The Victory Shrine in Ibadan, Nigeria, is more than a name; it is a proclamation of confidence. It symbolizes the triumph of grace, Mary’s motherly presence, and the covenant of love in the hearts of her children. The name reflects the victorious spirit of the Schoenstatt Youth and the confidence that Mary will always lead us to victory, even amid trials.
In the light of the Victory Shrine, the Schoenstatt Youth share hope through social networks.
This Sunday we celebrate the 59th World Day of Social Communications, under the theme: “Share with gentleness the hope that is in your hearts (cf. 1 Pet 3:15-16)”. About this, we spoke with young Hannah Amarachi, also known as Diana, who is the Vice President of the Youth of Ijokodo, Nigeria, and also the Welfare Director of SVY.
What are SVY pages?
SVY pages are the social media platforms created for Schoenstatt Youths Nigeria to share their spirituality, social activities, and testimonies. They are the TikTok (SVY NIGERIA), the Instagram (Schoenstattyouthsnigeria), and the Facebook page (Schoenstatt Youths Nigeria).
SVY stands for Schoenstatt Victorious Youth. SVY Pages is a youth-led digital initiative featuring reflections, stories, spiritual content, and moments of grace. It is a vibrant missionary platform designed to inspire other youth to live with purpose and in covenant with Mary.
How did the idea of reaching out to networks come about?
The need to make it known arose from our encounters with grace at the Victory Shrine. We could not keep the experience to ourselves. We felt compelled to share, through testimonies, images, and reflections, so that others could also encounter Mary and experience the same transformation as we did.
What was the first network (page) that SVY opened?
Instagram, then TikTok, followed by Facebook, which was a recent addition.
Who is your audience? Who do you want to reach?
Our mission and desire are to reach out to people from all walks of life who may be struggling with feelings of despair, loneliness, or uncertainty, particularly young people navigating the complexities of modern life. We want to connect with those who feel lost, alone, or forgotten, and offer them a message of hope, love, the power of community, and redemption. Whether it’s a young person facing the challenges of adulthood, a parent struggling to balance work and family, or a person with health issues, our goal is to provide comfort, solace, and inspiration. By sharing inspirational content, exciting youth activities, Schoenstatt pedagogy, and reflections, we aim to inspire others to hold on to hope, develop strong personalities, and find strength in their relationship with God.
How did you decide what to distribute?
SVY’s team of content creators carefully discerns content that is real, relevant, accurate, and rooted in our Schoenstatt spirituality. Their goal is to speak directly to the hearts of young people and the world at large, highlighting what resonates most: inner transformation, pedagogical styles, faith in action, Marian devotion, victorious living in daily struggles, and much more.
How to spread hope through social networks?
In an era where social media has become an integral part of our lives, it has also become a powerful tool to spread hope, love, community, and inspiration. As bearers of hope, we in the Victorious Youth of Schoenstatt Nigeria believe that social media can be harnessed to share messages of resilience, faith, and love. As followers of Christ, we are called to be instruments of hope in a world often mired in darkness. By creating and sharing content that encourages, raises awareness, and motivates, we seek to inspire others to hold on to hope, even in the face of adversity.
How do you keep hope alive in yourself and share it with the world?
To keep hope alive in me and SVY youth in general, we prioritize practices that nurture our spiritual well-being, such as prayer, retreats, formation programs, camps, pilgrimages, reflection, and community activities. By standing firm in our faith and values, we cultivate a sense of purpose and meaning that fuels our passion for spreading hope. To bring hope to the world, we strive to be a source of encouragement and support for others, whether through social networking, personal interactions, or community involvement. By sharing our own experiences, struggles, and triumphs, we hope to inspire others to hold on to hope and find strength in their paths, rooted in Christ.
Our social media pages are:
Instagram – Schoenstatt Youth Nigeria
TikTok – SVY Nigeria
Facebook – Schoenstatt Youth Nigeria
Translation: Maribel Acaron
