MANNAM International Youth Coalition (MIYC): 10Km in Their Shoes~Pledge of Peace - Seoul, Korea

Pledge of Peace 

We, the Youth, know that we live in one world

We breathe the same air,

Tread the same earth.

We see by the light of the same bright sun,

And dream beneath the same moon.

From this day forward we will breathe the air

of a world in which Youth stand united,

rather than divided over the disagreements of our forefathers.

Together we will tread the same earth, walking along a path of peace and

understanding, towards a future of hope.

Together we will see the day dawn on which there will be an end to the wars waged by

nations but paid for in the blood of young people like ourselves.

Together we will work to make our dream - the dream of a world at peace - a reality.

We, the Youth, pledge to lay aside our differences;

to recognize and respect our common humanity, the rights that each of us share

irrespective of our nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender, or other apparent differences.

We pledge to stop fighting the wars of our past

and to build new relationships, repaying all those young people who fought for our

freedom and right to stand here today.

We will redeem the value of their lives by working together to end all wars,

and to create a new world of unity, peace and freedom for all people.

[MANNAM International Youth Coalition] All Youth, All '靑年', Raise Our Voice

  MIYC is the acronym of MANNAM International Youth Coalition, which was formed from groups of young people coming together with the vision and determination to unite people across borders, cultures, languages and nationalities. It's not a kind of subgroup of MANNAM, but it's a 'coalition' that consists of many youth organizations around the world including MANNAM Volunteer Association. 

  MIYC coordination team is in MVA and they do the planning and core communication helping all affiliates. However, there are not a host and a guest. The constructive feedbacks and ideas for projects to help set up MIYC and realize a vision a world of justice, peace, security and prosperity by creating a new culture for all humanity are welcome. 

What Do You Feel When You Heard a Word, 'Youth' and'靑年'?

This is the time when hearts are pure and tender,
And with love's first emotions heedless melt;
When the mind shrinks not at the boldest venture,
And nature's gen'rous impulses are felt!

 

This is the time the soul needs no allurement--
No madd'ning influence t' excite its powers;
For, as the lark, that soars to heav'nly regions,
The spirit warbles through life's morning hours.

 

Oh happy youth! life's oasis of beauty!
What time in after years so pure and sweet?
Free from the lab'ring progress of great manhood,
It treads life's pathway with elastic feet!

-C. B. Langston, Youth 

 Above is some parts of a poem about youth. There are a lot of poems and quotes about youth. Why have so many people talked about youth? 

Youth is generally the time of life between childhood and adulthood (maturity). Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary.......Around the world, the terms youth, adolescent, teenager, kid, and young person are interchanged, often meaning the same thing, occasionally differentiated. Youth generally refers to a time of life that is neither childhood nor adulthood, but rather somewhere in-between. Youth also identifies a particular mindset of attitude, as in "He is very youthful". The term youth is also related to being young. The term also refers to individuals between the ages of 16-24. (Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youth)

 Its definition varies depend on cultures and societies, but it is used as a term refers to people between the ages of 15-35, and it is often connected to 'passion,' 'pure,' 'bravery,' and 'growth.' Many authors and poets have written about it, and people sometimes talk about that time with nostalgia. 

 In Korean word, youth is translated into '청년(靑年)' which is come from a Chinese word. 청(靑) means 'blue.' It is used in describing sea, green grapes, moonlight, blue jeans, etc. . Actually, I, grown in Asia, feel really inspired and fresh when I heard that word '청년(靑年)' than 'youth.' It makes me imagine a sprout. I would like to say, youth is the time that see the sign of hopeful future because it has the possibility and potential to grow surprisingly!

You can see pictures on the facebook page: www.facebook.com/miycyouth

 Meanwhile, one of the biggest characters of youth is 'flexibility.' They are flexible to change 
their thought, spread their feeling, or form a bond of sympathy and they easily can associate one another friend. You know, regardless of your nationality, most of the biggest social movements have been led by youth people in human histories. 

 That's why we, invites you to join MIYC, and do wonderful projects together, forming an international network of youth organisations  and youth movements. The more youth join us, the more powerfully we can raise our voice for the goal of world peace.

 So, don't you wonder what happens through forming this coalition? I'll post and link the news / any updated information here sooner. :)

World Leaders of Today, Peace Leaders of Tomorrow

MANNAM Volunteer Association & MIYC - 10 Km in Their Shoes (Pledge of Peace)

  Luckily, I joined MANNAM volunteer association at the end of 2011, and took part in events last year, 2012. One of the biggest events was 10 Km in Their Shoes: Global Awareness Campaign. The 2nd 10 Km walk-a-ton was for global awareness about people who suffered from natural disasters. They are still in need, but many people easily forget their pain. 10 Km in Their Shoes was first held in 2011, to remember people suffered from natural disasters, and a friend from Turkey gave a speech to thank MANNAM, which was covered in Turkish news.

  And the next year, the 2nd 10 km-walk was held on a nationwide scale on 14th April. And from MANNAM Busan branch, around 500 foreigners walked for awareness to generate more support by better understanding suffers of people who fight an endless struggle against the forces of natural disaster. The walk focused on the following countries: Pakistan, Thailand, Japan, Turkey, New Zealand, Austrailia, and the United States.  

  I was also volunteering as a staff last year, and the route of MANNAM Busan branch was from Haeundae to Dalmagi. Many friends came and reminded us of how many people are being suffered and walked together. 

  This year, on 21st April, The 3rd '10 Km in Their Shoes' was finally held! It was in Seoul Grand Park, and It was supervised and planned by MIYC, which is a coalition of international youth communities/organizations and MANNAM do planning and core communication as an organization of it. This walk was for global awareness for PEACE, remembering 13 countries who experienced/ are experiencing wars, but many international friends, over 1,000 people, from all over the world came together and walked for world peace!

  From MANNAM Busan North branch, about 110 members came to Seoul. First, when we arrived, already the speeches from youth organizations were almost done and speaker had some problems, our branch couldn't listen to the speeches well. Next, we learned world peace flash mob dance (was very easy even for me who is a bad dancer!) and danced together! 

(I am among the people in the right picture! So exited face:-P)

   After exiting dance time, we started 3Km with flags which were chosen as 13 representative countries. We walked along with India row, but our Bangladesh Members found their national flag and other Bangladesh people from other cities, then they greeted each other, then they held their flags and walked together! The Busan North and some branches not from Seoul, walked 3Km, considering the distance and time taken to come to Seoul. 

   On a sunny day, with great people, we had a meaningful time through this walking campaign. The first meet-up and big event for MIYC, and there were some mistakes and negative feedback. But, I believe MIYC to develop more and more and will do a great project this year. I saw the sign of hope in our MANNAM members' face with smiles when they danced, greeted other global families from other cities, and walked for peace! Hope World Peace to Come Finally ! Now, I met and am with Peace Leaders of Today :)