Youth and Service
“Think of others by helping them” was the motto of the UPF volunteers who participated in the All-Russia action “Springtime Week of Goodness” in April. Young activists organized activities in Moscow and the Moscow area, St. Petersburg, and Vladimir.
St. Petersburg, Russia - On April 14-17, UPF volunteers and the Peace Council of North-West Russia started a youth camp as part of the “Guiding Star” project
Panama City, Panama - Photos of students and instructors at the Hisao Lee Academy of Martial Arts at a conference, welcoming Panamanian president Martin Torrijos, and helping disadvantaged people in the countryside.
The Iraqis in Jordan need jobs, they need a place to congregate, and a community to provide support. There needs to be a resource center established that employs Iraqis to help Iraqis. Iraqis need access to basic medical care, satellite television, and Internet.
Cap-Haitien, Haiti - Since the January 12 earthquake, International Relief Friendship Foundation representatives have made three trips to the country providing relief work. In addition, $9,000 has been spent by IRFF on domestic and overseas shipping costs, to deliver donated food and medical supplies to the north coast of Haiti.
Cap-Haitien, Haiti - The Spring Break Service Project March 7-14 gave another opportunity for Women's Federation for World Peace and the International Relief Friendship Foundation and Service for Peace to work together to help people on the north coast of Haiti. On the foundation of previous trips to Haiti, Mrs. Betsy Jones, a psychiatric nurse who teaches trauma seminars in Albany, New York, joined the project.
Jaigeer, Bangladesh - The International Relief Friendship Foundation held its scholarship presentation ceremony for the students of the Jaigeer and Utter Bakchar Primary Schools who were receiving scholarships from Supporting Success. The event was held at the Jaigeer Peace Center of the Jaigeer School, about 30 km from the capital, Dhaka.
In response to donations from UPF Ambassadors for Peace around the world, Karen Sandelback, President and CEO of the Friends of the World Food Program, sent the following letter on February 18. The World Food Program is a UN agency that has been delivering humanitarian assistance in Haiti after the January 12 earthquake.
The Universal Peace Federation invites all Ambassadors for Peace to help in relief efforts in Haiti following the January 12 earthquake that devastated the capital, Port-au-Prince, and left tens of thousands dead.
100% of all donations are used to provide food, water and medicine for survivors. UPF is working with other relief partners in an effort to maximize the benefit to the people of Haiti. Your help is needed urgently.
Port-au-Prince, Haiti - My six days post-earthquake in Haiti were a deeply humbling experience. Between helping at The Haitian Academy, the Burn Clinic, and Hopital de la Paix - being a witness to the suffering and catastrophe that unfolded before me... and realizing the dire need of international support to rebuild a nation, I came to value the notion that we can only save the world if we can save each other.
A pictorial record of youth service projects during 2009.