WCC youth gathering brings listening, learning, and healing spaces

The special event opened with a written message sent by the WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, who reflected that the theme speaks deeply to the realities facing young people today.

“Across the world, many experience the effects of conflict, violence, discrimination, economic hardship, mental health struggles, climate anxiety, and uncertainty about the future,” he said. 

“You are building communities of care, working for peace, protecting creation, advocating for justice, and standing alongside those who are vulnerable.”

Olivia Baro, ecumenical youth enabler for the Pacific Conference of Churches, reflected that those gathered were not there to change the world, solve global problems, or heal the breaches.

“This is a space where we can express our authentic selves, our cries, and our reflections,” she said. “The first part of our programme is looking at restoring and recognizing the breaches that God longs to restore, and how we can participate in the restoration process.”

In the first part of International Ecumenical Youth Day, participants wrestled with the question: “What are the breaches that we are called to be part of restoring?” 

The second part of the gathering aimed to empower young leaders. 

“We want to reflect on how have we respond to the breaches and on how we create healing spaces based on the breaches that we see,” said Baro. “In the final part, we will focus on thriving.”

Young people reflected on how they are taking steps to grow.

Spyridoula Fotinis described how God invites his people to participate in healing, reconciliation, and rebuilding. “God’s work of restoration reaches its fullest expression in Jesus Christ,” she said.

Safe spaces

Speakers described safe spaces and how they are created. Marina Bobneva, programme manager from the Ukraine Charity Foundation, a member of ACT Alliance, said that, in Ukraine, safe spaces for women mean that they do not have to pretend to be strong all the time-particularly for women whose spouses are missing in the war.

“When you do not know what happened to someone you love, your life can be suspended between hope and fear,” she said. “Healing means reaching a point where pain no longer controls your entire life.”

Adrianna Sosa, vice president of the board of the World Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) and programme coordinator of the YWCA in Haiti, shared how the YWCA works to create safe spaces, including toolkits to help others.

WCC programme executive for Young People in the Ecumenical Movement Abigayle Bolado reflected on what healing can lead to: thriving and flourishing. 

“When we think about the process of flourishing, we realize that healing is not something that we do one day and then we’re done,” she said, posing key questions that participants carried forward with them. “What can we do, specifically on this day and in the days to come, to ensure this process moves forward, and that our spaces become healing spaces? What practical plan or programme can you do within your context?”