Youth and Service
Yekaterinburg, Russia - Twenty-three students from the Ural Federal University visited an orphanage near Kamensk-Uralsky on Dec. 19, 2013, to bring Christmas joy to the children.
Paris, France - I had been selected to attend a two-day European Leadership Conference, Dec. 3-4, 2013, focused on the relations between Europe and Eurasia.
Paris, France - Youth delegations from Europe and Eurasia who had come to Paris for a European Leadership Conference Dec. 3-4, 2013, discussed youth volunteerism as a way to bring the two regions closer.
Moscow, Russia - A student conference on: "The status of a child in society and the world, and children’s rights" related to the 20th anniversary of the Russian Federation Constitution and the UN Universal Children's Day was held in Moscow Nov. 22, 2013.
Novosibirsk, Russia - The friendly staff of the Library for Family Readings in Novosibirsk arranged an unusual celebration of the White Crane Poetry Festival on Oct. 22. It was established by the national poet of Dagestan, Rasul Gamzatov (1923-2003), in memory of the soldiers who died on battlefields in all wars. The memorable meeting was attended by students, veterans, and mothers of dead soldiers.
Kazan, Russia - More than 100 students from schools all over Russia and other nations participated in the Third International Model UN Oct. 11-15, 2013, in Kazan, capital of the Russian Republic of Tatarstan.
Buenos Aires, Argentina - In honor of UN International Volunteer Day, December 5, UPF-Argentina invites nominations for its third annual contest on the theme of Volunteerism and the Common Good.
Bangkok, Thailand - Religious Youth Service coordinators from ten nations in Asia participated in a conference on “Peace, Development, and Transformational Leadership for Building Nations of Peace,” in Bangkok Sept. 12-16, 2013.
Songkhla, Thailand - Buddhist, Muslim, Christian and Unificationist youth helped renovate a school building in Songkhla, Thailand, Aug. 21-25, 2013, as part of a Religious Youth Service project that included visits to religious sites and interreligious dialogue.
Buenos Aires, Argentina - The “National Grandparents Day,” which is celebrated in Argentina every third Sunday of August, was the opportunity to give a silent but moving tribute to the elders from the Santa Ana y San Joaquín Home in the Flores Suburb, city of Buenos Aires. Ambassadors for Peace, people related to UPF-Argentina and the local Women's Federation for World Peace organized a lunch and table conversations with many surprises on August 23.
Johvi, Estonia - A Religious Youth Service project at the Johvi Lutheran Church in northeastern Estonia Aug. 1-10, 2013, included improving the building and grounds of the church, activities in the community and presentations on relationship-building, team work and a culture of heart.