Introduction
A significant development in Orthodoxy over the past fifty years has been the work of Syndesmos - The World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth. Syndesmos was founded in 1953 to encourage contacts among Orthodox youth movements in Western Europe, Greece and the Middle East. Today Syndesmos has grown into a federation of 121 youth movements and theological schools in 43 different countries around the world. At the heart of the Fellowship is the desire of young Orthodox to work together serving the Church, Her unity, witness and renewal. Syndesmos enjoys the encouragement and blessing of all the local canonical Orthodox Churches.

Past Perspectives
The history of Syndesmos has been one of dynamic initiative in the life of the Church. Although a youth organisation, Syndesmos made a contribution to issues facing the Orthodox Church as a whole. Between 1953 and today, it was Orthodox young people - through Syndesmos - who began the revival of Orthodox mission; who supported responsible ecumenical engagement; who raised questions concerning Orthodox unity and who encouraged Eucharistic renewal in the Orthodox world. Syndesmos has also been engaged in environmental conservation, implementing ecological programmes at Orthodox monastic centres. A further concern of Syndesmos has been the deepening and strengthening of ties between the Orthodox and the Oriental Orthodox (Coptic, Ethiopian, Armenian, Syrian, and Indian) Churches. Since 1992, Oriental Orthodox youth movements have joined Syndesmos as federated members, with their own vice-president.

In the recent past Syndesmos projects have included seminars on bio-ethics, nationalism, conservation, journalism and mission, meetings of Orthodox theological institutions, courses to train youth workers, international youth festivals, and pilgrimages to the Holy Land and Mount Athos.

Present Challenges
Over the coming two years, Syndesmos will work to strengthen contacts among its numerous member movements. In Syndesmos activities, the thematic emphasis will be in areas where the Churches or member movements find it hard to advance alone. Central, as always, will be youth and Orthodox Unity. The programmatic three-year perspective (2001-2003) will focus on Orthodox Youth Co-operation, Leadership Training, Theological Awareness and Inter-Christian dialogue, with particular emphasis on the engaged involvement of youth movements.

Syndesmos' original aims remain its present challenges. It will continue its efforts to respond to the needs of young people in the Church, and to revive its commitment to witness and renewal in the 21st century.

The international work of Syndesmos is co-ordinated at the General Secretariat, currently in Greece. Contact with member movements is also maintained by the fifteen members of the Board of Administration: the President, three Vice-Presidents, ten Regional Representatives covering Africa, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, the Balkans, Central, Eastern, Northern, Western and Southern Europe, and one Representative for the Oriental Orthodox members. Each Syndesmos member movement sends delegates to the General Assembly, held every fourth year, at which new themes, projects, and officers for the following term of office are determined.