MANILA, August 30, 2013—Six student-members of the Student Catholic Action (SCA) of the Philippines will be part of the 200 expected attendees for the 2013 Asia Pacific Students and Youth Gathering (ASYG) at the Bukal ng Tipan in Antipolo City, from August 30 to September 5.
Themed Justice and Peace Now!, the full-time student delegates from the Archdiocese of Manila and Diocese of Cabanatuan will be among the representatives to the biggest regional ecumenical youth gathering in the region.
The major focus for this year’s ASYG is the response of students and youth to the justice and peace concerns in Asia and the Pacific.
Around 200 delegates from all movements, organizations, and ecumenical partners of the Ecumenical Asia Pacific Students and Youth Network (EASY Net) which includes students, student leaders, youth, and young workers from Asia Pacific and from global Ecumenical partners are expected to attend.
ASYG provides a regional platform for young people coming from different mainline Protestant and Roman Catholic Churches in Asia Pacific, for common reflection and understanding on social concerns and issues that greatly affect their lives.
Among its many objectives, ASYG 2013 aims to create a common platform for young Church leaders and students from Asia and the Pacific to celebrate dialogue in diversity and solidarity and be a prophetic voice in affirming life in its fullness in the context of an unjust society in Asia and the world.
The first ASYG was organized in India as a pre-event to the Ecumenical Global Gathering of Youth and Students (EGGYS) which discussed several social themes such as environmental crisis, globalization and sustainable development among other things. (Jandel Posion)