In the coming of the new year, ATD Youth community members are gearing up for an explosion of initiatives worldwide. From Mexico to Belgium, South Africa to the United Kingdom, Australia to Canada, and the United States to Ecuador, Youth Initiatives and Allied Community Projects are taking shape. While many campaigns are in the evolutionary process, they are well on their way to sparking motivation on a large scale. To name a few, below are evolving plans from the ATD community.
If you are taking part in any past, evolving, or planned initiatives, please share with us! Your story may be one of the greatest inspirational tools. Contact us at youthinitiative@pachamama.org
Warm Wishes.
Hong Kong Educators trained as Facilitators are delivering the Awakening the Dreamers Symposium to students. In result, students are taking their own initiative, bringing the message to others. Facilitator Jo Fok is committed to spreading the Symposium and its message throughout schools in 2010 and 2011, in Hong Kong and beyond. Contact Jo Fok at jo.fok (at) the-global-shift.org.
South Africa’s Pachamama Plett Group is in the process of creating an extended two-day program for Youth, including dance, drama and music. For more information, contact Carole Surya at carolsurya (at) gmail.com
Beryl Allport of Kemptville, Canada, recently sent a proposition to the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario, inspiring them to bring the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium to Youth in the District. Beryl can be contacted at beryl (at) beallucanbe.com
A two day Symposium for 350 teenagers is programmed for a Catholic school’s annual retreat this February in Beligum. Ten Belgian Facilitators are meeting regularly to adapt the Symposium specifically for Youth. Including more time for artistic work and personal expression, and overall global revisions that would fully invite Youth to engage in emotional work. The ultimate goal is to form a group of young Facilitators who could present Symposia in schools throughout Belgium. Contact Emile Etienne at emile.etienne (at) hotmail.com.
Sonoma, California Facilitator June Michaels is in collaboration with the Climate Protection Campaign’s Cool Schools Program to support Symposium integration into Sonoma school(s). Contact June Michaels at junem99 (at) sonic.net.
Paul Kazyak and Mary Pike of Maryland will bring the Symposium to a group of environmental educators on February 5. Paul can be reached at Pkazyak (at) dnr.state.md.us.
Portland, Oregon is on its way to creating its own intergenerational Youth Initiative Team. The teams plans a February training for interested Facilitators; a March Symposium at PSU’s Spiritual Life Center; a Symposium for Youth specifically in collaboration with Earth Day in April; and a May Symposium for high school Youth and home schoolers in Bend, Oregon. To learn more about Youth Initiative plans in Oregon, contact Angela Hamilton at vidabalancea (at) yahoo.com.
South Florida Facilitator Sharon Joy Kleitsch and her local comrades are making plans for an Intergenerational Facilitator training in Summer 2010, including students for a number of universities, a local Unity and numerous other groups. For more information, Sharon can be contacted at kleitsch (at) verizon.net
Through a partnership with Generation Waking Up and the Awakening the Dreamer initiative, this project seeks to create a ‘Generation Waking Up’ adaptation of the Awakening the Dreamer symposium. The purpose of this adaptation is to infuse younger voices, stories, and styles into the existing symposium so that it can more powerfully reach and serve the young generations that are coming of age in these times. Contact Joshua Gorman at Joshua (at) generationwakingup.org.
Youth Training Programs, in both planning and intention phases, are taking shape—bringing more potential to the growing movement!
-Bay Area Youth Facilitator Training Program: March/April 2010
-Northeast Youth Facilitator Training Program: April 2010
-Hummingbird Young Adult Facilitator Training Programs: June 2010
-Generation Waking Up/ATD Youth Facilitator Training Program: July 2010
-National Youth/Student Leader Facilitator Training Program: Summer 2010