News

Life Matters 2007 - Report

Monday, August 13, 2007

With differing expectations, fears, hopes and dreams, a diverse group of individuals gathered for the Life Matters course last month.

There were 22 young people representing 16 different cultures including Anglo/Celtic/Italian and Aboriginal Australia, Romania, Maori and Pakeha from New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Fiji – Indigenous and Indian, Sudan, China, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

The nine-day residential course explores identity, life direction, relationships, looking at the past through honest eyes and understanding its impact on the future, reconciliation, forgiveness and the four values common to the major world religions: honesty, purity, unselfishness and love. It also includes workshops in managing conflict creatively, community building theory and practice, lessons in creative expression through music, dance and drama, and team building recreation.

Discovering the value in reflecting on the past, some participants decided to take action on re-paying unmet debts to individuals and institutions, apologies to people who had been wronged and taking the initiative to heal damaged family relationships.

Three young women came from Meningie in South Australia – part of the Ngarrindjeri nation of the Coorong. Rita Lindsay spoke of the discrimination and degradation she had experienced as a young person and of the new confidence and hope she had gained by being at the course with people who treated her with dignity, respect and equality. Sharing their culture with the participants was special for everyone.

Nu Khunnasit, a young international law student from Thailand said that Australia was one of the last countries that he would have chosen to visit. 'But I was welcomed like a close relative, like a son,' he went on. 'I feel ashamed at my attitude towards people I had never met.' Metuisela Tuivavalagi from Fiji said, 'I have learned to overcome my fears and developed skills in conflict resolution. Most importantly I have found the use of silent reflection as a tool for spiritual growth, meaning and direction'. A Solomon Islands participant, Norse Kellyn, said the course had 'directed all my challenges and struggles in a different way to find solutions'. Quang Hien Ngo, from Vietnam, shared that he would 'never be the same person again, not so afraid and jealous, but committed to what I am supposed to do and who I am meant to be'.

As they prepared to launch out, decisions were shared about the initiatives and projects that people will return to undertake. They included:

  • the organization of an international youth forum for young Christians and Muslims
  • the expansion of the ‘Student Heart’ venture (a youth-led programme that distributes food to the homeless in Cambodia and builds community learning centres)
  • support for ‘Winds of Change’ - a group in the Solomon Islands focussing on anti-corruption/clean election issues through inner change
  • the ongoing development of the Cambodia-Vietnam dialogue
  • the strengthening of the Melbourne-based North/South Sudanese Youth for Reconciliation and Hope
  • the work for change in relationships with families and friends
  • the decision to face up to and heal the hurts of Australia’s history with the Aboriginal community.