Highlights from January:
Nick with good friend Bahrom
Nick visits Youth Life after almost a year:
It was great after almost a whole year to get to go back to Tajikistan and see how the work was doing. The first great difference was to see how the new leadership team of 6 young adults were supporting each other and working out problems. Another great difference is those who lead the work were all on the receiving end of the services Youth Life has given over the years so they all know what it is like to receive the services and to give them. So they are in a much better position to bring changes to the work that will benefit the youth we serve and equip the youth leaders to do a good job.
During my visit I also made a point of visiting several youth leaders’ parents at home. Winter is always a challenging time of the year. Conditions this year have proved to be much harder than in previous years. So we decided to hold a presentation and party for all our youth leaders families so they would be encouraged by what their children are doing.
All Youth Leaders singing to their parents at the parents meeting
Youth Leaders Parents meetings
Almost all the parents came to the presentation and party Youth Life put together. This was the first time we had had the idea of showing the work to the parents of the youth leaders. The purpose was to show the parents how capable and talented their children are. To show the parents that the gifting and abilities their children have is partly inherited, and that they should be proud of themselves too as they see their children successfully serving the community where they live. The presentation was an instant hit, many of the youth leaders were so nervous in front of their parents more than if they were in front of 800 youth in a concert. The parents clapped, cried, danced, ate, laughed and were very happy with the work their children do in Youth Life. Many parents thanked Youth Life for all they do and pledged to help the work grow more in the future.
Vitalik with his Grandmother
What some parents said: One mother commented on how she has never seen such friendship between people like amongst the Youth Life team . Other parents cried and thanked Youth Life for helping their children to grow and learn new things for the future.
In the near future we plan to have such meetings for all volunteers’ parents and for the youth leaders’ parents.
Visit from the Ukraine to Tajikistan
3 Young people from the Ukraine visited Youth Life’s work at the end of January. A team from Khujand had visited the Ukraine the previous year and relationships were made. This team from the Ukraine came to see the work in Tajikistan and to see how they may be able to help in the future. Friendships were strengthened and the Youth Life team was greatly encouraged by seeing old friends again. Maybe new opportunities will open for young people to travel to the Ukraine to get business training in the near future. We will see……
Anna, Alexi and Valentina from Ukraine
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