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Volunteers ask for donations from Satellites for the All Lights Village initiative. (credit: Global Peace Youth Corps)

Eighty youth from the Philippines, Japan, Mongolia, Korea and the U.S. sang, danced and delivered speeches in the heart of downtown Seattle to raise funds for the All Lights Village project and promote the vision that humanity is connected as one family under God.

The Global Peace Youth Festival was held in Seattle, Washington on August 11, 2013 It was a part of the Seattle Westlake Family Fun Week, sponsored in part by the Downtown Seattle Association, the Metropolitan Improvement District and Seattle Parks and Recreation.

When asked what she hoped the people of Seattle would gain from the festival, one volunteer from New York said, “There are probably many people who believe in God, but they might not openly say it. Through this, they can see that there are people who are living for the sake of others because of God. I hope that by being here they can feel open to sharing.”

A Filipina representative expressed, “I hope people will be inspired by this chance to help people in the Philippines and around the world.”

Their moving renditions of the Global Peace Foundation theme song, “One Family Under God,” and Michael Jackson’s “We are the World,” got people to stop and donate.

Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop Emeritus of the City of Manila, and patron of the All Light Village movement once expressed, “Thank you for paying attention to the needs of our brothers and sister in those poor areas of the country. “

The small acts to support the rural villages in the Philippines were slivers of light connecting Seattle to developing nations across the Pacific in small but significant ways. Engaging people in service made the vision of One Family Under God tangible.

As a University of Washington student and local chapter member of the Global Peace Youth Corps, said, “I hope that they can share the feeling of love here and know that we are all one family, no matter what race, religion or nationality.”

The Lights initiative is a comprehensive development plan for rural villages in areas of the Philippines, Nepal, Mongolia and recently Kenya and Uganda. The primary organizer of the event was the Global Peace Youth Corps, a non-profit organization founded by Dr. Moon with the mission to educate young people to become future leaders with both moral and innovative capacity. It has undertaken All Lights Village as its signature international project.

For the original story visit: www.globalpeaceyouth.org

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Through the International Youth Assembly and Global Peace Youth Corps (GPYC) the next generation is building a movement on college campuses and communities to secure peace through the vision of One Family Under God.

Dr. Hyun Jin Moon addresses youth in Nepal prior to an environmental clean-up project.

An essential of GPYC’s leadership training is attitude. Through hands-on service and social development projects, outdoor leadership training, and international leadership programs, members learn how to face challenges with an attitude that can secure success.

At the end of the day, people have one-hundred-percent control over their attitude in the face of life’s circumstances.

An attitude of humility and gratitude enables one to grow and learn from challenges.
• Gratitude for life, for hope, for every big and small blessing in life, including life’s challenges.
• Humility to recognize one’s limits and continually push past those limits to learn and grow towards a higher standard and a better self.
On the contrary, an attitude of self-pity leads to self-destruction and an attitude of arrogance is blinding.

Challenges are an indication of growth. During adolescence, the body experiences growing pains; it is the same in life. Without challenges, there is no growth. The right attitude enables a person to overcome and grow from challenge rather than be defeated.

Dr. Moon has spoken and worked with youth of emerging countries in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia, as well as the inner cities of developing nations such as the United States and Korea.

He has observed that young people have the greatest capacity to dream big. They are not held back by past enmities or realities. Even when they have nothing, they dream that somehow, someway the world will become better.

This is the vision that has driven the great leaders and transformers of this age. Regardless of the challenges, they held onto this dream and eventually changed the world.

Attitude keeps this vision alive and moving humanity forward.

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(left-right) Kimihira Miyake, GPYC Leadership Development, Niel Bush, Points of Light Chairman, Kenshu Aoki, President, GPYC-USA at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service.

GPYC-USA, President Kenshu Aoki spoke at National Conference on Volunteering and Service on June 20th. He said, “Service is not just about short-term charity, or fulfilling service hours, but about making a lasting impact.”

Over 5,000 people convened in Washington D.C. under the theme Service Unites. Political leaders, NGO’s, volunteers and educators from around the world and both sides of the American political divide attended.

GPYC-USA, President Kenshu Aoki served as a panelist at the session: Global Youth Service Leaders: Connecting Youth to a Global Service Movement. Panelists included Hammam Juraied, Manager of Princess Al Anood Center for Youth Development in Saudi Arabia, and Raaida, Mannana, Coordinator of the 2nd World Summit on Youth Volunteering and RED2021. The session was moderated by Melissa Golladay, Director for Professional Leadership Exchanges and Youth Engagement at Partners of the Americas.

