Religious Youth Service
UPF chapters organize Religious Youth Service projects that offer service-learning opportunities with a special focus on developing personal leadership and peacemaking skills. Through living together and providing altruistic service in a community, participants demonstrate that it is possible for our global human family to come together in peace for our mutual well being.
- Religious Youth Service
- Written by: Religious Youth Service-Thailand
Since 1989, Religious Youth Service has been organizing interfaith service-learning projects for youth in various parts of Thailand. Here is a sampling of reports of projects through 2012.
- Religious Youth Service
- Written by: UPF - Thailand
Baan Dadthongchareon, Thailand - A Religious Youth Project in an agricultural community in northern Thailand from March 15 to 19 promoted understanding, friendship, and harmony among participants. The 70 Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, and Catholic youth worked together to improve a children's playground, build vegetable and fruit gardens, repair the road inside the school compound, and build a water drainage system.
- Religious Youth Service
- Written by: Religious Youth Service-Sri Lanka
Since 1992, Religious Youth Service has been offering Sri Lankans a model of how ethnic, religious, and even political differences can be bridged during the 1983-2009 civil war and its aftermath. Here is a sampling of reports through 2011.
- Religious Youth Service
- Written by: Dr. Robert S. Kittel, Education Director, UPF-Asia
Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka - In a village that suffered some of the most brutal fighting of the Sri Lanka civil war, Religious Youth Service brought 43 people from four religious traditions to help build a community center as part of a service-learning project from December 16-22.
- Religious Youth Service
- Written by: Piya Ratna, Religious Youth Service - Nepal
Lumbini, Nepal - The Universal Peace Federation opened its service project at a primary school in Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, on December 1, the same day the government of Nepal launched a campaign to promote tourism and development of its key Buddhist shrines.
- Religious Youth Service
- Written by: Prunella Mungroo, RYS-Trinidad & Tobago
Coming across a T-shirt with the slogan "The Revolution Has Begun - Join the Vision" from a group that I started with some friends at the University of the West Indies reminded me of the Religious Youth Service project we organized in Trinidad & Tobago in 2009.
- Religious Youth Service
- Written by: Religious Youth Service - India
Kochi, India - A Religious Youth Service project Aug. 9-15, 2011, included planting fruit trees and a vegetable garden at a school in Kochi, India, cleaning an athletic field, training in communication and peacebuilding skills, and visits to religious and cultural sites.
- Religious Youth Service
- Written by: Remy Taupier, UPF-St. Lucia
Anse-la-Raye, St. Lucia - Participants in a Religious Youth Service project Aug. 2-13, 2011, in the small fishing village of Anse-la-Raye painted homes of senior citizens and made friends with local youth.
- Religious Youth Service
- Written by: Dr. Chula Seneratne, Sri Lanka
Colombo, Sri Lanka - Three students of the Amal International School Sri Lanka who are alumni of Religious Youth Service projects won a trip to San Francisco, California, in August 2011, where they will participate in ThinkQuest workshops.
- Religious Youth Service
- Written by: Religious Youth Service-Georgia
Zugdidi, Georgia - At a Religious Youth Service project in Zugdidi, western Georgia, July 16-25, 2011 participants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cote d'Ivoire, Georgia and Russia lived and worked together as an interfaith and international community helping at an orphanage.
- Religious Youth Service
- Written by: Georgia Person, Religious Youth Service
Paramaribo, Suriname - The First Lady of Suriname, Ingrid Bouterse-Waldring, asked Suriname youth at a May 19, 2011 meeting to build on the spirit of volunteerism embodied by Religious Youth Service and a visiting "Generation Peace" team and initiate a national volunteer organization.
- Religious Youth Service
- Written by: Religious Youth Service - Suriname
Paramaribo, Suriname - Under the patronage of the Director of Youth Affairs in the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, Religious Youth Service alumni and volunteers from Generation Peace in the US hosted a “Friendship Americas” concert on May 14, 2011.