Daring to find the ancient path...: April 2007

I recently came across a really challenging blog with a post titled "Youth & Sustainability" (http://disasters-and-development.blogspot.com/search/label/indigenous%20peoples) that raised the question of youth leadership in the context of Indigenous Australia.

For those unaware, in Australia, there is massive disparity between the living standards of Indigenous Australians and the rest of the population. Facing epidemic health issues the situation is often compared to issues facing developing countries rather than developed. There are problems of drug & alcohol, domestic violence and abuse and it is a complex political issue. This blog raised the question of why more often than not indigenous youth have been over looked as leaders.

Have a read: "Young men who for various reasons have been dispossessed of the land which traditionally governed every aspect of the social, political, spiritual and political order. They've not only been shut out of their inheritance, but they're told that to be worthwhile, they need an education in the formal education system, and a job in the formal economy. Given that they can't have either of those things, why are we surprised when they get caught up in the excitement and temporary sense of empowerment that physical violence provides?
I know of one community development agency in Australia that's running a "leadership program" that doesn't target those kids that are usually defined as "leaders" - it's not the academic and social over-achievers that are invited to participate. Instead they're inviting the kids who are, in some respects, the very opposite of that.
...
Should we in fact be offering 'leadership' programs to those that are regarded as 'leaders' in the traditional sense, or should we be seeking to build the 'leadership' skills of those who are most marginalised?"

I think the problem is we see leadership capacity through the lens of having an education, qualifications, becoming an expert at something. But if we shift our understanding, to see leadership in the context of relationships with others in the community it becomes much more about thier capacity to care and journey with people because I believe through care and hope, communities can change and move forward working together. These are our core beliefs in 'Human Capacity Development". And that is leadership.

This is exactly what Youth Capacity Development is about. Its about what Rebecca replied to me: "looking for the young people that are doing amazing, community building stuff below the radar...Maybe young leaders aren't those that are most eloquent, but those that are at the centre of organising the games of footy or soccer just down the road..." It is about the relationships we have as youth and the change we can bring in those settings as Christ's Ambassadors.

For this is what Integrated Mission is all about.

Well after 2 years of promised 'internet' presence, and a lot of procrastination as to how...Here it is! A Blog for YCD, a place for stories, a place for photos and a place for ideas and thoughts!

A quick update for those who don't know, our little team has seen quite a few changes over the last months with Matt & Jerry moving on and our team taking new form as the SPEA (South Pacific East Asia) Regional Facilitation Team. Stuart Manning (New Zealand) is now the Regional Co-ordinator with Alma Acub (Philippines) as Cluster Liason for South East Asia, Claire Campbell (Australia) as Cluster Liason for East Asia and I have stepped into Matt Campbell's old role as Focal Person for Youth Capacity Development. We would love any prayer support as we continue to grow as team, continue to learn from you, and learn from the communities we meet.

If you are here reading this, in some way or another you too have been part of this 'YCD' movement, whether it be apart of the iYCD that happened in Mizoram '04, IMEX Africa '03 & '04, Pacific YCD in Guam '05, or whether you have met us as we've had the chance to come and be with you in your own place! Even if you can't remember what those crazy words of "integrated mission" or "human capacity development" are, I would love to hear your reflections of what your up to at the moment - where ever in the world that is!! What this whole YCD 'stuff' has meant for you...or even just a quick hello! Email me at: heath.saunders@gmail.com