Care of the Common House

The Certificate in Compassion and Social Communication “Caring for the Common House” is a joint initiative of SIGNIS and the Javeriana University of Bhubaneshwar (XUB), located in the state of Odisha, in India. In charge of the university's Center for New Humanities and Compassion Studies, this program prepares young communicators from all over the world to become aware of the crisis the planet is facing and provides tools for finding concrete solutions.

Nine communicators from Togo, the Philippines, Argentina, Mexico, India and Cuba participate in the course, making this meeting the first global SIGNIS program. This certificate bases its perspective on the encyclical letter Laudato Si ', by Pope Francis, precisely dedicated to reflecting on the Common House. While the university deals with giving a course in three modules on communication, the Social Doctrine of the Church and spirituality, SIGNIS has offered previous work with young people and a follow-up that will take place in their places of origin. The total duration is five months, of which three take place in Bhubaneshwar.

The fact of studying in India, a culture of plurality and tolerance, constitutes a valuable lesson in the dialogue of cultures and communication for peace. The formation of a new perspective on the problems of the planet, collaboration and group and individual work, and a genuine friendship that provides coexistence and university life, have managed to constitute a community of young people willing to generate social change through new stories and ways of communicating.