The conference "Africa will tend the hands to God" ended on Sunday 12 July in Abidjan. In the meeting, the representatives of the Communities of Sant'Egidio from 14 countries in West Africa discussed with Andrea Riccardi of the emerging themes of society struggling with big changes. The future of young people, the growing violence in the suburbs, the threat of terrorism and war, especially in the sahelica range, and the problems experienced by women in many areas, starting with the family, were some of the topics addressed.

Inequality and poverty have increased in many countries in recent years. Emerging new forms of exclusion, previously unknown in Africa, such as that of the elderly, living alone in their homes, or falsely accused of witchcraft. Sant'Egidio wants to forge an alliance with the weakest and talk to all of the need to build more humane societies, capable of offering hope and a future to many young people that live great disorientation at this time. The Jubilee of Mercy, called by Pope Francis, will be an important opportunity to show how much the friendship with the poor can renew the face of the churches and countries in the region.

Many children and young people that live on the streets arrived at the headquarters of Sant'Egidio in Abidjan on Sunday morning. The Community welcomes them into its home, where they can eat, play, wash, live a different and happy time. They recounted the difficulties of their lives but also the joy of being together with friends of the Community, and expressed their dreams: to go back to school, have a family and a job. Like other young people of their age.