In this speech Katherine Marshall outlines how the Japanese government and people, the Community of Sant’Egidio, Sophia University, Risho Kossei-Kai, the government of Italy, Georgetown University, and the World Bank (among others) share a deep commitment to Africa’s future and a determination to work together to fulfill Africa’s remarkable potential, in spite of the bitter conflicts, hunger, and mindless suffering that face so many communities in Africa today. She argues that one path forward is to build on one of Africa’s great and unappreciated assets: its religious institutions and the spirit that comes alongside the deeply rooted faith of its people. Institutions should look to the priority agendas, for the continent, for each country where they work, and to local communities, and explore what more informed and creative partnerships with religious communities might bring. Marshall offered this speech at Sophia University's First Tokyo International Conference on "New Visions of Africa: Africa, Italy and Japan," held May 19, 2018.
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