Committee for Youth Exchange and Mission
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The CYEM seeks to provide congregations in our Diocese (and their youth members) with opportunities for cultural exchange and mission opportunities domestically and abroad. We believe that young people will grow in their faith, their self-knowledge, and their understanding of the world through relationships with others in different cultures and settings.
2010 Youth Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
The Diocese of Olympia's Committee for Youth Exchange and Mission (CYEM) invites young people from the ages of 15 to 19 to explore Israel and the West Bank, land holy to the great faiths of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. A minimum of 8 youth will be travelling with 2 chaperones, though our hope is to have 15 youth and 3 chaperones.
In partnership with St. George's College in Jerusalem, our youth will have two weeks of exploring the Holy Land with a group of young people from the Diocese of Jerusalem. We will explore the great sites holy to the three great religions of the land: from the Dome of the Rock, to The Western Wall, to the lands around Galilee. We will explore conflicts of ancient history, conflicts of recent decades, and conflicts of the present. In addition, participants will stay in the homes of members of Holy Family Episcopal Church in Raineh, Israel, while assisting with an inter-faith day camp there.
But lest you think it will be all seriousness, and no play, we will also float in the Dead Sea, help at an inter-faith day camp near Nazareth, hang out on the beach, and break down cultural barriers with laughter and games.
2008 Youth Pilgrimage
The 2010 journey is a continuation of a series of pilgrimages by our youth to the Diocese of Jerusalem. If you would like to read the stories of the participants in the 2008 pilgrimage, please visit http://pilgrimsforpeace.blogspot.com
Our Photo Album
Visit our photo album here.
How to Apply
Complete an application by November 16, 2009. If we have spaces available after that date, we will accept rolling applications until March 1, 2010.
There is a $500 deposit due with the application (this is fully refundable if the young person is not, for some reason, accepted). If a family has trouble with providing this deposit, we can and will work that out. Please contact JR Lander at .
Pilgrimage Costs
The pilgrimage costs $4000 per youth. This includes airfare, room, ground transportation, and all but a handful of meals.
The CYEM wants this journey to be available to young people regardless of family financial situation. We also believe that it is important for a young person's congregation to support this endeavor. In return we expect the young person to share her or his experiences with the congregation upon returning from the pilgrimage.
For these reasons, funding for this trip comes from three sources:
- Congregation Pledges $1000+ : We expect the young person to work with congregation leaders to raise at least $1000 to help fund this journey. This should not come from the annual budget, but rather from fundraising led by the young person. In past years, congregations have had no difficulty raising this. Many raised significantly more than this, without any impact on annual giving to the congregation.
- Youth and Family pledge what they are able: The family pledge is the largest portion of funding. In past years most families pledged the balance between the cost of the journey and the congregational pledge. Some pledged more, and some pledged significantly less. This should include a portion of funds earned by the young person. It should also include extended family, such as grandparents. Families that are able are encouraged to pledge more, to help cover the costs of those young people whose families do not have similar resources.
- The CYEM will raise additional funds: As a committee, we will raise the balance of the funds, and help cover the costs of those youth who do not have necessary family resources.
FAQ's
Is it safe?
No place is 100% safe. However, in 2008 three million tourists visited Israel. It is, statistically, safer to visit Israel than it is to drive down the freeway or fly on a plane. Our friends in the Diocese of Jerusalem are committed to ensuring our safety. St. George's College is a secure compound in East Jerusalem. Our Palestinian friends know how and where to be safe.
I'm not sure my congregation can raise $1000. Can I still apply?
YES! We will help you and your congregation leadership figure this out. Past experience has shown that this is not a significant problem.
I have a friend who is not a member of an Episcopal Church. Can she or he come?
We encourage such friends to apply. Priority will be given to members of congregations in our diocese. However, if space is available we will certainly entertain such an application. In this case, we would hope that the young person's home church will raise at least $1000, and that her or his family will pledge the balance.
Our youth group would like to apply as a whole. Is this possible?
Yes- if we need to find additional space, we will contact St. George's to see if it is possible. In this case, please contact J.R. Lander to discuss.
Important Links
- St. George's College, Jerusalem - http://sgcjerusalem.org
- 2008 Pilgrimage Blog - http://pilgrimsforpeace.blogspot.com
- The Diocese of Jerusalem - http://www.j-diocese.org
CYEM Members
- The Rev. J.R. Lander, Chair
- The Rev. Kate Wesch - Epiphany, Seattle
- Irene Smith - St. John's, Olympia
- The Rev. Hunt Priest- Emmanuel, Mercer Island
- Merritt Hess - Epiphany, Seattle
- Katrina Hamilton - St. Columba's, Kent
- The Rev. Stephen Shaver - St. Paul's, Seattle
- The Rev. Rebecca Kirkpatrick - St. Andrew's, Seattle
- Kathy Hamilton - Diocese of Olympia Canon for Youth and Young Adults
For more information contact
- The Rev. J.R. Lander
(206) 816-2192
