Theme: Youth as agents of justice: Christian theological reflection and action
Location: Rwanda
Date: 2-5 September 2025
Announcement
Africa’s history is no stranger to the often-violent abuses of her youths from the northern countries of Nigeria to the southern tip of South Africa. Whether the abuses were political or religious persecution, it is often the youth who suffer in the immediate and the future. However, the youths of Africa have never shied away from being agents of change and justice as seen in the 2010/2011 Arab Spring, the 2011/2012 Y’en a Marre in Senegal, and the 2015 Fees Must Fall in South Africa are examples of youth responses to injustice.
The 2025 IASYM conference will be hosted in Rwanda, a country that is globally known for the historic injustices inflicted on her people. While much of the activism focuses on political movements, it is still notable that youth through their agencies have changed the landscape of many countries, even the continent. It is with this background that the theme for the 2025 conference will be “Youth as agents of justice: Christian theological reflection and action”. The general theme will be inviting academic presentations on how youth, youth ministry, and youth academics and practitioners, can contribute to being agents of justice in Africa.
In addition, the following sub-themes can be considered:
- Activism on and through social media/digitization
- African ecclesiology as a response to injustices
- Youth ministry as an incubator for youth activism
- Developing appropriate methodologies to pursue justice
- Young Women as Agents of Change
- Church Advocacy and Gender-Based Violence
- Youth and Climate Change Advocacy
- Ethical Leadership and Transformation in the Church
- Youth and Mental Health Advocacy
The IASYM regional conference presents research related to ministry amongst children, youth, and emerging/young adults in the African region. We invite proposals for in-person (onsite) conference contributions from academics and reflective practitioners representing different disciplines.
Submission Deadline: 31 August 2024
Please submit your 250 word abstract here.
For any questions, please contact Prof Garth Aziz (
Special Call for Master's and Doctoral Students in Youth Ministry
We wish to encourage and invite postgraduate students in youth ministry to present their research at the conference. A space will be created for postgraduate students currently enrolled in Master’s and Doctoral studies in youth ministry where students can present their research during a special session at the conference. Please send your research title and focus to the emails above if you are interested in participating in the conference.
You will need to specify "masters and doctoral students sessions" at the appropriate question of the online submission form.
