The Words of the Taupier Family

Religious Youth Service Project to take Place in St. Lucia

Remy Taupier
April 10, 2012
UPF-St. Lucia

When? August 2-13
Where? Castries, St. Lucia
Contact: Remy Taupier

Castries, St. Lucia -- The president of the Castries South-East Youth and Sport Council is Victorin Laurence, but everybody calls him Mr. Sugar. Last December he hosted Americans participating in a service-learning for a friendship evening with 25 youth leaders from his district. Seeing the young people who had just met each other enjoying games, songs, discussions, and a barbecue sparked Mr. Sugar's interest in organizing an extended program with youth in his district as a way of making a lasting impact on his community.

Mr. Sugar works in Bexon, three miles from the capital city of Castries. It's an area that was badly damaged in November 2010 by hurricane Tomas, which caused flooding that damaged or destroyed many houses. Most of the houses have been repaired, but many still need painting.

A ten-day Religious Youth Service project between August 2-13 will give local and international youth an opportunity to work together doing clean-up and painting houses. Since this is a school holiday, participants will organize activities for children ages 9 to 14 and group discussions for older youth. Mr. Sugar and the council are choosing 12 local youth leaders to participate in this service-learning program, believing that it will help all participants become better role models and better leaders and enhance the impact of the council. The schedule will include a sports day with local youth and preparing and putting on a talent show for the community.

Partners in the project include the Castries South-East Youth and Sport Council, Ministry of Youth and Sport, Ministry of Social Transformation, the St. Lucia Social Development Fund, and the elected Member of Parliament for this constituency, Dr. Robert Lewis, who was recently appointed Minister of Education.

Most of the people in this Caribbean island are Christians, primarily Catholics and Seventh-Day Adventists. At a town-hall meeting giving people in a troubled community, one person stood up and said: "If you count from the lower part to the higher part you have 12 churches. They may be doing something individually but they are unable to work together." This statement reveals the present climate between church groups, who often think of each other as rivals. The vision of Religious Youth Service is for youth from various faiths and various parts of the world to live and work together, demonstrating the spirit of living for the sake of others and sparking ongoing cooperation.

The $450 cost for international participants includes program expenses, meals, accommodations, and transportation within the island. Further details are still being developed. For more information email Remy Taupier.

Schedule

Thursday, Aug 2nd, 2012

Arrival day for International Participants

Friday, Aug 3, 2012

9:00 AM Arrival of local participants

10:00 AM Registration

11:00 AM Introductions, RYS Norms, RYS History

1:00 PM Lunch

3:00 PM Session: Our Vision of 2020

7:00 PM Dinner

9:00 PM Closing; diary; reflect on the day.

11:00 PM Lights out

Saturday August 4, 2012 6:30 AM Wake up

7:00 AM Morning Meditation

7:45 AM Breakfast

10:00 AM Church Service: Seventh Day Adventist

1:00 PM Lunch

2:00 PM Educational Sessions

Discussion by small groups

7:00 PM Dinner

8:00 PM Team building

9:00 PM Closing; diary; reflect on the day.

11:00 PM Lights off

Sunday, August 5, 2012

6:30 AM Wake up

7:00 AM Meditation

7.45 AM Breakfast

9:00 AM Sightseeing: full Tour of the island

12:30 PM Lunch

6:00 PM Group Discussions

7:00 PM Dinner

8:00 PM Cultural Program

9:30 PM Closing-diary-Reflection on the day

11:00 PM lights off

Monday, August 6, 2012

6:30 AM Wake up

7:00 AM Meditation

8:00 AM Breakfast

9:00 AM Service projects

11:00 AM Break (snacks)

1:30 PM Lunch

2:00 PM Beach/Free Time

4.30 PM Educational Programs

7:00 PM Dinner

8:00 PM Small team meeting + games

9:30 PM Closing; diary; reflect on the day.

11:00 PM Lights out

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

6:30 AM Wake up

7:00 AM Meditation

8:00 AM Breakfast

9:00 AM Service projects

10:15 AM Break-snacks

1:30 PM Lunch

2:00 PM Hike to the water falls

7:00 PM Dinner

8:00 PM Small team meeting

9:30 PM Closing; diary; reflect on the day.

11:00 PM Lights out

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

6:30 AM Wake up

7:00 AM Meditation

7:45 AM Breakfast

9:00 AM Service projects

10.15 AM Break-snacks

1.30P M Lunch

2:00 PM Sightseeing: Sulphur Springs; Soufriere.

7:00 PM Dinner

8:00 PM Bon fire

10:30 PM Closing; diary; reflect on the day.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

6:30 AM Wake up

7:00 AM Meditation

7.45 AM Breakfast

9:00 AM Service projects

10.15 AM Break-snacks

1.30 PM Lunch

2:00 PM Beach/fun sport games

7:00 PM Dinner

8:00 PM Small team meeting

9:30 PM Closing; diary; reflect on the day.

11:00 PM Lights out

Friday, August 10, 2012

6:30 AM Wake up

7:00 AM Meditation

7.45 AM Breakfast

9:00 AM Service projects

10.15 AM Break-snacks

1.30 PM Lunch

2:00 PM Skits and preparations for talent show

7:00 PM Dinner

8:00 PM Talent show with the community

9:30 PM Closing; diary; reflect on the day.

11:00 PM Lights out

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Reflection Period

6:30 AM Wake up

7:00 AM Meditation

7.45 AM Breakfast

8.30 AM Service projects

10.15 AM Break-snacks

1.30 PM Lunch

2:00 PM Move to reflection site

4:00 PM Reflection and evaluation

7:00 PM Dinner

8:00 PM Reflection and evaluation

9:30 PM Closing; diary; reflect on the day.

11:00 PM Lights out

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Reflection Period

6:30 AM Wake up

7:00 AM Meditation

7.45 AM Breakfast

8.30 AM Reflection and evaluation

1.30 PM Lunch

2:00 PM Closing ceremony

Departure of local participants

Monday, August 13, 2012

Departure day

6:30 Wake up

7:00 Meditation

7:45 Breakfast

8:00 Souvenir shopping

12:00 Lunch

International departures 

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