Young people, ages 13-18 in the greater Brattleboro area are invited to attend a gathering of the interfaith youth group on Sunday, March 10 from 5 to 7:30 pm at the Dummerston Congregational Church, supported by various local faith communities.
Attendees will get to know each other through icebreakers; by sharing a make-your-own pizza meal; preparing for an Community Easter Treasure Hunt on Saturday, March 30 in Guilford; and identifying potential group activities and service projects for the spring and summer months.
According to organizers the purpose of this group is fellowship, fun and service-- making a difference in one's community-- with church affiliation or attendance not expected. Besides, studies show that being part of a youth group can offer protective factors for young people as they navigate the challenges of developing into adults.
"We will benefit from the perspectives of young people who are newly-arrived refugees," explained Brian Remer, group facilitator, who describes the group evolution into a kind of multicultural club for teens who are interested in sharing their cultures and learning about each other.
"This is a good time to bring a friend, or attend for the first time. We will be assessing if there is interest for a service trip this quarter," Remer stated.
Past groups have tackled community service projects, social justice issues, learned about different faith traditions, canoe and camped together, held overnight "Lock-Ins" locally, attended youth leadership conferences and explored New York City's diversity and rich traditions.
The goal for this group is to build leadership skills and friendships among young people who care and want to make a difference in their communities.
In the past decade, youth performed community service in places as diverse as New Orleans, Kenya, St. Croix, El Salvador and the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in S. Dakota. To ensure wide participation, the group conducts fundraisers leading up to each trip.
The Dummerston Church is located in Dummerston Center at 1535 Middle Rd. at the intersection of the East/West Road. Each month a different faith community hosts the group at their location. A $5 contribution towards the food is encouraged from those who can.
For information or to reserve a spot, please contact Nanci at (802) 258-8348 or email nanci.leitch@gmail.com.
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