Sydney Marks 40 Years of RYS Interfaith Fellowship and Service
Sydney, Australia – This year marks the 40th anniversary of Religious Youth Service (RYS), a project created to allow young people to experience practical peacebuilding through service projects and interfaith cooperation. To celebrate this anniversary, UPF-Australia held a program in the suburb of Minto on August 15, 2026, with around 70 people participating.
The program began at Minto Mosque with an introduction to RYS activities. Ms. Patima Atithanakul served as MC for the opening session. This was followed by a community service project, allowing people from different backgrounds to work together, cleaning, planting and gardening around the mosque and school area. City Councilor Mr. Masud Khalil joined the opening and service activities, while Counselor Mr. Ash Rahman later attended the symposium and closing program.
After lunch and prayer, an Interfaith Symposium was held at Minto Mosque with Mr. John Adamedes, president of UPF-Australia, as MC. Speakers included Mr. Greg Stone, president of UPF-Oceania; Mrs. Brenda Okada, a participant in the 1986 RYS in the Philippines; Bishop Silouan Vea; Hindu leader Mrs. Rama Mishra; Sheikh Omar; Venerable Chao Khun Samai; and the Hon. Anoulack Chanthivong, a member of Parliament for Macquarie Fields and a NSW government minister responsible for industry and trade.
Mr. Stone introduced UPF and the founders' vision for peace through RYS, while Mrs. Okada shared her experience of the 1986 RYS. The symposium strengthened interfaith understanding through messages of peace, service, respect, cooperation, multiculturalism and interfaith harmony.
The closing session was held at a Hindu temple, Mukti-Gupteshwar, the13th Jyotirlinga in Minto, with Ms. Patima Atithanakul serving as MC. Imam Amin Hady gave a testimony, and RYS alumni Mr. Nith and Mrs. Ramphay Chittasy shared the lasting influence of RYS in their lives.
Participant reflections and certificate distribution followed, and Dr. Wali Islam delivered the vote of thanks. The program was coordinated by Mr. Santosh Neupane, secretary general of UPF-Oceania.
By opening at a mosque and concluding at a Hindu temple, the event gave practical expression to interfaith respect, while the clean-up project affirmed the RYS commitment to community service. Overall, it was a fitting celebration of 40 years of RYS through practical service, interfaith dialogue and fellowship.
