Tirana, Albania - Youth from throughout Albania and other parts of Europe assembled in Tirana on August 20 for a six-day Religious Youth Service Project.

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During their time together, youth from the variety of ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds of the Balkans will work together to:

• Create flower gardens and plant trees in public parks. There is a severe lack of greenery in public places.
• Stage plays about the importance of serving, cultivating character, and developing leadership skills in order to create a culture of peace. With the participation of students from the School of Art at the University of Albania, performances will convey the message of people of all faiths serving together for peace.
• Engage in interfaith dialogue. The youth participants represent the diverse countries from the Balkans, a region known for ancient enmities, who will meet one another, travel, work, and perform together. In the process, they will learn about building a culture of peace beyond past enmities. Non-Balkan participants will help give a broader view of the world and the value of cooperation.
• Bring homemade cakes and cookies from their regions to share with children in orphanages. This symbolizes the unity of tastes, colors, and cultural features learned from their mothers in the global village. (This activity is supported by the Mother Teresa Cultural Foundation, headed by Dr. Liri Berisha, wife of Prime Minister Sali Berisha.)

The project aims to promote interfaith harmony as a key factor to building lasting peace, give young people from different faiths opportunities to share together and serve to the larger community; engage Ambassadors for Peace in projects that can benefit the nation, and give the news media a positive example of young people working together beyond religious, ethnic, cultural, and national boundaries. There will also be opportunities for dialogue on the core values of interfaith cooperation and strengthening marriage and family.

Historically Albania has had a history of the co-existence of religions (Catholic and Orthodox Christianity, Judaism, and Islam), and a multi-ethnic society (Albanians, Greeks, Slavs, Jews, etc.) Albania has never attacked other nations, nor has it cooperated with its neighbors to conquer others. Thus, Albania has served as a geographic and cultural communication bridge between its neighbors.

PROGRAM

Day 1: Monday, August 20

Welcoming guests

Registration

18:00             Orientation

Video presentation of RYS

Introduction of RYS by S. Rexhepi, UPF Secretary General

Welcoming remarks by Mr. Kastriot Ramollari, RYS project coordinator

Mrs. Tomiko Duggan, advisor to UPF-Albania

Day 2: Tuesday, August 21 Education DAY

06.45             Wake up

07.00-07.45    Exercise and meditation

Reading from religious scriptures (15 minutes)

Physical exercises

08.00-09.00    Breakfast and cleaning area

09.00-10.15    Session 1 - Introduce each person and team division

10:15-10:30   Break

10.30-11.15    Session 2 - Readings from World Religions about Interfaith, Mr. Ali Laçej

11.15-11:30    Questions and answers

11.30-12.00    Break

12:00-12:45    Session 3 – Interreligious Harmony in Albania, by Mr. Kastriot Ramollari, Academy of Arts, University of Tirana

13.00-14.00    Lunch

14.00-16.00    Sports and afternoon break

16.00-17.00    Session 4 – Five UPF Principles of Peace by Bajram Ibraj and S.Rexhepi

Value and Importance of the Family and Marriage

17:00-18:00    Roundtable discussion moderated by S. Rexhepi

18.30-19.30    Dinner and cleaning areas

19.30-21.00    Origami teaching

21.00-21.30    Reflections

22.00             Bed time

Day 3: Wednesday, August 22 SERVICE DAY

06.30             Wake up

07.00-07.45    Exercise and meditation

Reading from religious scriptures (15 minutes)

Physical exercises

08.00-09.00    Breakfast and clean areas

09.00-10.00    Visit to Mother Teresa Cultural Foundation

10:00-13:00    Visit to the Center for for Women and Children and beginning service

13.00-14.00    Bag lunch

14.00-16.00    Service at the Center for Women and Children in Kombinat

16.00-17.00    Return

17.00-18.30    Break and personal time for cleaning and arranging things

19.00-20.30    Dinner and clean areas

20.30-21.30    Team discussion and reflections

22.00             Bed time

Day 4: Thursday, August 23 SERVICE AND EDUCATION

06.30              Wake up

07.00- 07.45    Exercise and meditation

Reading from religious scriptures (15 minutes)

Physical exercises

08.00-09.00    Breakfast and clean areas

09:00              Departure to working site

09:30-12:30    Service at the ground in Municipality no. 6 (planting)

12:30-13:30    Lunch break

14:00-17:00    Second part of service (option B: Siri Kodra school)

17:30-18:00    Back to the training center

18:00-18:30    Cleaning and personal time

18:30-19:30    Dinner

19:30-20:00    Reflection time

20:00-22:00    Movie

Day 5: Friday, August 24 SERVICE AND EDUCATION 2

06.30             Wake up

07.00-07.45    Exercise and meditation

Reading from religious scriptures (15 minutes)

Physical exercises

08.00-08.45    Breakfast and clean areas

09.00             Departure to Tirana for the first session at the Peace Embassy

09:30-11.30    Roundtable discussion on Marriage and Family with panel members Mrs. Saemira Pino, Mrs. Eglantina Gjermeni, and Lavdie Ruci

12.00-13.00    Departure and lunch

13.00-17.00    Service day 2 at the Siri Kodra school

17.00-18.30    Return and clean up

18.30-19:30    Dinner

19:30-21:00    Team time (sharing and cultural evening preparation)

21.00-21.30    Reflections

22.00             Bed time

Day 6: Saturday, August 25 EDUCATION AND FINAL NIGHT

06.30             Wake up

07.00-07.45    Exercise and meditation

Reading from religious scriptures (15 minutes)

Physical exercises

08.00-08.45    Breakfast and clean areas

09.00-10:30    Abrahamic religious leaders lead services

10.30-10.45    Break

11.00-12.30    Invited guest speakers (3 congressmen)

12:30-13:30    Lunch

14.00-18.00    Recreation

18:00-19:00    Personal time

19.00-20.00    Dinner and cleaning

20.00-21.00    Closing Ceremony and appointment of Ambassadors for Peace

21.00-22:00    Entertainment

22:00             Bed time

Day 7: Sunday, August 26

07.30             Wake up

07.30-08.30    Breakfast and cleaning

08.30-10:00    Reflections and group photos

10:00             Departures