IYCS 2021 Global Training Session

2021 Global Training Session

The Global Training Session (GTS), held from 22nd to 25th April 2021 online via zoom, brought together 85 participants from 65 countries representing the five (5) regions of our movement of Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and Latin America. The GTS was organised on the theme: “Youth Engaging in Humanitarian Action and Sustainable Development” to create space for young people from different continents and cultures to discuss the impact of the coronavirus crisis that led to a change in social and economic order and to evaluate of the progress being made on sustainable development, and advocate for it. 

This was an opportunity to stitch a new garment: one that fits all of humanity and nature. The issues of Health; Education; Online violence against children and young people; Innovation; Inequalities; Climate change; Peace and Security and Partnership were critical as to why there was need to pay more attention to the youth in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic as we journey through the last decade of action. As a result the participants reflected on the current challenges and came out with a new global campaign theme ‘Holistic eduACTion for a better world’ which was adopted by the International Committee to guide the mission and actions of the movement for the period 2021 – 2024.

However, we observed that these moments of crisis also present opportunities for more solidarity and humanity, for more sophisticated and flexible use of technology, less polarisation, a revived appreciation for the outdoors, and life’s other simple pleasures. No one knows exactly what will come, but here is our best stab at a guide to the unknown ways that society—government, healthcare, the economy, our lifestyles, and more—will change. In this context, IYCS has constantly empowered young people on holistic education, the care of our mother earth, and peacebuilding through training and campaigns at international, regional, national and diocesan levels. We’ve also been enhancing the capacity of young people on transformative leadership, personal development, and youth empowerment and advocacy. These cycles of training allowed National Movements to draw action plans to apply the new skills and knowledge acquired.

The participants reaffirm their commitment to IYCS and firmly believe that IYCS has a huge influence on young people through its campaigns and can contribute greatly in social transformation. However, they urge the IYCS Secretariat to build and strengthen the capacity of its members by equipping students on issues concerning collaboration, evangelization and networking in order to make a domino effect of its various program activities and campaigns.

The objective of this Global Training Session was to empower and leverage Young Catholic Students for meaningful engagement in humanitarian action (COVID-19 pandemic), and to positively contribute towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Full report of this global training session can be downloaded here; https://iycs-jeci.org/reports/ 

Below is a link to access the 2021 Global Training Session materials and experts’ interventions.

GTS Materials here.