This theme of “more” was at the heart of the All Ontario Youth Convention (AOYC) this year, which took place on May 20-23.
Nearly 1,000 young adults gathered in Waterloo, Ontario for activities rooted in the theme verse of Ephesians 3:20-21: “God can do anything, you know—far MORE than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us” (MSG).
This was the 36th year for AOYC, which began in 1975 as a province-wide gathering for young people within the Christian Reformed denomination. Today, it draws youth from several different denominations and communities.
Over the course of the weekend, World Renew gave youth opportunities to learn about the issues surrounding poverty and hunger, think about the impact of their choices, and take concrete action steps to help people overcome these obstacles.
World Renew has a long-term partnership with YMCA in the community of Santa Lucia that gives a group of AOYC attendees the opportunity to spend a week serving and learning in Nicaragua. During one of World Renew’s reach in sessions at AOYC, World Renew staff member Iona Buisman, mission team leaders Ray Heeres and Henry Valkenburg, and a group of young participants shared how they were personally shaped for ‘more’ through this global learning experience.
World Renew gave youth opportunities to learn about the issues surrounding poverty and hunger, think about the impact of their choices, and take concrete action.
World Renew staff members Ryan Geleynse and Melody Mendonca led two additional AOYC sessions. These focused on global hunger and highlighted an opportunity to get involved through advocacy as part of the Good Soil Campaign — a nationwide advocacy initiative by World Renew and the members of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank that is aimed at increasing Canadian foreign aid funding to assist small-scale farmers.
As part of the advocacy session, youth took part in a simulation of the inequality and challenges faced by those in poverty, particularly small-scale farmers.
“One of the youth who was in the ‘poor’ category said, ‘I totally failed,’ which echoed the resignation that people struggling to overcome poverty often feel,” said Mendonca. “It was also a reminder of how important it is to help people recognize their strengths and build their skills.”
As young people learned about the Good Soil Campaign and the issue of global hunger at AOYC, they were encouraged to sign and send a postcard to the Prime Minister. A total of 320 postcards were signed. Several young people also turned to social media to advocate for increased government support for small scale farmers.
“The youth demonstrated that they are full of talents and creativity that they can use to challenge injustice and bring about real change,” said Mendonca.
Geleynse was also encouraged by enthusiastic response of AOYC participants.
“It was great to see worldviews expanding,” he said. “One youth, for example, said they had never really thought about the small scale of the farm land in developing countries compared to the large scale land many World Renew supporters have to work with.”
Youth at AOYC were invited to ‘plant’ seedlings in a flower pot along to create a visual reminder of the ‘more’ they were helping bring about for small-scale farmers. After the event, these seedlings were donated by World Renew to two local community gardens.
One of the gardens to receive the seedlings is located at Calvary Baptist Church in Burlington. This garden is part of a partnership with Community Halton and their “Chill Zone” children’s outreach program. Chill Zone is an after school program serving as a drop in program for youth ages 4-14 living in North Burlington. There are afternoon and evening activities held at Calvary Baptist Church and at Tansley United Church, as well as summer activities.
In addition to adult volunteers who tend the garden, children in the Chill Zone program help with watering the plants and pulling the weeds. The garden also gives children the opportunity to enjoy fresh vegetables that they might not otherwise have had access to. Meals are a time of inclusive fellowship when all kids and volunteers have the chance to eat good food together.
Shaz Wall is a member of Calvary Baptist Church and a community development worker for Community Halton involved in Chill Zone. She expressed thanks on behalf of all those who will get to benefit from the seedlings donated by World Renew.
“People don’t always recognize hunger and poverty in places like Burlington, but even if it looks different than in other places, it is here,” said Wall. “So part of the challenge is getting people to think outside their experience. We have kids here who go home to no one, because families are working so hard to make ends-meet. We have kids who are hungry, or not getting the healthy food they need. Food banks, for example, do not usually have fresh vegetables. So even a small garden fills a big need in the community.”
“People don’t always recognize hunger and poverty in places like Burlington, but even if it looks different than in other places, it is here.”
The other community garden to receive seedlings from World Renew is located at the Sunnydale Community Centre and connected with Community CRC in Kitchener-Waterloo. This community garden was started in 2000 by the Sunnydale Community Association. At first this garden was located in Heasley Park in Waterloo. For many years it was the only community garden located on public property within the city. Today, the garden operates under the City of Waterloo’s Partners in Parks program. Participating members from a variety of different backgrounds enjoy tending the 22 plots together.
“We grow and harvest together—all the while creating stronger ties with each other and the surrounding community,” said Bill McFaddin, a coordinator for The Sunnydale Community Friendship Garden. He expressed his thanks to World Renew for the gift of vegetable and flower plants. He also shared that the community has greatly benefited from the outreach programs offered by various local churches.
“Gifts of time, expertise, and fellowship with the community are generously offered each year. I am always in awe of how many acts of kindness I witness at our small garden.”