 Mr. Aoki spoke on the question, “Why young people should be engaged in service abroad.” According to the GPYC-USA report, Mr. Aoki emphasized that “Service is an effective means of character education.” Overseas service, in particular, reveals universal values that bind humanity together. Mr. Aoki also highlighted the transformative power of service on the lives of those who are served and those who serve.

Global Peace Youth Corps has chapters in over 22 countries. This year a GPYC-USA will send a group to serve in La Represa, Dominican Republic. Later, in August, the International Youth Leadership Assembly will convene young entrepreneurs from over 40 countries in a practicum of leadership in peace like the UN and World Bank, concluding in Washington D.C. for the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

For the full article or more information on the summer programs visit: www.globalpeaceyouth.org

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This year, on June 1, Madaraka Day, Kenya celebrates fifty years since it established internal self-rule.

Jomo Kenyatta is considered to be one of the “founding fathers” of Kenya.

An editorial in The Standard Digital News reflected that as Kenya looks back on 50 years of successes and mistakes and moves towards the next 20 years, it is a time for “everyday heroism among citizens”.

Although visionaries have been crucial, it is really the people’s commitment and efforts to a common dream and purpose that has and will propel Kenya forward.

In 1963, Jomo Kenyatta, father of newly elected President Uhuru Kenyatta, urged unity and vision to the Kenyan people. “I ask for the cooperation of every man and woman in this land to help build the new nation. In the past we have known racial hatred in this land. Let there be forgiveness.”

Fifty years later, his son, Uhuru Kenyatta, shared the same dream with his fellow Kenyans. “I dream of a Kenya where we will not only be proud of our diverse heritage and cultures, but also where we will united around our common aspirations as Kenyan.” He continued, “Kenya is not a collection of 42 tribes who have to live together. Kenya is one nation, assembled by divine providence and held together for the last 50 years by our common bond and belief in a brighter future for us and our children.”

The dream of “we the people of Kenya,” is enshrined in their Kenyan constitution. The “aspiration of all Kenyans for a government based on the essential values of human rights, equality, freedom, democracy and social justice, and the rule of law” is rooted on the acknowledgement of the “Almighty God” and pride of its diversity.

In his speech, President Kenyatta made commitments to national unity, investments in green energy, moral and effective governance, an industrial revolution to propel Kenya to Vision 2030, a foreign policy, maternal health and the education and well-being of the youth.

At a recent 2 day capacity building workshop, GPYC leaders led a challenge hike through the Ngog Hills.

But, as the editorial in The Standard concludes, it is really the people who will determine Kenya’s future.  “Encouraging and rewarding this kind of attitude to nation building will create a new breed of heroes that could transform the country radically.”

GPYC-Kenya has recently launched U-Gen, an initiative to raise the next generation of leaders who can lead Kenya and Africa towards sustainable peace and development. These young leaders are being trained in the principles and values that under gird moral and innovative leadership to be and raise the next generation of heroes that will transform Kenya, Africa and the world.

The original articles appear on www.globalpeace.org/blog

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Team Aoki bonded through the trials they faced together in the great outdoor.

According to Kenshu Aoki, President of the Global Peace Youth Corps-USA (GPYC-USA) and adventure workshop team leader, “This 4-Day hike truly brought out the adventure in the adventure program.”

During the debriefing session, one participant confessed that this was the most physically challenging experience of his life. When the question was bounced back to the audience, “How many of you thought this was the most physically challenging experience in your life,” hands shot up.

For four days, the adventurers had to crawl through the mud, sleep in the rain, slip on wet algae covered rocks, get beaten by waves, and swept away by 6 foot tides. “The Pacific Ocean is a monster,” Mr. Aoki commented later.

For many, every day was a question of life or death. Mr. Aoki had several people who came from landlocked and temperate climate nations. The sound of the Pacific Ocean waves crashing against the rocks kept them up at night.

Such challenges push one beyond imagined limits and reveal one’s true strengths.

The jutting coastal line and every-changing tide made the Olympic Coast difficult to navigate without a map.

