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NEWS FEATURE
BUILDING BRIDGES OF LIBERATION
Young Jains of America is connecting a modern, melting pot generation to eternal Jain values
conference in each region of North America in order to reach as many young people as possible and thus the Regional Fest was born. Over three hundred young Jains from all over the continent attended a conference in their area covering topics applicable in their daily lives. The conference themes included: Jainism and Science, Philosophy and Jainism, Ahimsa in Action, Diversity the Jain Way, and Destination: Moksha. Regional Fest allowed the attendees to learn in an intimate setting, while getting to know their fellow youth and expanding their horizons. Interactive seminars and
The Young Jains of America (YJA) is a committee of the Federation of Jain Associations in North America (JAINA), whose emphasis is on Jain youth aged 14-29. YJA's mission is to be recognised as a national and international umbrella Jain youth organisation for establishing a network to share Jain heritage and religion through young people." We are an organisation that was started with the goal to reinforce Jain ideals to the youth of North America and we are thriving in our tenth year. This year we have undertaken a highly proactive agenda and due to this diligence we have enjoyed a great deal of success. In the past six months, YJA has hosted five regional conferences, sent motivated young people to assist in the earthquake relief efforts with the Veerayatan organisation in Bhuj, India, established strong community relations by restructuring our website and expanding our resources and role with other organisations. Furthermore, the next six months should prove to be equally dynamic as we prepare to establish local YJA chapters in various locations around North America. We continue with charitable efforts in teaming up with *Habitat for Humanity' in our second annual YJA H4H initiative, through which young American Jains help to build homes for the less fortunate. We are also currently engaged in a search for the ideal location to hold the 2004 YJA Convention.
One of our priorities for the last semester was to hold a major
issues regarding Jainism. I am really glad I came." - Jai Shah (age 20) “The YJA West Regional Conference was a truly amazing event. The people, the sessions and the atmosphere were all so enlightening. The conference discussions and panel session carried the theme." -Nikita Shah (age 18) "Jainism was shown through the lens of a normal teenager in the US instead of out of a book, so we could relate to it better. I started to understand the daily values Jainism has and received a better understanding of it." - Pinita Shah (age 19) “The YJA South Regional Conference
was a great and fun-filled event that established a connection between the Houston and Dallas youth groups that will strengthen this region and improve YJA's mission." - Arpan Shah (age 16) In late December 2002, ten young American Jains embarked on a spiritually fulfilling journey with YJA to Bhuj, India. These young people spent two weeks with Veerayatan, an international community service organisation founded by Acharaya Shri Chandanaji, to help the impoverished. Some of the
projects that they engaged in included creating video documentaries, building architectural layouts for educational institutions and teaching. These volunteers made a tangible difference in the lives of the less fortunate, and learned about the importance of community service. One passionate volunteer reflected: "I feel that the Veerayatan Project is an excellent opportunity to really make a positive difference through education and leadership. By impacting the lives of children today, we are building a better tomorrow."
discussion-based lectures proved to be effective study media. While the primary focus was indeed Jain education, each conference enjoyed various forms of entertainment to break the ice and allow Jain youth from each region to socialise and network. Enlivened by their experience, Regional Fest attendees had this to say: "This was my first YJA event and I found it to be inspirational, motivational and informative and I was able to meet other people from the Mid-west and learn their views on different
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Jain Spirit . June - August 2003
Jain Education International 2010_03
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