Youth and Service
Cache Cache Douge, Haiti - Expressing a vision emerging from the rubble of the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti, several NGOs, including Religious Youth Service, offered a joy-filled, educationally creative, character building memorable week to Haitian girls in an encampment near Port-au-Prince Aug. 19-29.
Tejarcillos, Costa Rica - Volunteers renovated facilities of the Light for the Nations Foundation and apartments for the elderly in an impoverished community on the outskirts of Costa Rica's capital city of San Jose July 7-19, 2010.
Lagos, Nigeria - In celebration of the UN International Youth Day, Aug. 12, 2010, UPF and the Youth Federation for World Peace-Nigeria held programs in three states on the theme of "Healing Our World: Vision-Mission-Passion."
Tursunzoda, Tajikistan - Ambassadors for Peace of Tajikistan held their quarterly meeting at a home for elderly and handicapped people in the town of Tursunzoda on August 8. Along with caring hearts, they brought gifts of music, food, and humanitarian goods.
Castries, St. Lucia - A Religious Youth Service project is taking place August 7 to 17 in the verdant Caribbean island nation of St. Lucia, noted for its green mountains, white sand beaches, and friendly residents. RYS volunteers are staying in fishing village in Anse-la-Raye just ten miles from the capital city of Castries.
Cap-Hatian, Haiti - This year's Haiti Summer Service Project took place from June 21 to 30. Once again a team traveled from the US to Cap-Haitian and worked with Mayor Fritz Joseph holding medical clinics and teaching disaster prevention and response.
Moscow, Russia - The Moscow office of the UN Environment Programme sent a letter in support of UPF-Russia's annual Baikal Lake youth training program, which combines service projects with spiritual development.
Parnu, Estonia - As global attention focused on the FIFA World Cup in July, youth from six nations converged on Estonia for the Parnu Summer Cup in the spirit of "Play Football Make Peace."
Tamale, Ghana - In the conflict zone of northern Ghana, UPF and Religious Youth Service organized a youth seminar on July 6 and peace rally on July 8, 2010, in coordination with the Community Partnership for Youth and Women Development.
Bangkok, Thailand - On May 17, the turmoil of a political conflict was spilling into violence in one section of Bangkok. In another section of the city the UPF invited me as International Director of Religious Youth Service to make a presentation about our service-learning activities to leaders from 16 nations of South and South-East Asia.
Portland and Kingston, Jamaica - Eleven young people from the US traveled to Jamaica for a Religious Youth Service project Feb. 22-March 7, 2010, that included building fence in Portland, painting fences and walls in Kingston, making home visits, participating in a forum and making trips to historic sites.
Chacheongsao, Thailand - Government officials, Ambassadors for Peace, Muslim leaders, and students welcomed volunteers with Religious Youth Service who are helping to renovate the Prachanukhro School.