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Religious Youth Service
RYS-Sri Lanka: Peace Through Interreligious Dialogue & Service
August 13, 2003
Jaffna, Sri Lanka—RYS finished constructing and painting walls, building a small room, and laying a roof of a preschool. In addition, we donated furniture and play equipment for the school and repaired a fence and planted trees and a garden.
RYS-Indonesia Helps Bridge Communities with Unity in Diversity Program
June 30, 2003
Jogjakarta, Indonesia—To help heal the past animosity between the Chinese Indonesian and the Malay Indonesian communities the Indonesian Confucius Society helped organize RYS work at an old Islamic School.
RYS Hold Unity in Diversity Program in Malaysia
June 14, 2003
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.
Loving Kindness: An Instrument for Peace
April 9, 2003
Banepa, Nepal—RYS lights 10,000 earthen lamps as an interfaith prayer for peace at a Sakya Buddhist Center.
Religious Youth Service Building a Culture of Everlasting Peace
January 10, 2003
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 2003 National and International Projects Review
January 1, 2003
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.
Religious Youth Service Holds Thirteenth Friendship Americas Project in Three Countries
August 27, 2002
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.
RYS Joins with Ministry of Youth and Sports For Programs in Samoa
January 25, 2002
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.
RYS Holds First Program in Tonga; Covered by National TV
January 23, 2002
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.
RYS Promotes Island Friendship and Reconciliation in Australia Through Community Project
January 22, 2002
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.
RYS Creates Action Plan for Interfaith Service Projects in New Zealand
January 19, 2002
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.
Religious Youth Service Opens Doors in Eastern Sri Lanka
August 26, 2001
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.
RYS Helps Construction of a Kindergarten in Mongolia
August 24, 2000
Ulan Bator, Mongolia—RYS helped on the construction of a 2-story kindergarten (for about 40 children) in a poor and remote area of Ulan Bator. Participants also did light construction work (with wood, cement and paint) inside and around the building, creating an outdoor toilet, making various toys for the children.
Religious Youth Service Builds New School in Guatemala
July 12, 2000
Chinautla, Guatemala—In Chinaulta, the RYS worked with mayor Paramo and city council to target an area where a new school is most urgently needed. They selected a newly settled community on top of a very hilly area. There the RYS began construction on a school while it also worked to widen the road to allow access by school bus.
Religious Youth Service's Second Africa Rising Project Hosted in Uganda
June 18, 2000
Lira, Uganda—The series of projects launched this year by IRFF and RYS have helped attract the attention of the highest levels of Uganda government. The projects show that we are serious and capable of delivering a fine program that fits the needs of the country.
Religious Youth Service First Africa Rising Project
April 2, 2000
Lagos, Nigeria—Over sixty five religious leaders, social activities and concerned youth leaders from six nations helped inaugurate the first RYS Africa Rising Program in Lagos, Nigeria on April 1-2.
RYS Graduates in Sri Lanka Vow to Work for Peace
January 14, 2000
Bagahawatte, Sri Lanka—Participants helped construct a nursery school, create a playground, and landscape two school play areas.
RYS Hosts 'As Friends' Alumni Leadership Training
January 14, 2000
Koggala Beach, Sri Lanka—As Friends Alumni Leadership Training immediately followed the RYS project and its purpose was to train a group of leaders that could return home an organize or support local RYS activities.
RYS-Columbia Builds a Peace Garden at the Columbanus Center for Reconciliation
September 30, 1999
Belfast, Northern Ireland—Thirty-five RYS participants from twelve nations joined together to model and build a Peace Garden at the Columbanus Center for Reconciliation.
Religious Youth Service Reveals Beauty of the Cape Coast in South Africa
December 30, 1997
Cape Town, South Africa—RYS had its final project of the year which was timed to coincide with the World Parliament of Religion's and to demonstrate the spirit of religious and racial cooperation that can lead us into a new millennium of peace.