EASYNet Coordinating Team gears up
for Fourth Asian Student Youth Gathering

(From left to right) Necta Montes (WSCF AP), Bipul Alite
Gonsalvez (IMCS), Bonny Leonard Palma (IYCS), Art Sadorra
(APA-YMCA), Wataru Arizumi (EASYNet coordinator)
planned the Asian Students and Youth Gathering 2008 for all
of you SCMers out there. The ASYG aims to strengthen our
commitment to grassroots ecumenism and encourage young
people to join in the movement.

January 6-9, 2008
Metro Manila, Philippines

EASYNet Coordinating Team gears up for ASYG 2008 in Seoul Korea from August 25 to 31, 2008

The EASYNet Coordinating Team (CT) met on January 6 to 9, 2008 at the IMCS and IYCS House in Las Pinas, Metro Manila, Philippines. The meeting was attended by regional representatives of the member organization of EASYNet; namely, Bipul Alite Gonsalvez (IMCS), Bonny Leonard Palma (IYCS), Art Sadorra, representative of Ms. Tina Dalope (APA-YMCA), Wataru Arizumi (EASYNet Coordinator), and Necta Montes (WSCF AP). The 3-day meeting focused its attention on the following agenda, sharing of plans from each member organization, review and evaluation of EASNET 2007 programs, updates from the National Ecumenical Teams (NETs), financial report, 2008 program and action plan, 2008 fund sourcing, and 2008 CT process.

Highlights of the CT Meeting was the planning session for the upcoming Asian Student and Youth Gathering (ASYG) 2008, where the CT decided to hold the event in Seoul Korea from August 25 to 31 2008 and proposed its content. Prior to this meeting, the Local NET in Korea has expressed willingness to host this important event, hence the CT proposed a Preparatory Meeting in Seoul in late February to be attended by EASYNet Coordinator Wataru Arizumi and Bonny Palma.

Now on its third event, the theme for the ASYG is, “Youth Breaking Boundaries, Creating Conditions in Building a Culture of Peace”, aiming to gather 140 young people from the different groups and member organizations of the 6 network organization in Asia-Pacific.

The CT expressed its appreciation to Bipul Gosalvez of IMCS for moderating the CT in 2007, and invited WSCF AP representative, Necta Montes as the next moderator of the EASYNet for 2008. Sharing his reflection as out-going moderator of EASYNet, Bipul emphasized the need “to strengthen our commitment to grassroots ecumenism and encourage more young people to join in the movement.”