Gen-Y to G8 – Reflections from the Youth Component of the 2010 World Religions Summit

Gen-Y to G8 – Reflections from the Youth Component of the 2010 World Religions Summit
By Nicholas Pang

What do religion and politics have to do with each other?

It's a fair question and one that the 2010 World Religions Summit tried to address. In late June, nearly 100 faith leaders from all over the world met together to challenge the G8 political leaders to make the Millennium Development Goals a commitment for their governments. They pushed specifically for the issues of poverty, environmental sustainability and peace and conflict.

Midway through the summit, we held a dinner called Gen-Y to G8. It brought together religiously diverse youth and young adults from all across the Winnipeg area and was facilitated by youth from across the country. Nearly 100 young people came together to comment on the religious leaders' statement and to offer suggestions of their own.

They didn't stop there though. Each young person made a commitment of her or his own to make the world a better place and nearly $1000 (all proceeds) from the event went to fighting malaria in Sub Saharan Africa.

The next day, a select group presented these discussions to the religious leaders and challenged them to make commitments of their own. This was the first time that the summit has been held in Canada and it was also the first time that the summit incorporated a significant youth component. The youth voice was strong and presented the challenging notion that religious leadership is found even among the younger generations.

Young people of faith have a role to play and this year, they carried it out with courage; they spoke boldly and prophetically and they showed that the creation of safer and more just societies is of primary importance to young people of faith today. The Gen-Y to G8 event was co-hosted by Faiths Act Canada and the Global College of the University of Winnipeg. For more information on the Summit, see www.faithchallengeg8.com.

Thanks to Nick for his leadership in this event! Nick is a young Anglican who is speaking boldly and acting prophetically for the creation of safer and more just societies… Nick is presently enrolled in Theological Studies at McGill University.