A Discussion with Abbot Georges Diouf, Director of the Diocesan Office of Catholic Education, Dakar, Senegal
With: Georges Diouf Berkley Center Profile
July 15, 2015
Background: As
part of the Education and Social Justice Project, undergraduate student
Sabrina Khan interviewed Abbot Georges Diouf, who serves as the director of the
Diocesan Office of Catholic Education of the Archdiocese of Dakar. In this
interview, conducted in July 2015, Diouf discusses his definition of social
justice and interreligious dialogue in his schools.
What role does
education play in the future of Senegal?
It is clear that education is fundamental in inculcating in youth values indispensable to the construction of their country. Without education, no country can attain true development. Education is the transmission of cultural values that construct a nation and permit its development in the future. Education also forms the whole person.
What values do you hope to transmit to youth?
Universal values that form the person, like respect, love, dignity, and justice.
Do you think there is a link between religion and education?
The link is strong. Schools, like the church, are both in the service of education and evangelization. Schools transmit values. Education elevates the soul of a person. Spiritual values are universal values. Education permits, therefore, the whole person to better reflect the image of God.
What does it mean to be Catholic?
It means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ who gave his life for humanity. The Christian must have love for God and his fellow man. Loving God and loving one another means being Christian. We must try every day to live in love.
Can you define social justice?
As a Christian and a priest, social justice is the redistribution of means, to make the balance more even among people. The weakest will no longer be the most marginalized and deprived of so much. We try to respect everyone and to not favor the richest over the poor, who need the most support. For me, social justice is making sure the most fragile persons in our society are better supported.
According to your experience and observation, can you describe the religious environment in your schools? How is the interreligious dynamic?
Interreligious dialogue exists in Senegalese society. Jesus Christ asks us to love others, which is loving God. That is a great requirement of our religion. Education is also a crucial moment of living together, and interreligious dialogue finds a place in our schools. We must consider all students as creatures of God. All students must learn to accept their differences and to love one another. Catholic schools educate us to live together with mutual respect.
What are your objectives and hopes for students of Senegalese Catholic education in the future?
The objective is to train students well and to give them the tools to transform Senegalese society. However, our establishments lack financial means at the moment. We need the support of the state to realize our mission. Teaching is one of the missions of the state. Outsiders think Catholic schools are rich, but we aren’t; we lack means. Without these resources, we cannot continue our beautiful mission to elevate the level of education in Senegal. Much remains to be done in support of Catholic education in Senegal.
It is clear that education is fundamental in inculcating in youth values indispensable to the construction of their country. Without education, no country can attain true development. Education is the transmission of cultural values that construct a nation and permit its development in the future. Education also forms the whole person.
What values do you hope to transmit to youth?
Universal values that form the person, like respect, love, dignity, and justice.
Do you think there is a link between religion and education?
The link is strong. Schools, like the church, are both in the service of education and evangelization. Schools transmit values. Education elevates the soul of a person. Spiritual values are universal values. Education permits, therefore, the whole person to better reflect the image of God.
What does it mean to be Catholic?
It means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ who gave his life for humanity. The Christian must have love for God and his fellow man. Loving God and loving one another means being Christian. We must try every day to live in love.
Can you define social justice?
As a Christian and a priest, social justice is the redistribution of means, to make the balance more even among people. The weakest will no longer be the most marginalized and deprived of so much. We try to respect everyone and to not favor the richest over the poor, who need the most support. For me, social justice is making sure the most fragile persons in our society are better supported.
According to your experience and observation, can you describe the religious environment in your schools? How is the interreligious dynamic?
Interreligious dialogue exists in Senegalese society. Jesus Christ asks us to love others, which is loving God. That is a great requirement of our religion. Education is also a crucial moment of living together, and interreligious dialogue finds a place in our schools. We must consider all students as creatures of God. All students must learn to accept their differences and to love one another. Catholic schools educate us to live together with mutual respect.
What are your objectives and hopes for students of Senegalese Catholic education in the future?
The objective is to train students well and to give them the tools to transform Senegalese society. However, our establishments lack financial means at the moment. We need the support of the state to realize our mission. Teaching is one of the missions of the state. Outsiders think Catholic schools are rich, but we aren’t; we lack means. Without these resources, we cannot continue our beautiful mission to elevate the level of education in Senegal. Much remains to be done in support of Catholic education in Senegal.
Opens in a new window