YFWP’s first Leadership Seminar in St. Lucia from December 15 to 23 brought young leaders from St. Lucia, Guyana, and Trinidad for a two-day service project, character education training, and the formal inauguration of Youth Federation for World Peace in the Caribbean island nation. The purpose of the seminar was to educate young people in the Caribbean to become future leaders who live for the sake of others and to appoint Young Ambassadors for Peace who can work collaboratively to realize a world of peace.

The seminar began with a service project at the Holy Family Children’s Home, an orphanage at Ciceron, supporting 22 children ranging from infancy to 16 years. Some of these children grew up in the home from a tender age, without parents or family support.

Our goal was simple: to bring joy and love to these children as our own brothers and sisters. We played games, played sports, told stories, drew pictures, and made origami and Christmas cards together. We went with the intention of bringing some happiness into their lives but we received even more joy from them though this experience. We are now planning more projects at that orphanage.

Character education has never been more important for young people. Through lectures and discussions, and through the “voice of Nature,” participants learned the importance of living for the sake of others, teamwork, and the value of setting goals and achieving them. Through this education these future leaders learned that if we willingly desire to live for the sake of others we can feel everyone as part of a same family: if the person is older we offer respect as if they were an older brother, an uncle, or a grand-father; if the person is younger, as in the orphanage, we treat them as a younger brother or sister. Recognizing that we are all One Family Under God, participants learned the importance of good character for leadership.

The voice of Nature is especially deep and meaningful on the scenic island of St. Lucia. Through observing to the processes of the natural world one can discern principles that can also apply to one’s life—such as understanding the unique responsibility we have as human beings to practice stewardship toward the earth. Like the unique aspects of every created life, we each have particular talents and qualities we need to cultivate in our lives for the sake of others.

Following discussions about the various problems of society, participants conceived of 17 different projects to undertake in the various countries, including hosting education seminars, sponsoring a family day, visiting elderly homes, and launching beautification projects, adventure programs, and interfaith initiatives.

With the formal inauguration of YFWP and the appointment of nine Young Ambassadors for Peace, young leadership in St. Lucia is poised to do more for our nation’s growth and development towards building “One Global Family Under God.”

For more information of YFWP's young leadership programs visit our Projects page.