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Ecumenical International Youth Day 2023 Toolkit

Young People and Their Voices from the Warzones
Andrei Ursulean
Stefan Wilson

This year’s theme for Ecumenical Youth Day is Young People and Their Voices from the Warzones. Political insurrection and ideologies have permeated the fabric of society. This has caused division and hatred, resulting in the loss of innocent lives.

Addressing the realities young people face in the world today represents a moral imperative for and crucial aspect of peace-building. Providing them with access to education and psychological support is the only solution for their empowerment. Through this toolkit, the World Council of Churches, via youth engagement in the ecumenical movement, extends an invitation and encourages all member churches and ecumenical partners to participate in this year’s Ecumenical International Youth Day. This year, there is a special desire to draw attention to the situation of young people who live the hard realities of wars, conflicts, and injustice. This document contains resources and suggested ways to observe this day and adapt it to your context.

Ecumenical Youth Gathering Songbook

This collection of songs will be used during morning and evening prayers at the Ecumenical Youth Gathering to be held on 27-30 August before the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany, which aims to bring together around 400 young people from various churches and ecumenical partners to discuss a common message. The event is designed to provide an opportunity for young people to participate in intergenerational dialogue and develop a more inclusive agenda for the movement.

Ecumenical International Youth Day 2022 Event Toolkit

Indigenous Youth and Land Rights Activism

The theme for the fourth International Youth Day commemoration and toolkit, Indigenous Peoples and Land Rights Activism, arose out of several recommendations from young people within and outside WCC networks as one of the pressing issues that young people would like to explore.

This toolkit provides background information, resources and guidelines for advocacy by young people.

The WCC programmes on Youth Engagement in the Ecumenical Movement and the Ecumenical Indigenous Peoples (IP) Network, through its IP Youth network, have collaborated on this year’s focus.

Book Event: A Deeper Dive into Let the Waves Roar

01 April 2022

Consultations with young people, participants in WCC events between the 10th and the 11th assemblies, and a number of church leaders have concluded that there is a need to provide an updated resource to get to know young people of today and to explore ways for the church to effectively engage the 18–30-year-old age group in the ecumenical movement.

Ecumenical Center, Geneva, Switzerland and On-Line (YouTube)

Bossey online course in ecumenism

14 March - 05 June 2022

The Ecumenical Institute at Bossey is inviting applications for a renewed version of the 10-week online course entitled Together Towards Unity. Being Church in a Fragmented World” in 2022. Application deadline is 15 February.

Online

Let the Waves Roar

Perspectives of Young Prophetic Voices in the Ecumenical Movement

Consultations with young people, participants in WCC events between the 10th and the 11th assemblies, and a number of church leaders have concluded that there is a need to provide an updated resource to get to know young people of today and to explore ways for the church to effectively engage the 18–30-year-old age group in the ecumenical movement.

The 17 young people whose voices are heard in these pages represent eight regions and diverse church traditions. Another three chapters have been contributed by the editors and former WCC youth department staff. The book invites all generations to discern the signs of our times and to be proactive in our response to them.

Webinar on ’Racism, Land and Food’

15 December 2021

This webinar will explore the intersections of food, land, and racial injustice and discern key lessons from initiatives and good practices that work to overcome the impact of racial injustice and inequity on food sovereignty. 

Online (by registration)

Ecumenical International Youth Day 2021 Event Toolkit

Young People and Climate Justice

The World Council of Churches provides this toolkit as a resource for the fellowship to plan and organize unique celebrations of Ecumenical International Youth Day 2021. It includes background information and a description of this year’s theme, climate justice, tools and resources and a suggested programme format to use and adapt in local contexts.

The WCC programmes on Youth Engagement in the Ecumenical Movement, Churches Commitment to Children, and Climate and Economic Justice are collaborating for this year’s focus area.

#Youthtakeover for Ecumenical International Youth Day

12 August 2021

What is our role as Christians in protecting the environment? As the impact of climate change intensifies over time, children and young people are facing the consequences of our actions. This year, the World Council of Churches (WCC) is organizing an online event to observe Ecumenical International Youth Day as a space for young people to discuss climate change. 

Online

Stop the Flow: Let’s End Human Trafficking - World Day Against Trafficking in Persons webinar

30 July 2021

The World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation are collaborating to host a joint event on human trafficking. The event will take place on 30 July 2021, the World Day Against Trafficking in persons. This day provides an opportunity to sound the alarm about the horrible crime of human trafficking as well as for governments, faith based organizations and other partners to reaffirm their commitment to end this gross violation of human rights.

Steward programme 2022

21 August - 10 September 2022

The World Council of Churches (WCC) invites ecumenical youth to be stewards at the 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany, in 2022. The Stewards Programme aims to bring together a dynamic and diverse group of 160 young people from all over the world, from 21 August to 10 September 2022. The invitation is open to young people from a variety of backgrounds, churches and regions. 

Worldwide

ECHOS Commission Meeting

06 - 15 August 2019

The peace pilgrimage in Seoul will be followed by a three-day meeting with the ECHOS Commission on Youth during which commissioners will stake out plans for the WCC programme.

The pilgrimage and the ECHOS meeting will be complemented by the worldwide yearly Prayer for the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula on 11 August and the Ecumenical International Youth Day at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva on 12 August.

Korea

The Ecumenical International Youth Day| Transforming Education

12 August 2019

This year, the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), in partnership with the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF), will observe together the International Youth Day (IYD) with the theme: “Transforming Education.” Youth are the future of the church, and they are great advocates for Christian unity. The WCC wants to empower young Christians to liven up the ecumenical movement.

The Ecumenical Centre

Youth in Asia Training for Religious Amity

18 - 29 September 2019

Applications are now open for YATRA (Youth in Asia Training for Religious Amity), an interreligious training programme launched by the World Council of Churches (WCC) in 2014 following its 10th Assembly in Busan, Republic of Korea.

Republic of Korea

Continuing formation on Youth and Racism Awareness in Asia

08 - 12 September 2019

This event plans to engage 30 indigenous young people from around the world and 20 Asian young people to go deeper on the topic of racism and exchange experiences. Key reasons for gathering in Japan is to show concrete solidarity with Indigenous Communities in Japan, share stories and hear the issues that they are struggling with.

Osaka, Japan