Youth Worker Leadership Course held at Lay Academy

In conjunction with the meeting of the SYNDESMOS Board of Adminis-tration
at the Orthodox Academy here, a Youth Worker Leadership Training Course took place 3-13 November 1999.
The course enabled participants to share experiences about methods of youth work, to obtain information on fund-raising, and to identify the needs of youth and to respond to them. The course emphasised the international and multicultural aspects of youth work.
The Course was structured around a variety of presentations, discussions and workshops. Father Anastasios Bourantas, USA, spoke on the importance of youth ministry, while Ms. Outi Vasko, Finland, discussed various activities designed to meet the needs of youth. Mr. Roman Juriga, Czech Republic, explained the importance of creating project
descriptions, while the challenges and opportunities for Orthodox youth work in Europe were discussed by Mr. Vladimir Misijuk, Poland. Each speaker sought to equip participants with the tools necessary for meeting the needs of young people and approaching potential sponsors for funding.
One of the aims of the workshop was to plan and create a project description that would fulfill the criteria outlined in the presentations. Each working group described its project to an imaginary funding agency for evaluation. Two additional presentations on financing and budgeting were presented by Mr. Miller, an expert on fund-raising in nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations. The aim of these activities was to build a well functioning team and to identify the role of team members.
During the course, participants were equipped with new ideas and methods for strengthening youth ministry efforts. Participants also asked that SYNDESMOS organize a follow-up course in the future.
On the last day, participants met with His Grace, Bishop Christopher of Olomouc and Brno, who emphasised the important role of youth in the Church and the need for daily life to mirror spiritual life.
We would like to extend our thanks to Mr. Roman Juriga, Director of the Orthodox Academy and organiser of the course, for his hospitality and hard work.