YPS/VSP

The Desmond Tutu Peace Centre Youth Peace Summit (YPS) was a giant success.  The full three day event, which began Thursday morning and ended Saturday afternoon, was incredible! Even rain showers couldn't slow these kids down.  They were engaging, bright, energetic and talented.  I was blown away by their maturity and their openness.  Though the high school students were from a variety of backgrounds - races, religions, socio-econonics, and cultures - they all commented how much the Youth Peace Summit influenced them.  After three days of hearing from leaders such as the Archbishop and Yolanda Cuba (the youngest black female CEO of a major South African investment firm), conducting workshops in Diversity, Conflict Resolution, and the Environment, and sharing their creativity with one another, the YPSers were exposed to much in a short amount of time.  They rose to the occasion and exceeded all expectations. 

When the Arch addressed the students, he explained that it was a certain status to make you a VIP, but that they were all VSPs - VERY SPECIAL PERSONs and urged the youth to remind themselves of that every day.  They ate it up!  We chanted YPS/VSP the remainder of the three days. At times I felt a tad bit like a camp counselor, but was inspired nonetheless.

A few highlights included:

1. The South African National Anthem sung at the beginning and closing of the Summit; beautiful; uplifting and a hybrid of five languages brought tears to my eyes and chills to my spine.

2. The Youth's reception to the Archbishop; later the high schoolers shared what an amazing opportunity it was to hear him and how much they looked up to him.

3.  My group, the Red Hot Peace Peppers, was a special one.  I was impressed by the fast friendships formed within the group, despite their varied backgrounds.  At the conclusion of the Summit, they presented a skit about what they learned.  Their creativity and talent, including acting, beat boxing and singing, were fabulous.  However, nothing beat when all 26 of them lined up in a straight  line across the stage.  As they passed the microphone to one another, they proclaimed what they would all be 15 years later.   There were future doctors, lawyers, journalists, UN ambassadors, actors, and agents of social change.  Even more impressive, each student said it in their native language.  So, their proclamations were spoken in 7 different languages. Their facilitator, "Miss Molly," as they referred to me, was mighty, mighty proud.

4. Several students came up to me to tell me how much they were taking away from the Summit.  One even told me that he was planning on only coming Thursday and Friday as he had to work on Saturday.  He had learned so much and was having such a great time that he asked to work Sunday instead so he could also attend YPS on Saturday.  WOW.  Sign of a successful summit in my book!

Hope you all are doing well and staying cool despite high temps in the Great State on this first day of Summer.  I am bundled up with lots of layers here in Cape Town, but the sun is shining and I am loving this city more each day.  And a  Happy Father's Day to my dear Daddy - a #1 VSP.  I enjoyed our visit on Sunday.   Until next time...love and hugs!