshoots into practical proposals,鈥� says Si Chun, the group 鈥渕et鈥� in October to choose their 鈥渧ery, very best ideas鈥� to bring to the main event.鈥�

Inspired by penguins

Si Chun says his Village鈥檚 ideas are 鈥渁bout how we can really invest in relationships, invest in spending that time to build and nurture relationships to create the flourishing new global economy where everybody can take part.鈥�

The first, he says, was inspired by penguins.

鈥淲hy penguins?鈥� he asks, admitting that the idea sounds 鈥渁 bit strange.鈥�

He explains that penguins are 鈥渁ble to build sustainable colonies that don鈥檛 just survive, but they thrive in the most inhospitable and challenging environments. And that actually teaches us as humanity a lesson about how we can build thriving small to medium cities where we can be better connected to each other, and also to creation.鈥�

Maps that include rather than divide

The group鈥檚 second idea focuses on mapping, and turning the very idea of maps on its head. On a normal map one sees boundary lines that divide people and place from one another.

鈥淥ur proposal turns this around, by using maps in an inclusive way to draw up what connects us,鈥� says Si Chun. 鈥淚t creates a bit of a narrative where it鈥檚 about unity in place of division.鈥�

Helping future generations flourish

Finally, Si Chun says the Village wanted to find ways to promote human flourishing by encouraging decision makers 鈥渢o support policies that ensure future generations can flourish.鈥� This, he says, means looking beyond the concrete, present realities, like the gross domestic project; and even going beyond broader notions such as human development, and instead 鈥渓ooking to the future.鈥�

It involves 鈥渘ourishing things that protect the future. Like nature. Like beauty. Like curiosity. And like being able to dream about the future, and of course things like equality and participation as well,鈥� Si Chun says.

Passionate about making the world a better place

Si Chun says the experience of the Economy of Francesco has helped him gain 鈥渁 bit of a network and connection with other like-minded individuals around the world who are also really passionate about how we can make the world a better place.鈥�

He also notes the 鈥減rayerful鈥� and 鈥減ositive鈥� atmosphere of the event, saying he and the other participants were able to really reflect on the words of the Gospel and the Bible, as well as the encyclicals of 杏MAP导航 Francis.

鈥淪o, really I think that鈥檚 what I really gained,鈥� he says, 鈥渢hat bit of network, that prayerful approach and that bit of positivity and hope in quite a difficult time with the pandemic and everything as well.鈥