The Map is Key

The Olympic Coast is covered with rocky terrain, cliffs, and coves. One can’t see what is coming up next. What is more, the rhythm of the tides changes the landscape constantly. Without a map, it is nearly impossible to ascertain what lies ahead.  One misinterpretation of the map could throw the team off for hours, if not put them in peril.

In this case, the map was crucial to show the teams where they were, what lay ahead, and where they needed to go, in some cases through unbroken paths, to reach their destination.

Becoming A Team

But the terrain was not the only thing that needed to be figured out. In Mr. Aoki’s case he was the youngest member of the team, but team leader. He had to figure out how to navigate between differing abilities, ages, and opinions to make his team a cohesive unit that would make it safely back to basecamp.

For that, nature dished out its full course of lessons, and the team responded by galvanizing together. To accommodate the varying abilities, some team members volunteered to carry more load in their backpacks. Those who could not carry as much, worked hard in their own capacities: waking up early to start the coffee, collecting water, and cooking meals. Giving up was not an option for team Aoki.

A bonding experience to be pulled out by team members from thigh deep quick-mud.

While walking over a particularly muddy patch, a team mate from Brazil found himself sinking thigh deep in quick-mud. His team mates responded immediately. Painfully and slowly they pulled him out. Narrowly averting serious injury, the mud-covered hiker was all smiles. He thanked his teammates and said of the moment, “This was the best experience.”

 “By God’s grace, we made it back with no major injuries,” said Mr. Aoki at the close.

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On May 3rd, 2012 the Unification Pledge Campaign was launched at the National Assembly Building in Seoul, Korea. The pledge places the question and responsibility of reunification into the hands of every Korean, North and South, with a simple question, “What are you willing to do for reunification?” This grassroots movement for Korean unity is propelled by a partnership of over 400 civic and faith-based organizations.

The Korea United campaign makes reunification a part of every Korean’s everyday life. It shows that reunification is not just a matter reserved just for high-level discussion, nor is a phenomenon that will to occur through protracted government and international policy. It is an issue that needs the voice and commitment of all Koreans, starting with the attitude of South Koreans towards North Koreans.

South Korea has been on the United Nations International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination’s watch list since 2003.  Progress has been made with key policies like the National Action Plan for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and the establishment of the Interpretation Support Center for Foreign Migrant Workers.

However, in his blog post, Mr. Kim, director of GPF Korea realizes that South Korean bias towards North Korean refugees is even more severe than their bias towards foreigners. He wonders if reunification feasible with such profound discrimination.

Korea United’s approach is based on a higher vision based on spiritual principles and values rooted in Korea’s own shared historic philosophy of living for the benefit of mankind. That is why Korea United is driving forward service initiatives like the Power of 1,000 Won, the Alllights Village Project, and the Global Leadership Exchange Program, to bring Korean back to it’s original culture of living for humanity. In this way, it is pulling down preconceived barriers between not just Korea and the world, but between North and South to realize we are, one family under God.

Read Mr. Park’s blog post.

http://blog.naver.com/moraeal21/100173083594

Monday, November 19, 2012

Good morning.

It is me, Director Park.^^

When I was driving on the freeway in the early hours of the morning, it began to snow.

At first, it was sleet, but it gradually slowed and became huge snowflakes.

It was still dark before dawn, but I was happy to see the first snow of this winter.

Last Saturday, I stopped by the office to do some work, and I noticed there were several people in the meeting room.

Who could they be?

I slowly opened the door.

The GPYC team members were having a meeting with a few guests.

I said hello. Director Dong Hoon Lee smiled and invited me to join them. So I did.

A few refugees, a couple of student winners from Unification-themed contest, and a North Korea expert were in the room.

We tasted North Korean style tofu rice and meatball rice, typical dishes sold in North Korea, and had a good talk.

The most striking part about this experience was my realization that South Koreans tend to discriminate against North Korean refugees more than foreign workers.

There is a lot of talk about reunification, but maybe it first needs to happen in our midst.

I realized, these refugees are one of the faces of reunification.

If we remain indifferent and biased to the issue of reunification that is right in front of us, how can we ever become one with our brethren in North Korea?

We need to change our perspective of reunification. That it is not just a word but an actual and ongoing process.

I thought I was conscious of reunification, but as I listened to what the refugees had to say, I realized that the division between North and South does not only lie at the DMZ, but is also deeply rooted in our minds and hearts.

It is Monday morning, and I sound so serious. -.-;

I think the grassroots Korea United Movement starts when we begin to dialogue with each other to close the gap between the hearts of North and South.

