Just as in the Graham Greene novel with this title, we live in an unjust world where “the human factor” counts for very little. Are people important for us? Wars, the sale of arms, human shields, collateral damage… Medicines for making money more than helping patients… Politicians that make promises, earn large salaries, and never deliver… Abuses of power are around us in all shapes and sizes. And caught up in it all, human beings.
Here in our Home, the RIE, maybe we are also in danger of ignoring “the human factor”. We were several years talking about the new plot of land. And now there’ll be more years discussing the new building. But… what about the children? The youngsters that we take care of, with many people’s help, are the most important factor. They’re the real purpose behind our architectural challenges. This 2025-2026 school year comes with names and faces. They are not incidental details. Each individual is a wonderful miracle. They and their families are the overriding aim of all our efforts. Thank you for being sensitive to the human factor. Thank you for your help in dealing with all the different factors involved.