Image
Young people, forest walk

Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC

The Ecumenical Youth Gathering prior to the assembly includes the Pre-assembly Youth, the Youth Leadership Program, and the Stewards Programme to celebrate the global ecumenical movement.

”It feels good to celebrate Ecumenical International Youth Day in Karlsruhe during the WCC assembly. Im really happy that our Indigenous youth can gather together in Karlsruhe to meet, share, and learn from and with each other. It is also important to build bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth. Hope they can find life-lasting friendships. I believe celebrating Ecumenical International Youth Day during the assembly makes our Indigenous youth more visible,” said Mari Valjakka, moderator, Indigenous Peoples Reference Group, WCC.

The Ecumenical Youth Gathering recently released a book that is designed to help people reflect on the issues affecting Indigenous peoples. Moreover, the Ecumenical Youth Gathering has also released a toolkit that will help churches around the world prepare for a prayer event, “Reconnecting with Mother Nature and the planet,” that will be held on 12 August, marking International Youth Day. It will be held in conjunction with the Ecumenical Youth Gathering’s hybrid-style gathering in Germany on 30 August.

 

Image
Young girls, photo

Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC

“This year's Ecumenical International Youth Day toolkit is an invitation to partnership and active solidarity in understanding the importance of land to Indigenous peoples as well as creative ways of engaging in advocacy and activism from the perspective of Indigenous youth. In this respect, the toolkit is both an important contribution and resource to the global ecumenical fellowship,” said Rev. Dr Seforosa Carroll, programme executive, Mission from the Margins/Ecumenical Indigenous Peoples Network.