Have a good day. ^^

GPF Director Park

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National Youth Summit Held in Kenya to Avert Election Bloodshed

The following report was published by Naver News in Korea on the National Youth Summit 2013.

Published 02-03-2013 18:02

【Nairobi, Kenya】

By Young Joo Yim

The National Youth Summit was held at the Kenyatta International Conference Center on the 31^st of January. Young people from across the African Continent who aspire to renew and reform Kenya amidst challenges convened to develop peace based on common universal values and ensure a peaceful presidential election in March.

The tribal bloodshed in Kenya, sparked by election fraud in 2007, resulted in more than 1500 deaths.

Spearheaded by Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Chairman Dr. Hyun Jin Moon, the National Youth Summit was convened through with partners such as GPF, Brand Kenya Board, and Global Peace Youth Corps. Smaller summits were held for all 47 counties nationwide leading up to the summit that concluded on February 2^nd with 2000 young leaders attending.

dasee@newsis.com

 http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=104&oid=003&aid=0004961370

http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=104&oid=003&aid=0004961358

http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=104&oid=003&aid=0004961526

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As the National Youth Summit begins, it is fitting to recall the commitments made in 2010, and the vision that brought multiple sectors from all over the world together to define a Kenyan and African Dream.

Dr. Moon joins other leaders, Dr. Chandaria, Sir, James Mancham and Hon. Jose DeVenecia to sign the Nairobi Declaration.

At the close of the Global Peace Convention 2010, Heads of State and dignitaries from over 40 nations signed the Nairobi Declaration.

Dr. Moon said of the occasion, “I am stuck with the significance of this moment, a moment when a dream could be planted that sparks the imagination of a nation, region, continent and the world.”

The Nairobi Declaration, presented by the Global Leadership Council and Host Committee, is an affirmation of central principles of peace and a commitment to eight articles, action measures to secure peace and prosperity for the nation of Kenya and the continent of Africa.

To this day, the signers of that Declaration are carrying out the articles.  

Article 4, makes a particular commitment to developing and empowering youth. It affirms “Our resolution to work collaboratively with government, the business sector and civil entities to promote innovative community-driven development and youth entrepreneurship initiatives.” To this end the Global Peace Foundation, the Global Peace Youth Corps, and their partners have created youth initiatives for character competency, leadership development and entrepreneurship.

May the youth summit build on the recognition that “youth are an untapped source of energy which can be directed towards developing competence to provide peaceful service to nation.”

ACKNOWLEDGING the sovereignty of Almighty God, the source of inalienable rights of all members of the human family, and the basis for the equality, dignity and intrinsic value of all people as One Family under
God;

AFFIRMING the central role of universal moral principles and values that strengthen families, the basic building blocks of a stable and prosperous society;

RECOGNIZING that without shared values there can be no peace, and thus no way to sustain development;

FURTHER RECOGNIZING that the youth are an untapped source of energy which can be directed towards developing competence to provide peaceful service to nations;

Youth leaders also signed the declaration

AFFIRMING our commitment to the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights and the UN Millennium Development Goals as well as new models of community-driven development; We therefore, as African and international delegates from more than 40 nations with diverse cultural traditions, determined to take charge of our destiny, jointly proclaim our Resolutions to:

Article 1. Create the basis for lasting peace, as a fundamental condition for development, by promoting the universal principles and values all cultures aspire to as One Family under God.

Article 2. Strengthen the shared vision and alliances within the African Union to foster enhanced political and economic integration and collaborative peace-building measures, along with other regional economic blocs. Promote a Regional Peace Service Corps to address critical human needs.

Article 3. Promote character education programs to advance moral and character competency as essential complements to intellectual development.

Article 4. Work collaboratively with government, the business sector and civil society entities to promote innovative community-driven development and youth entrepreneurship initiatives.

Article 5. Promote interfaith and cross-cultural initiatives that foster understanding and social cohesion based on the common spiritual heritage of all people.

Article 6. Support grassroots conservation, health and agricultural programs, such as Rivers of Peace, that link service, responsible environmental stewardship, and peace.

Article 7. Promote Global Peace Festivals and other regional and local forums as well as sports, cultural and artistic projects as expressions of human solidarity.

Article 8. Establish an annual Head-of-State-sponsored Global Peace Convention to measure progress on peace and development initiatives and to advance new partnerships.

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