“Youth in Global” began as the “Girls Group”. It was funded at the end of 2012 from $951 of unused Director of Children’s Ministry Continuing Education and $700 of unused Mission Project Support-Youth funds.
The group was integrated within Christian education. This was an idea of Deacon Cary Chirico. She has written the curriculum that has spread to other states, such as Ohio. By 2015, it had become “Youth in Global Mission” for 16 and 17 year olds. They also had one youth from the synagogue which will add another dimension to the group.
From the St. George’s website= “In all cultures around the world women and girls are the most vulnerable and the most marginalized of groups – impacted deeply by climate change, poverty and violence. Our faith calls us to respond to the need; our privilege allows to look for answers. The group began meeting in September and meets once a month for six months to learn about the issues. Each month we meet or reclaim a sister from Scripture who can serve as an example of women working with God to make changes for the good of all.” They then go to the NY to participate in the United Nations Commission on Status of Women and Girls meeting in March to share what they learn and to learn from others
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is an intergovernmental body with two purposes – promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. The website http://www.unwomen.org/en/csw includes the following summary – “The CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s rights, documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women.”
There are two themes discussed – “Priority Themes” are for discussion and action at its annual meeting They also “evaluates progress in implementing agreed conclusions” from previous themes and are called “Review Themes;”
2013: Priority theme: Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls. Review theme: The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS
2014: Priority theme: Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls. Review theme: Access and participation of women and girls to education, training, science and technology, including for the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work
2015: Review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, including current challenges that affect the implementation of the Platform for Action and the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women, as well as opportunities for strengthening gender equality and the empowerment of women in the post‑2015 development agenda through the integration of a gender perspective.
2016: Priority theme: Women’s empowerment and the link to sustainable development. Review theme: The elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls
2017: Priority theme: Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work. Review theme: Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls
Yearly activities from Youth in Global.
2013 – Group of six girls and mothers participated in the UN trip. They have been meeting monthly to discuss issues that affect woman and girls world-wide (stereotype, education, microfinance, rape, prostitution, etc). They wrote their own manifesto on the rights of girls.
After the trip they sponsored two showings of the film, Girl Rising. The film was about the power of education to change the world. The GIRLS were also interviewed by CNN about their experience.
On Sunday nights in the fall on 99.3 the Vibe radio, three members of the Girls Group hosted their own radio show where teens will be tackling difficult issues.
2014 – They have been learning around the lives of youth in other countries. At Annual Council (now Annual Convention) they presented their radio show to the event and had a surprising guest – then presiding bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori
They had 11 to go to the UN. At the UN, they were involved in a presentation on the use of radio as a medium for raising the conversation among their
peers. They were on the floor of the U.N. as guests of the Ambassador of Canada for a presentation by eight girls from around the world as they talk about the impact of the Millennium Development Goals on the lives of their families.
2015 – They are working on world issues, including gender based issues around education. They have one youth from the synagogue which will add another dimension to the group as part of the group of 6. There was also male participation this year, including this
video presentation
“Why does it concern us as people of faith that girls in many parts of the world fight for the right to an education or the right to choose that age at which they marry? How do we respond and how does our global Church respond”
2016 – This year the group explored the Sustainable Development Goals set by the nations of the world to guide us towards an end to poverty and equal access to human rights for women and girls everywhere. This was the priority theme of 2016
There had 10 going on the Youth and Global Community trip to New York, included a group from Ohio. The youth will be writing Prayers of the People and helping with the opening Eucharist. Recently they have had discussions between youth and moms on rape and sexual assault. They are working to find solutions to problems that keep girls from accessing an education, food, water and safety.
The Youth in Global program has provided youth time to study pressing problems that affect women throughout the world. The UN trip allows to show what they have learned in small groups and faith based sessions.
One item they have taken with them to NY since 2015 has been original “Prayers of the People”. Here is one from 2016:
Creator, we come before you as one people, embracing our diversity, celebrating our commonalities to seek far-reaching solutions for the empowerment of women and girls. Give to all Faith Leaders throughout the world, the courage and the wisdom to speak for the voiceless, to speak hard truths to the powerful.
Lord we come before you,
Change us and we shall be changed
We lift up to you today the leaders of our assembled nations. May they act with selflessness, compassion and connectedness to those who need them most.
Lord we come before you,
Change us and we shall be changed
In a world of brokenness, be with us – guide us, give us strength so we do not turn away from the struggles and needs of others but gratefully join hands and take action.
Lord we come before you,
Change us and we shall be changed
In the coming days we will encounter many stories, even those of people we will never meet. Help us to connect the love you have instilled in us with our actions in the world and let us turn that love into action when we move back out into the world.
Lord we come before you,
Change us and we shall be changed
We pray for all struggling peoples that they will find hope in you – refugees, widows, girls in danger – those who might feel broken or lost. Hold them, comfort them, and strengthen them in body, mind and spirit.
Lord we come before you,
Change us and we shall be changed