Youth and Service
Slyudyanka, Russia - The third annual Baikal Volunteer Forum, July 9-22, 2012, brought together 32 people from throughout Russia to make improvements along its southwestern coast and promote ecological awareness, tourism, and preservation of its ecosystem.
Portland Parish, Jamaica - Youth from six nations assembled on Aug. 3, 2012 for a 13-day Religious Youth Service project on Jamaica's northeast coast, where they cleaned classrooms, repaired a fence and did landscaping at an elementary school.
Twenty-eight youth from 13 nations assembled in Pilistvere, Estonia, Aug. 13-22, 2012, where they renovated a monument to the victims of communist repression and made improvements at the Lutheran church's summer café.
Parnu, Estonia - The tenth International Youth Football Tournament, June 28 – July 1, drew a great number of sports teams from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Ukraine, and Belarus to compete and make new friends under the theme "Play Football for Peace."
Ialoveni, Moldova - Fourteen people from four nations assembled on August 5, 2012 in Ialoveni for a week-long Religious Youth Service project working at a geriatric center, joining in interactive learning experiences, visiting places of worship and enjoying the beauty of nature.
Jerusalem, Israel - During the last two weeks of July 2012, young leaders from around the world came to Israel and Palestine to experience the region's history and religious background, the diversity of its cultures and grasp the complexity of the political situation.
Zugdidi, Georgia - Youth from eight nations arrived in Zugdidi in western Georgia on July 21, 2012, to spend ten days living and working as an interfaith and international community and gain insights into the culture, life, and faith of the people of this nation in the South Caucasus.
Krymsk, Russia - After devastating floods in early July 2012, a Religious Youth Service team of ten people from various parts of Russia arrived in Krymsk on July 19 and spent seven days cleaning out rubbish, erecting tents to shelter the homeless and organizing donations that poured in from throughout the nation.
Kampala, Uganda - During an interfaith trip to Ethiopia, Zambia, Malawi, and Uganda from June 29 to July 19, a European delegation representing UPF and the International Relief Friendship Foundation in Europe visited schools they support in Kampala and rural areas of Uganda.
Kathmandu, Nepal - Religious Youth Service-Nepal organized a service-learning project June 2-9 in the village of Chitlang to build a library at the secondary school and renovate the community drinking water system. Read the detailed report by P. Venugopal, a participant from Malaysia.
Moscow, Russia - Starting at the "zero” kilometer in Red Square in Moscow, the track-and-field super-marathon for youth entitled “Children against Drugs – I Choose Sports!” was launched on June 11. By the time the race ends on June 23 in Minsk, Belarus, it is hoped that participants will be planning more ways to create a culture of peace by means of sports.
Monza, Italy - Now in its seventh year, the Peace Trophy football tournament opened on April 29 and will continue with matches every Sunday afternoon until June 24. With teams representing the various cultures and backgrounds of the people in northern Italy, the competition encourages good sportsmanship, friendship, and mutual respect.