The first World Social Forum to be held in Africa, WSF 2007, is an important opportunity for the Social Apostolate to strengthen ties and increase international cooperation with Africa. Following a series of broad consultations among different organizations belonging to the Ignatian Family (IF) involved in the preparations, such as the Conference of African Provincials (JESAM), the Assistancy Coordinators for the Social Apostolate, the Social Justice Secretariat, AJAN, the Christian Life Communities (CLC), JRS East Africa and other members of the Social Apostolate, it has been decided that the Ignatian Family presence will be articulated in two important moments: the organization of a Pre-Forum encounter for the Ignatian Family, and joint participation in the WSF activities.

The pre-forum encounter will take place in Nairobi, January 16th -19th 2007. The Workshop aims at developing the Ignatian perspective (spirituality) or framework of values guiding the IF's apostolic commitment to transforming individuals and communities; at strengthening the existing apostolic initiatives for social transformation; and planning an effective partnership and networking among them. The pre-forum workshop will deal with five main themes especially significant for Africa, but with an international dimension as well.

1. Forced political and economic displacement (migrants and refugees) in Africa: International linkages within and outside Africa (JRS East Africa);

2. The issue of HIV/AIDS (African Jesuit Aids Network)

3. Conflict, War and Peace: Achievements and Challenges. (Jesuit Hekima College and Hekima Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations, Nairobi)

4. Debt, Trade and Sustainable Development (International Jesuit Network for Development)

5. Management and Depletion of Natural Resources: issues of governance (CLC/CEPAS DRC/CEFOD Chad)

On 5 July JRS Indonesia supported a call by the UN Coordination Centre in Yogjakarta for urgent additional funding to address the need for transitional shelter for the more than 350,000 families (over 1.5 million individuals) made homeless by 27 May's earthquake in the Indonesian province of central Java.

This figure amounts to three times the number of people currently homeless in Ache in the wake of the tsunami. With the rainy season only a few months away, the immediate need for shelter is undeniable. In addition, another 1.2 million people are currently homeless through uncertainty regarding the structural integrity of their "lightly damaged" homes.

On 27 May, an earthquake of the magnitude of 5.9 on the Richter scale killed more than 5,000 people on the Indonesian island of Java, and made tens of thousands more homeless. The tremor was centered just off the Indian Ocean coast near the city of Yogjakarta.

"Based on lessons learned in Ache, and even if the money for permanent housing is provided immediately, the majority of homeless families will be in tents for one to two years. Including JRS transitional shelter program, only 60,000 transitional shelters can be funded now. This leaves a shortfall for 290,000 families", said Els Coolen, Advocacy and Information Manager, JRS Indonesia.

Currently, homeless people have been issued with emergency tents and tarpaulins. This is only a short-term solution. Although not a permanent home, a transitional shelter is much more than a tarpaulin or tent