International Humanist Youth Conference<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

by Gea Meijers and James Walker

The first International Humanist Youth Conference in several years, with 45 participants from 16 countries, marked the relaunch of IHEYO (International Humanist and Ethical Youth Organisation), IHEU's youth wing. The IHEYO Conference was held parallel to the IHEU World Congress and dealt with the theme 'Empowering Youth in the Humanist movement'.

It was the start of further international cooperation among youth and youth organisations. Besides this main goal, this conference offered an enriching experience where participants discussed and learned more about humanism, humanist organisations in other countries, and about how to organize or campaign for humanist youth activities. It was an opportunity to meet people from other cultures, make new friends and start new relations of information-sharing and cooperation.

There were 45 participants representing 16 countries. Most of the participants were linked with a humanist organisation, as an active volunteer, member of a board, employee or member. There were young humanists from humanist youth organisations as well as from national humanist organisations that offer specific activities for youth. Unfortunately, several youth from the Global South were unable to attend due to the refusal by Dutch Embassies to grant visas despite the IHEYO’s and the participants’ efforts to obtain them.

The conference began with dinner at Youth Hostel Bunnik on the evening of 1 July, followed by the introductory session. Gea Meijers (Dutch), year-long intern at IHEU and primary organizer of the conference, introduced Vincent Lloyd, international coordinator, IHEYO and citizen of the USA. The other organisers of the Youth Conference were:V.B. Rawat of Social Development Foundation in India, Patricia van Wickeren of Jonge Humanisten Netherlands, James Walker from the United States and month-long intern at IHEU. In addition, the group was addressed by Babu Gogineni, Executive Director of IHEU, who was delighted to see the forty-five gathered participants but also reminded them to carry their enthusiasm back with them to their homes. Gea explained the context of the conference and its objectives to start future cooperation amongst the groups. A small-group session to discuss participants' thoughts on what humanism is and what it means to them personally established a tone of sharing and openness for the whole conference.

The conference itself was held at the University of Humanistics in Utrecht. On the first day, there were presentations about IHEYO and the European Youth Programme, followed by some imaginative exercises and games to explore questions regarding values and issues.

Participants prepared and gave a presentation about their own organisations, and there were workshops on conflict in a multicultural society, introduced by V. B. Rawat, and on the boundaries of humanism and IHEYO's role - resulting in some heated discussions, especially on attitudes to religions. This latter workshop produced plans for a structure of national and continental coordinators for IHEYO which were presented to the conference. The second day involved valuable training sessions on topics such as Conflict Resolution and Youth Celebrations as well as European funding and resources for groups. A brainstorming session produced many good ideas for activities to build a vibrant youth humanist movement. The IHEYO conference participants joined those attending the World Humanist Congress on 4 July, building bridges with other parts of the humanist movement and contributing their own perspectives as young humanists.

Throughout the conference a group of volunteers had been working on preparing resolutions to present at the World Humanist Congress. Following speeches by Levi Fragell, Roy Brown, and Matt Cherry on 5 July, these resolutions were discussed. The first was on the important role of youth in IHEU, and the second on education and humanism; both were passed after some reworking. Plans for the future were firmed up, with a planning group established for the IHEYO conference to be held in Germany next year, and a network of people established for effective communication. This ended the youth conference, and many participants went on to join the rest of the World Humanist Congress.