Youth and Service
On October 18, the Global Peace Festival sponsored a service project in the watering-place of Butantã, in the city of São Paulo, with the help and support of approximately 40 people.
Galveston, Texas, USA - In the wake of Hurricane Ike's destruction, the International Relief Friendship Foundation is partnering with Christian Disaster Response to collect money for purchasing food and basic supplies and supporting the mobile Food Service Kitchen that serves people in Houston and Galveston.
IRFF is partnering with Women’s Federation for World Peace in Florida and Christian Disaster Response to collect basic health kits to be shipped, together with dry goods already on hand, to Haiti. IRFF staff in Haiti will distribute the relief items to those most in need.
Agartala, India – Christian-Hindu amity marked the International Day of Peace in Agartala on September 21, 2008. Even as reports of recent bomb blasts and Hindu-Christian conflicts continue to pour in from different parts of the country, the Northeast Indian capital town of Agartala witnessed a rare gesture of unity and friendship between Christians and Hindus. The program was organized by Sampari Hukumu Bodol Tripura, under the patronage of Universal Peace Federation (UPF), Peace Dream, and Religious Youth Service (RYS).
Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire - Athletic organizers hosted a three-day program for high school girls in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire September 17-19, 2008.
Colombo, Sri Lanka – To mark the United Nation's "International Day of Peace" on September 21, 2008, the Western Province Schools of Sri Lanka organized a talent contest amongst the school children. Many of the participants were RYS alumni. The competition was held from September 12-19, 2008 in Colombo. The theme of the competition was simply "Peace."
Nairobi, Kenya - Following a series of sports tournaments in martial arts, hockey, and football, organizer John Gehring spoke to the International Leadership Seminar (ILC) in Nairobi on the how athletic programs can help promote peace.
Amanvi, Cote d'Ivoire - A Religious Youth Service project at a school in eastern Cote d'Ivoire Sept. 8-14, 2008, included building a bridge and a house for teachers, visiting local communities and businesses, and sightseeing.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia - Just a few short weeks after disputed elections threatened to bring this historic Asian nation to the brink of civil war, Sukhbaatar Square was once again filled with a huge crowd. This time, they sang and danced for peace.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia - Thousands of students picked up garbage along the main street of Ulaanbaatar, in the central square and along the banks of the river flowing through the middle of the capital city on Sept. 7, 2008.
Colombo, Sri Lanka - In the midst of impoverishment, a large crowd of people of mixed origins and ages gathered for the ceremony to open the Religious Youth Service project in Sri Lanka, August 23-30: building a new preschool, the only one of its kind to accommodate Tamil children with other local children.
Colombo, Sri Lanka – In the city of Colombo, Sri Lanka, in the midst of impoverishment, a large crowd of people of mixed origins and ages gathered for the ceremony to open the RYS Sri Lanka '08 project - the building of a new preschool, the only one of its kind to accommodate Tamil children with other local children.