A Moral Duty to Stand with the Weak and the Oppressed

The World Youth Alliance Track A training was challenging for me, not only because the course material was totally new to me (I come from a Computer Science background), but also because I could relate to many of the issues that were being raised in the chapters. Distorted realities, totalitarian regimes, and people living a […]

Is Conscientious Objection in Danger?

As the old saying goes, “everything in life has a solution, except for death.” This Spanish proverb sheds some light on how death is viewed in our society, elusive yet inevitable. In proper society, death rarely has a place in conversation. Now is one of those times. Euthanasia has become a pressing issue and a […]

A Family We Make: Reflections of an Indonesian Summer Camper

The very first time I heard about WYA was when I visited Asean Youth Friendship Network (AYFN) Facebook fan page I have joined for more than a year, and they posted about a summer camp that would be held in the Philippines, since I have never joined any international summer camp its challenge for me […]

Life Is Beautiful: Lessons Learned from a Powerful Film

On June 14, the World Youth Alliance held a screening and discussion of Roberto Benigni’s La vita è bella. This movie pays great testament to the beauty of humanity in a time that is most remembered for the crimes that were committed against human dignity: the Holocaust. The movie brought forth meaningful discussions about human […]

The Gift of Sharing

It was an early Saturday morning. Forty children ages 5 -12 started to arrive in the makeshift classroom at the community hall. I was quite surprised that most of them woke up as early as 7:00 AM just to attend our weekend study workshop. My colleagues welcomed the kids and directed them to their assigned […]

Blooming Together

Xenophobia has plagued the country of South Africa for generations. Throughout the 20th century, immigrants from other African nations and Europe faced discrimination and often hostility. This animosity has been caused mainly by the South African institution apartheid. Apartheid, translated as “the state of being apart,” or literally “apart-hood,” was the South African system of […]

Holding Family Together in the Age of Technology

My lola (grandmother) once told me “Mahalin mo ang pamilya mo, wag mo silang iiwanan.” In English that translates to: “Love your family and never leave them.” She said these words to me over the phone a few days after she was diagnosed with cancer. She worked in the United States for most of her […]

We Have a Winner!

As May 2014 was our first month in which our #theDignityProject Photo Competition took place, we first of all want to thank all participants who had the courage to share their unique creativity with us on Intsagram. Lots of great contributions came in and enriched our new innovative project! Thus, we are very happy to […]

Lost Values in the World of I’s

I eat so I no longer feel hungry. I drink so I no longer feel thirsty. I run so I can have a healthier body. I socialize so I don’t feel lonely. I help others so I can feel better about myself. I contemplate so I am less confused  about the purpose of my existence. […]

From a Delegate’s Point of View: 10th International Solidarity Forum

I can’t believe it has been two months since World Youth Alliance’s International Solidarity Forum (ISF). As a first time participant, I remember fondly my experience of meeting WYA members from different regions and representing the Asia-Pacific Region in the event. Finally, I was able to visit the WYA house that I only saw in […]