Canadian Youth Put their Faith in Action!
“I commit to stop using disposable coffee cups, plastic water bottles and containers. I commit to gaining different perspectives on global issues and sharing this knowledge with my friends and family on a weekly basis. I commit to purchasing 2 items from the Canada Food Guide each time I grocery shop to donate to the local food bank.”
These commitments to real, concrete change were made by over 100 youth of diverse faith traditions at GEN-Y to G-8: A Multifaith Dinner to Inspire Change. On June 22nd 2010, youth from Winnipeg and across Canada came together to discuss major social justice issues and to start taking action to improve the situation of the world. This mini-youth Summit was held in conjunction with the Religious Leaders’ Summit, a gathering of over 80 leaders from around the world in Winnipeg to challenge and encourage the G8 and G20 leadership to address poverty, care for the environment and invest in peace (University of Winnipeg, June 21-23rd 2010).
13.07.10
More than a few organizations hope to influence the G8/G20leadership during their meeting in Canada in June, but very few are backed by over 3.3 billion voices. That’s the number of girls and women around the world who are represented by 21 young women at the Girls 20 Summit in Toronto this week. Not an eye was dry after the opening panel shared their stories and views on the biggest challenge to girls and women today. Lack of safe spaces, lack of education, child marriage, control of assets, and undervaluing are all a part of everyday life for girls and women around the world. The Belinda Stronach Foundation is hoping to elevate these issues on the G20 agenda by bringing together a group of exception 19 to 20-year-old young women from each of the G20 countries plus an African delegate to discuss these issues and offer creative, actionable solutions to the political leadership.
