Why should cantonal churches and parishes support Mission 21? And what is the relationship between the mission agency and the churches? These questions were central at this year's Continental Assembly Europe conference.

Workshop leaders at the Youth Summit: Pastor Obertina Modesta Johanis, Daniela Lilja and Franz Thiel from Helvetas as well as Nina Sahdeva from fair unterwegs and with the microphone organizer Veronika Henschel from young@mission21. Photo: Mission 21

"Is development cooperation nothing but hot air, boasting or broken promises?" Around 80 young adults discussed this question and the federal government's new strategy, which, among other things, links development cooperation with migration policy. Ambassador Manuel Sager, head of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), was also present.

The board of Mission 21 and the delegates of the partner organizations from Africa, Asia and Latin America prayed together at the festive service in St. Peter's Church.

More than 100 guests met on Sunday afternoon, June 30, in bright summer weather in Basel for the Mission Festival. In the garden of the Mission House there were numerous words of greeting and gifts for the new director of Mission 21, Rev. Jochen Kirsch.

These people know what they are talking about when it comes to war and peace: On the Mission 21 podium on Saturday afternoon, there were personalities from South Sudan, Nigeria, Cameroon and Indonesia. They all emphasized the role of the churches in peacebuilding.

Claudia Bandixen passes on her post as director of Mission 21 to her successor Jochen Kirsch. At the farewell, numerous speakers praised Claudia Bandixen's commitment to peace and justice in a festive atmosphere.