The Asian Youth Exchange is an annual program that focuses on developing the character, creativity and conviction of young Asian leaders.
“What I gained from the Asian Youth Exchange 2013? The true meaning of One Family Under God.” AYE 2013 Participant, GPF Malaysia Facebook FanPage
The Global Peace Foundation reported the Online Stars describing the 2013 Asian Youth Exchange (AYE) “eye-opening.” Youth from 11 Asian nations and various ethnic and religious backgrounds met in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for this unique training program that focused on developing moral and innovative leadership. They also got first-hand experience building One Family under God.
Speakers, discussions, hands-on service and interfaith exchange were but a few of the program features in this leadership training.
The “Interfaith Unity Walkabout”, was organized by National Unity and Integration Department director-general Datuk Azman Amin Hassan. AYE participants visited Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu places in the uniquely diverse Brickfields area of Kuala Lumpur. Hanna Andari, was quoted in the Online Star saying, “It was special and meaningful. I am a Muslim and have not visited any churches before. Now, I believe that peace and understanding can be achieved regardless of our faith.”
Participants were also asked to roll up their sleeves and serve. Using their creativity, they raised RM 1,064.95 through the Power of Ten Sen Initiative. They donated the money to support a clean-up project run by youth volunteers in Jalan Loke Yew, a low income housing community in the city. With ten sen the AYE volunteers began a chain of change, to empowering donors and the youth of Jalan Loke Yew to own their communities.
According to the GPF article, three takeaways of AYE 2013 were:
- change starts from the individual
- service is a great place to start when working to understand others and implement change
- we are all a part of a greater human family
With these realizations, AYE participants pledged to meet Global Peace Festival Malaysia‘s facebook call to action: “90% of today’s conflicts are re-occurrences – which means, they are inherited, passed down from generation to generation; we can definitely make peace and make the world a better place if we, OURSELVES put a stop to inheriting these conflicts NOW!”
For the article in The Online Star visit: http://www.thestar.com
For the GPF article visit: http://www.globalpeace.org/_blog/Blog/post/asian-youth-exchange-2013