Water for Life! -world youth leaders shout

trees for life-- participants offsetting the local carbon footprint emitted

the green world youth day participants after the planning day

main resource person showing off the New Laos Stove

Green WYD dialogues with Western MPs

Vince, Kins and Charles went to the Victoria Parliament Building to dialogue with the Western Members of the Parliament as a way of profiling the Green World Youth Day program. Water for Life as the theme of the program was received with much enthusiasm by the MPs and encouraged the holding of this international program at the Western Region.

The said meeting was facilitated by Mr. Thelmo Languillier, MP for Derrimut District. Mr. Languillier was once a student leader in his time at the Victoria University.

Victoria University supports Green World Youth Day

After a series of meetings and consultations, Ms. Selvi Kannan, Events Management Lecturer of Victoria University (VU) committed to take up the Green World Youth Day (GWYD) Program as a project of her students. Seeing potential and importance in talking about water and the need for international solidarity, she encouraged the Green World Youth Day management team to articulate the daily events of the program.

Last Wednesday, February 27, 2008 the Green World Youth Day International Volunteers met Selvi's class and did a general presentation at VU-Sunbury Campus. Afterward, they also met with the marketing team of the same university. After the team's presentation, they commented that the activity is very relevant because it is Green, youthful and international. These are the reasons why VU would very much like to be a part of it.

WATER IS LIFE! - YPD 2008 Theme

Recognizing the universal significance on water among all the cultures and religions of the world, the YPD (Young People for Development) 2008 Training Session will take a closer look on the issue. Water, being at the heart of the web of life cannot just be overlooked when looking at environment and development. The 2007 Annual YPD Training Session in Cambodia discussed lengthily about climate change and how YPD can do something about it. YPD groups from the world over took the issue up through education, campaigns, projects and activities. For next year, the topic on water will be reflected as a continuation or a broadening on the climate change issue.The session will be held in St. Albans, a suburb in the West of Melbourne, Australia on July 5-10, 2008. In preparation for the event, volunteers have been meeting inter-religious groups, centers for environmental concerns and committed individuals who knows more about the issue.

YPD 2008 Annual Session on July 5-10, 2008

Next year's annual YPD (Young People for Development (YPD) training session will be in Melbourne, Australia on July 5-10, 2008. It is the first time that a YPD Formation session will be held in a 'developed' country and is co-organised by a Catholic Parish.YPD members and interested individuals/groups are encouraged to register early to prevent complications in terms of travel and visa arrangements. The 2008 program will be held ten days before the World Youth Day Program in Sydney. An eco-solidarity tour will be held on July 12-14 from Melbourne to Sydney for the YPD Session participants to take a closer look at Australia and to have a deeper understanding on the issues involved.