The DPI/NGO Youth Representatives orientation program took place Thursday February 28th from 9:45 am to 6pm. When the program first started, all the youth reps were asked to form a circle to participate in an ice breaker game. The task was to hold into the string and tell everyone who you are, where you’re from and what your NGO is. The point of the game was to show that everyone is connected.
The DPI youth reps are looking to make an impact, we can provide our proposals in writing to certain people that are our points of contact, one of which is Ahmad Alhendawi, the newly appointed Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth.During first half of the orientation Mr. Alhendawi spoke about his position and what he hoped we as youth representatives would do as well as what his plans for the future were. What the UN is looking to gain from the youth members in DPI is to encourage other young members in our respective NGOs to get involved in the UN’s community service events and for the DPI youth members to communicate UN events and news that are taking place in New York to other UN youth members around the world.
The DPI Youth Representatives program started last year and it has been stated by the Secretary-General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, to make youth involvement in the UN a priority. As a result, they are looking for different ways to get the youth around the world more involved. One of the speakers mentioned that the UN is looking to develop young members to eventually take a leader role through field work and youth meetings.
Many speakers in the first half emphasized that youth representatives should always be “hands on” and participate in as many briefings and youth reps events as possible. The speakers strongly beloved that the youth in the world would be the ones to help change the world. The second half focused on social networking and how we could promote our NGOs as well as DPI/NGO in general. Lastly we all moved to the resource center and split into groups to come up with projects to work on through the year. During the first half of the day the secretary generals youth envoy spoke a bit about how important it was to the Secretary General to educate children while they are young about different countries. Both Ahmad and the Secretary General believe that many disputes and wars could have been prevented if they had learned as children about other countries and had the chance to interact with them. There are youth briefings every Thursday and there will be an NGO orientation for new associates in the NGO in April. We are not required to attend these events. DPI youth also have social group gatherings a few times a year and we are encourage to invite the youth members of our NGOs as well.
2013 UN DPI/NGO Youth Representatives Orientation
BLIA Durban Chapter Donates Wheel Chairs
On March 11th, 2012, BLIA Durban Chapter in South Africa celebrated Guan Yin Bodhisattvas birthday by organizing an event to donate wheel chairs to those in need with disabilities. The recipients whom were of all ages and races that received wheel chairs lived in remote areas that are hard to reach. BLIA Durban Chapter made special arrangements to pick up recipients and their families that lived in the remote mountainous areas and transfer them to the venue.
BLIA Durban: Benefiting Societies through Charitable Programs
To promote the aim of “benefiting societies through charitable programs,” Vice President of BLIA Pretoria Chapter and board members accompanied Venerable Hui Xing to Leratong Hospice, 80km outside of the Nan Hua Temple in South Africa, on May 5th 2012. They donated a total of 6 wheel chairs, 2 walkers and 6 pairs of crutches to the Hospice.
Upon arriving, Venerable Hui Xing as well as the board members were welcomed by the doctors and staff of the hospice with a welcome song native to South Africa. Representative of the Hospice Mr.Brian said in his speech “Our hospice was established by the kind efforts of a pastor, today we are happy that Nan Hua Temple has donated to us with the buddhist spirit of universal compassion. We are touched by their donation.” After a group photo, Venerable Hui Xing told the story of “Five Fingers” explaining how an illness may be physical but illness from the heart is the most difficult to cure. Learning how to put your body and mind at ease is a subject worthy of consideration.
Hurricane Sandy Relief in Staten Island
On November 17th, 2012, BLIA New York Chapter members collaborated with the NYPD to help those in Staten Island that were heavily affected by Hurricane Sandy.
20121121 BLIA-NY Hurricane Sandy-Staten Island
