Real life has no borders

18 August 2008

Watch a video of the week in the Rolling Globe

Over 6,000 young people from around the world came together in Prague at the YMCA Europe Festival 2008. Young people from over 50 countries attended the festival, including: Brazil, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Romania, Russia, Sweden, UK and USA.

The theme of the festival, which ran from 3rd – 9th August, was ‘real life has no borders’. Young people were encouraged to look at their place in the world, explore the links between their lives and those of other young people around the world, and to think about what they can personally do to make a difference.

Y Care International was running the largest venue, dubbed ‘The Rolling Globe’. From 10 am till midnight each day, young people took part in workshops, stage performances, activities and late night debates. Young people explored global issues and looked at the realities of young people’s lives to show that there are no borders and that no matter where we’re from, we all share the same dreams, hopes and problems.

Some of the activities included: films from around the world, dance, cultural awareness games, workshops on HIV in India, conflict in Colombia, youth justice in Honduras, mock checkpoints to show what life is life for young people in Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka and Palestine, and a graffiti wall for participants to send messages to the UN about youth justice.

A group of young people from Y Care International’s partner countries joined us in the globe. Throughout the festival, the young people from Colombia, Togo, Honduras and India, delivered workshops and multimedia presentations on youth justice, HIV/AIDS and conflict;  issues which show what real life means to them.

Visit: www.ymca2008.com for more information.