Indian Catholic Youth Make Their Mark at FIMCAP World Camp in Chile, Joining 24 Countries

Chile, January 31, 2025: FIMCAP World Camp, held from January 7th to 28th, 2025, brought together youth leaders from 24 countries and 26 organizations, focusing on faith, leadership, and solidarity. Vance Rion Dsouza and Rohan Danny of the Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) represented India at this international event. Vance, former Regional Vice President of YCS YSM Karnataka, and Rohan, ex-member of the YCS Udupi diocesan council, were honored to be part of this global gathering.

For both, the World Camp was a chance to grow spiritually, socially, and intellectually while making meaningful contributions to society. As dedicated members of the Catholic community, they experienced a mix of excitement, nervousness, and pride, especially at the chance to connect with young people from diverse cultures, all united by a shared passion for creating positive change.

Though initially unfamiliar with the World Camp and FIMCAP (Fédération Internationale des Mouvements Catholiques d'Action Paroissiale), they soon discovered FIMCAP's global mission to connect Catholic youth worldwide, promoting faith-driven leadership, intercultural dialogue, and social action.

The theme for the 2025 World Camp, ‘Solidarity,’ resonated deeply with the participants. Upon arriving, they found themselves surrounded by strangers from different cultural backgrounds, but as the camp progressed, an unbreakable bond formed. They realized that solidarity isn't about being the same, but about standing together for what is right and for each other. The two-week event proved transformative, as the participants grew in commitment to their community and passion for their projects.

Reflecting on their experience, Vance and Rohan realized the answer to the question, "Why us?" was clear: they needed each other to discover the strength of unity. Solidarity, they found, was not about who they were individually, but who they became together. Now, they stand as one, united as a family, carrying this bond forward with a shared purpose.

By Vance Rion Dsouza