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Jouni Hemberg: “Make the message more visible”

Our series of interviews with Thursdays in Black ambassadors highlights those who are playing a vital role in increasing the impact of our collective call for a world without rape and violence. Jouni Hemberg is executive director of Finn Church Aid.

On the eve of “16 Days”, churches in Nairobi launch Thursdays in Black

While lighting candles at a gathering of the All Africa Conference of Churches in Nairobi, church leaders, members of the civil society and youth on Monday launched Thursdays in Black, the global movement calling for resistance to attitudes and practices that permit rape and violence.

Unveiling the campaign, Archbishop Timothy Ndambuki, an African Brotherhood Church leader who is the chairman of the National Council of Churches of Kenya, urged churches to hear and give compassion to women suffering violence without asking questions.

WCC reflects on ecological racism and climate justice at conference in Crete

"Ecological racism and prophetical voices for ecological crisis – Climate justice". This was the theme of the 6th international conference on Ecological theology and Environmental Ethics organized at the Orthodox Academy of Crete under the auspices of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I on 23-26 September.

Youth Take the Lead – and Faith Communities Should Endorse Them

When the UN general secretary, António Guterres, called for a Climate Summit during the opening days of the 2019 General Assembly, he placed extraordinary focus on youth. That was natural, since the greenhouse gas emissions of today will be affecting the world of tomorrow. And the world of tomorrow is in the hands of the children of today.

Pilgrims walk with minorities in Japan

In a gesture of solidarity with marginalized minorities in Japan, a pilgrim team with participants from around the world gathered in Tokyo, Japan, on 12 September to encourage, empower, support and walk alongside minority communities for four days.

In Japan, indigenous and ecumenical youth call for action against racism

Twenty-seven indigenous and ecumenical youths gathered together for a five-day World Council of Churches (WCC) event this week in Japan’s third-largest, western city of Osaka. Participants gathered under the theme, “WCC Continuing Formation on Youth and Racism Awareness in Asia & Indigenous Youth Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace.”

Young peoples movement strengthens influence

After three intense days with deep discussions and productive sessions, the bi-annual meeting of the World Council of Churches (WCC) ECHOS Commission came to an end on Thursday. Fourteen young committee members and staff from 20 different countries all over the world had gathered in Seoul, Korea to further strengthen the WCC young peoples movement and continue the pilgrimage of justice and peace.

Iraqi refugee shares story of hope through harrowing ordeal

On International Youth Day, Azeez Sadeq, who now lives in Lyon, France, shared his personal story of being an Iraqi refugee.

"Have you ever thought that one day, you can lose everything?” he asked the young people gathered with him.

That's what happened to Sadeq when he was 18 years old, when the Islamic State Organisation, also referred to as Daesh, invaded his village.

Ecumenical young trailblazers

Young people are trailblazers, pioneers, visionaries and leaders who have the potential to create a positive, sustainable legacy for future generations on a global scale.
On 12 August, International Youth Day, youth led a TED-style talk and discussion in Geneva, with five young speakers from different parts of the world, four virtually and one live. The stories and experiences shared connected them to theme “Transforming Education,” while inspiring the audience for a call to action.

Youth celebrate inclusion and world’s gifts, even amid grave challenges

In light of International Youth Day on 12 August, the World Council of Churches (WCC), Lutheran World Federation and the World Student Christian Federation invited youth to celebrate the day at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva. The event promoted a shared understanding of inclusion, acknowledging the gifts and addressing the common concerns and challenges of young people around the world.

Greetings to the International Youth Day 2019

It is with heartfelt sincerity and even a certain urgency that I greet you today in the name of the global fellowship of Christians that is the World Council of Churches. On this 19th celebration of International Youth Day, I especially greet those of you gathered in Seoul, Republic of Korea, and in Geneva, Switzerland.

General Secretary

WCC to youth: “Is this the world we bequeath to you?”

On 12 August, International Youth Day, World Council of Churches deputy general secretary Prof. Dr Isabel Apawo Phiri greeted young people gathered in Geneva, Switzerland.
International Youth Day, Phiri reflected, takes place in a time of increased international tensions, looming climatic deadlines, increasing disparities of income and wealth, and great rents in the social fabric of our societies.

WCC invites media to the Ecumenical International Youth Day

On the occassion of the International Youth Day (IYD) on 12 August the World Council of Churches (WCC) invites media to attend a youth-led day jointly prepared with the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva.

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