Dear Friends,

Happy Holidays! Another year has passed, and once again we would like to take a minute to share with you some of the highlights of our year. We are filled with gratitude for the friends we have made along the way, friends like you who support us in so many ways.
From all of us here at the World Youth Alliance, a very happy new year to you and yours!

Sincerely,

Anna Halpine and the World Youth Alliance

Internal Development
The World Youth Alliance continues to grow internally at a rapid rate. . . .
Hello to our new staff in 2005:
Meghan Murrell, Director of Operations, WYA International
Gabrielle Corica has stepped down as Director of Operations, but will remain with the
WYA International as Director of Internal Development
Anne Marie Morris, Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Winnie Kivenyo Beauttah, Director, WYA Africa
Megan Furman, Director of Operations, WYA North America
Lourdes Villanueva, Director of Operations, WYA Latin America
Tamara Tan, Director of Operations, WYA Asia Pacific
Philip Hunt, Director of Operations, WYA Europe
Goodbye to our “old” staff / Hello WYA Alumni in 2005:
Caroline Shisubili Maingi, Director, WYA Africa
Victor Vega Ruiz, Director of Operations, WYA Latin America
Agnes Schaffler, Director of Operations, WYA Europe
Blair Miller, Director of Operations, WYA North America

Big Events
World Youth Alliance staff, interns and members met at the United Nations headquarters in New York City in February for the “Beijing +10” Conference.
The WYA celebrated our 6th Birthday on March 25th! Staff, interns, and friends of the WYA met in New York to celebrate this great occasion with an evening of music and festive celebrating.
In August WYA staff, interns, and friends met in Germany with a million other young people to partake in World Youth Day. During the week, the WYA marked the 25th anniversary of Poland’s Solidarity movement at a day-long ‘International Solidarity Roundtable. The speakers included: Cardinal Christof Schoenborn, Krzysztof Bobinski, Kathy Sinnot, Stephen Bartulica, and Edward Steen. WYA also held a series of training events and cultural celebrations for the young people gathered in Cologne.

Training
The WYA hosted many trainings this year in human rights and diplomacy. Young people gathered for trainings and internships across Mexico, Argentina, Scotland, France, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Germany, Thailand, the Philippines, the United States, Canada, Kenya, Rwanda, and Nigeria. These trainings were a great success. More trainings around the world are scheduled for 2006.

Advocacy
The WYA followed discussions on the Status of Women, Disabilities, Trafficking of persons, Development, and HIV/AIDS at the United Nations Headquarters, European Parliament, United Nations-Nairobi, the Organization of American States, and United Nations-Bangkok. The WYA is continually working on language and proposals to add to these global debates.

Upcoming
We will move into the new World Youth Alliance headquarters in New York City in early 2006! We have many festivities planned for this monumental occasion! We welcome all of you to join us on March 26th for our Open House!
On March 27th at the United Nations, the World Youth Alliance will host a Symposium titled John Paul II: Contributions to modern thought on social justice and peace. The purpose of this day is to examine the thought of Pope John Paul II as it pertains to the dignity of the human person, and the particular impact his thought and his life's work has had on Freedom, Democracy, Social Justice and Development. Immediately following this event is the WYA’s Third International Solidarity Forum, from March 26 - March 29, focusing on the themes of Solidarity and Development with a special emphasis on young people as the future of society.