Youth and Service
Perlis, Malaysia—This project brought young adults from 13 nations and 5 religions to a conservative area in Malaysia where they worked in cooperation with one of the nations seven Muslim Universities. This is the second project with the university and both were locally organized by a young professor who is a graduate of RYS.
Banepa, Nepal—RYS lights 10,000 earthen lamps as an interfaith prayer for peace at a Sakya Buddhist Center.
Aotearoa, New Zealand—This was the second RYS project in New Zealand and the first international program. This project drew much support from Australia and pulled in participants from a wide variety of nations and religious traditions.
RYS Annual Report 2003—The Religious Youth Service (RYS) in 2003 continued to develop its international projects and local clubs in selected areas as part of a larger IIWFP strategy. In 2003, the RYS completed nine large international projects and four national level programs. In addition the staff of the RYS guided the international development and education program for the 1st Interreligious Peace Sports Festival recruiting athletes from 10 religions and 40 nations.
Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras—RYS 2002 held the Thirteenth Friendship Americas Project in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. This 3 week journey began in Guatemala City where staff and 42 participants representing 16 countries and diverse religious traditions, took on a challenge whose outcome was a strong community that explicitly valued full and free communication, recognized cultural and social differences as strengths, and embraced diversity among its members.
Moscow, Russia - On July 2, 2002 the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace presented 12 Ambassador for Peace certificates to runners and organizers of a Super-marathon whose participants are running from Moscow to Johannesburg, South Africa over the next two months under the title "With Love - to Peace and Harmony."
Apia, Samoa—The RYS and the IIFWP Ambassadors for Peace joined in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports to provide a two day program of service, interfaith cooperation and character building.
Tongatapu, Kindgom of Tonga—The RYS worked with the IIFWP Ambassadors for Peace Youth on an initiative which brought together 65 church, NGO and youth leaders in a program involving public service, character education and interfaith cooperation.
Nambucca Heads, Australia—With a goal of promoting Island Friendship and reconciliation between people, 55 enthusiastic representatives from seven nations joined together in working with a team of IIFWP Ambassadors for Peace in creating a community area Nambucca Heads, Australia that was for the benefit of local Aboriginal residents.
Auckland, New Zealand—Members of various NGOs and from the Ratana Morehu Youth movement joined together in a leadership program that visioned out an action plan for interfaith service projects in New Zealand.
Manresa, Sri Lanka - Thanks to a cease-fire between the government and the Tamil insurgents in December 2000, roads were opened to the public and people could begin to move somewhat freely around the country. However, even though there was a political will to settle deep-rooted problems, no effective mechanism had been created to bring people together to meet in heart and reconciliation. A Religious Youth Service project August 23-26, 2001 opened doors for that to happen.
New York, USA -- From January 25 to 28, at the New York Sheraton and Manhattan Center, World Carp held a World Culture and Sports Festival. World Carp's mission is to encourage conscientious young people to live for the sake of others, by bridging the generations, and transcending the boundaries between races, nationalities and religions.
Conference sessions included presenters from a variety of backgrounds: Robin Graham, the Program Director of Global Team Together, gave a presentation on the strategic management of public service. Masashi Sano, treasurer and controller of two companies under United Vision Group, Inc., gave a beginners' introduction to financial concepts and their applications for non-profit organizations. Michael Inglis, a designer and publisher, spoke on how to find motivation to complete important tasks. Don Sardella, founder of the Institute for Leadership Development spoke on the application of leadership skills to everyday tasks. Russ Allen, CEO of Empowered Media, gave a presentation on the use of media in public relations, promotion, education and recruitment. Robbert Kittel, president of the Pure Love Alliance, gave a talk on the shortfalls of modern sex education and the need to teach abstinence. Tony Devine, vice-president of the International Educational Foundation, rounded out the presentations with a discussion on universal moral values.
Another highlight of the festival was a Lasting Love Conference, exploring the dream of a lasting world peace through the creation of healthy, God-centered families. The presentation connected the teachings of the IIFWP founders with those of other contemporary spiritual leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi and the former UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskoljd.
Finally, the Mister and Miss University beauty pageant was held. Unlike a typical beauty pageant, which focuses solely on physical attractiveness, this pageant encourages the pursuit of beauty based on a broad range of features, including intellectual acumen, international awareness, communication, service to others, morality and ethics.
The festival was a resounding success, drawing students from all over the United States as well as many other countries.