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Participants in YATRA 2014 in Cambodia. Photo: WCC/Janith Demel

Participants in YATRA 2014 in Cambodia. Photo: WCC/Janith Demel

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The World Council of Churches (WCC) is inviting young adults from Asian churches to participate in a two-week-long training programme called Youth in Asia Training for Religious Amity (YATRA). Through an inter-cultural live-in experience, participants will enhance their knowledge of inter-religious dialogue and collaboration and their contribution to building peaceful and just communities. The deadline to submit applications is 31 March.

The training will take place from 7 to 20 June in Siam Reap, Cambodia, bringing together young men and women between the ages of 20 and 35.

The theme for this year’s training is “In God’s name: Religions Resourcing and Resisting Violence”. Addressing this theme, participants will critically analyse how religions are used to perpetrate violence, as well as how religions may offer resistance to violence, establishing harmonious communities.

The YATRA training will also provide participants an opportunity to understand complex intersections between religion and politics in contemporary Asian contexts. Participants will build networks and accompany local churches and national councils in their interfaith engagements.

Initiated in 2014 by the WCC’s programme for inter-religious dialogue and cooperation, YATRA training is response to a call from the WCC 10th Assembly 2013 – “a pilgrimage of justice and peace”.

The training will feature theological reflections, workshops, Bible studies, lectures by religious scholars, study of ecumenical documents, analysis, exposure visits and the cross-cultural experience of living together in a community and learning from one another.

The organizers of YATRA training aspire to have a wide representation from the WCC member churches in Asia. Churches, theological institutions and ecumenical bodies in the region are encouraged to recommend and sponsor candidates for this training programme.

The selection of participants aims to achieve a balanced representation in terms of region, denomination and gender. Partial scholarships are available for those with financial constraints.

Applicants are invited to send a completed application to the WCC programme for inter-religious dialogue and cooperation no later than 31 March 2015.

More information about YATRA 2015

Download the application form (MS Word, 49 KB)

Download the financial form (MS Word, 48 KB)

Download the participant guidelines (MS Word, 52 KB)

WCC programme for inter-religious dialogue and cooperation

Youth in the ecumenical movement