Young Adults in Action

1. Young Adults in Action The age span 16-30 is crucial for that is the period when life adds sweetness to itself, when talents, skills and attitudes are accumulated, sublimated and sanctified. If the tonic of unselfish service is administered to the mind during this period, life’s mission is fulfilled. -- Sathya Sai Baba

2. The Beginning… Swami blessed the creation of the Young Adult Program to nurture youth as future leaders with the following expectations: • Adhere to the ideals set by Swami • Practice the Five Human Values • Embark on Service at all times • Promote Welfare, Progress and Peace throughout the World • Age Range: 16-35 in the USA

3. Apr. 2002 - Mini Retreat in Columbia May 2002 – Latest YA Retreat (Atlanta) Sept. 1995 - Miami Young Adult group is formed Dec.1997 - East Coast Conference May 1998 - First Regional YA Retreat in Miami Nov. 1999 - 2nd World Youth Conference July 1997 - 1st World Youth Conference Sept. 2000 -EHV Conference July 2002 - Int’l Seva Conference Timeline of Young Adult Activities in the Southeast Region Regional/Local International

4. USA Young Adult Program Structure The USA National Executive Committee was created at the 1st World Youth Conference to better organize the Young Adult program in America YA National Executive Committee Dr. William Harvey, Mr. Hal Honig, Mrs. Phyllis Krystal Southeast Region YA Team 2 Adult Advisors & 2 Young Adult Representatives Addie Grauch, G.L. Ramanand, Satya Karamchandani, Amrit Kirpalani Atlanta YA Group Columbia YA Group GainesvilleYA Group GreenvileYA Group Miami YA Group Raleigh YA Group Many young adults not part of a formal Young Adult Group throughout the Region

5. First World Youth Conference- July 1997 - • Over 12,000 Young Adults from 67 countries • 10,000 delegates from India • 305 delegates from USA • The purpose was to inspire the youth to become more active and service oriented in the Sai Organization “I want you to be leaders to protect the world. Leaders like lions, Self-Reliant, Courageous, Majestic and Just. Lion is the king of animals and I want you to be king among men.” - Sathya Sai Baba

6. Second World Youth Conference- November 1999 - • Over 7,000 Young Adults from 64 countries • 6,000 delegates from India • 100 delegates from USA • The purpose was to share experiences after implementing the action plans following the 1st World Youth Conference “A wave of service, if it sweeps over the land, catching everyone in its enthusiasm, will be able to wipe off the moulds of hatred, malice and greed that infest the world.” - Sathya Sai Baba

7. World Youth Conferences The Highlights of the Proposed Action Plans were: • Hold regional and national youth conferences on a regular basis • Initiate local, regional and national service projects • Be mentors to SSE students • Ensure greater involvement of youth members in all national and regional activities of The Sathya Sai Organization • Increase unity among youth members

8. Young Adults Projects- National Level - Sai Young Adult Newsletter (SYAN): This is a quarterly newsletter dedicated to learning and practicing the teachings of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. It is published by the US Young Adults and is circulated all over the world. The newsletter can be accessed on the web at www.syan.org

9. National Young Adult Projects National Communications Project: • National YA Portal • Regional Web Pages • City Information Pages • YA Contact Databases • YA Resource Databases • Service • Study Circle Topics • YA Guidelines, Roles & Responsibilities

10. Young Adults gaining Experience & Responsibility Service Devotion Educare Overview of Young Adult Activities in the Region Educare Activities: • SSEHV Training for Youth • Imparting Through Service Projects • Participants in Regional Training Programs

11. Young Adults gaining Experience & Responsibility Service Devotion Educare Overview of Young Adult Activities in the Region Devotion Activities: • Devotional Song Sessions • Music Programs • Vedic Chanting • Study Circles & Workshops

12. Young Adults gaining Experience & Responsibility Service Devotion Educare Overview of Young Adult Activities in the Region Service Activities: • Computer Literacy Projects • Homeless Feeding • Nursing Home Service • Values Workshops

13. Challenges and Action Plans Ensuring Sustained Participation of Young Adults in all wings of the Organization: Center members, the Regional YA Team, Regional Officers, and youth should make every effort to support the YA program, plan joint activities and motivate the group. Often, Young Adult groups experience peaks and valleys in levels of activity. This could be due to the transient nature of Young Adult populations (students and young professionals relocating), exam schedules, burn out, lack of encouragement).

14. Challenges and Action Plans Increasing the participation of Teen Youth: The transition between SSE Group III and the Young Adult program is often not an easy one. • Age-specific plans can be incorporated into the Young Adult program to encourage the participation of Teen Youth. • Older Young Adults need to be trained and prepared to run such programs throughout the Region.

15. Challenges and Action Plans Increasing Communication Among Young Adults: Because of distances and imbalance in concentration of Young Adults, effective communication is a challenge at regional and national levels. Within a region, Young Adults meet once a year and therefore, the unity of the group is difficult to maintain. • In the Southeast, we are aiming to increase the frequency of these activities by having smaller Retreats • At the national and regional levels, the frequency of communication needs to be increase via conference calls and web communication

16. SAI’s Challenge to Youth I want you to be leaders to protect the world. Leaders like lions, Self-Reliant, Courageous, Majestic and Just. Lion is the king of animals and I want you to be king among men. - Sathya Sai Baba