2-Day HARP Workshop in South London, UK

We are very proud of our young people, Amy Brown, Dominic Gough and Samuel Raynbird who were the driving force behind this workshop. They all come back from STF this summer and have now started their studies. They took initiative and got organized. We trusted their deep concern for the HARPies and let them take charge. One mother commented on how impressed she was to find everyone behaving very well, being calm and respectfully listening to what the leaders were saying, when she picked up her daughter the first evening. We are truly grateful to our young people. They have a wonderful way of getting across to their younger siblings of faith. Thank you so much, for runner a well organized and great workshop! Franklin and Cecilie Fortune

D uring the October half term of 2014, South London HARP held a 2 Day workshop for anyone in high school and sixth form. It was held at the South London community centre, the Peace Embassy, in Thornton Heath. We had a total of The motto for this workshop was ‘Voice my Choice’; It was inspired by the UK CARP Convention some of the young adults attended earlier this year. During this convention we were introduced to the ideas of the recently revamped CARP movement in the USA, 30 participants from all over London, from ages 11 to which aims to spread Father’s teaching not through 18, four of which took on the roles as team leaders. traditional Divine Principle lectures but through

expressing the core values our movement stands for though it’s important to be able to express your faith, in a more socially relatable way; values such as it’s even more so to be able to live it and lead by integrity, leading purpose driven lives, having healthy example. relationships, improving spiritual health and realising Our main activity was a public speaking competition inherent value. As young adults we felt like we could we held at the end of the workshop. Everyone gain a lot from this convention and we wanted to prepared and gave a short talk on something bring the same spirit of fresh perspective on Principle important and inspiring to them, first to their teams, and enthusiasm to share it to our younger brothers then the team chose two speakers to speak in front and sisters in HARP. So essentially the aim of this of the whole workshop. As staff we thought it might short workshop was to help the HARPies realise the be a bit risky because even for many adults public amazing values, ideals and principles our movement speaking can be terrifying, and we were a little afraid has to share, and help them to develop the it would be a bit too challenging for some, however, confidence to be able to express these with their fortunately I believe we underestimated them; every friends and those around them, in other words, to participant partook and shared something put a voice on their beliefs and faith. meaningful. The teams did so well in supporting, Our schedule began with a short talk on the culture encouraging and appreciating each other, and I think of heart we try to share with each other as blessed that because of this the HARPies could feel free to children. We discussed what are the best aspects of share more openly and deeply. So many of the talks being a blessed child? Some of the points the were quite heartfelt and deep, even coming from HARPies came up with was friendship, family those as young as 11. I was not only impressed but atmosphere, support and faith. We concluded that actually really inspired by what they had to share. this is the kind of culture we want to see and There were a variety of topics such as never giving experience wherever we go, and we only have this up, friendships, becoming a mature person, their kind of culture of heart because of what True Parents passions, what it means for them to be a second taught us. So in order for us to share this culture we generation, giving it the best you got, respect for should be able to share our values and principles. their parents and many more. For many of them it was quite challenging, but because of the supportive We then heard a talk from Ollie Davies, a guest environment they successfully embraced their speaker we invited who also spoke at the CARP challenge and stepped out of their comfort zones. For convention, who has done a lot of work with Youth the competition there were 2 age groups, 11 – 14, UPF and also attended the original CARP Convention and 15+. There were 7 HARPies who gave their talk in in the USA. He gave a talk on public speaking, front of the entire workshop, and all of them did essentially about confidently and fluently expressing really well, in content, heart and delivery. Giving a oneself. He spoke on not only practical elements of speech in front of 30 people is difficult! For some it effective public speaking but also on the importance was definitely a case of facing and overcoming a fear, of our internal attitude with which we speak. We and it was especially for those that it was a rewarding then did a short improve activity with the HARPies in and growing experience. their teams, where they had to make a short speech on a question they were given on the spot in front of Personally I felt that the best thing from this their team. For some it took them a bit out of their workshop was that not only could they challenge comfort zone but everyone participated and themselves and grow in confidence through the supported each other, and all in all it went well and experience, but it was the fact that they could they enjoyed and challenged themselves. challenge themselves to be more open and go deeper with each other, and in doing so it became obvious Of course a Harp workshop isn’t complete without that the HARPies were inspiring and teaching each games and sports, so throughout the workshop there other. were many games, creative activities and sports. Everyone was fully involved, making effort to include For many of us second generation, it is a challenge to each person and showed lots of enthusiasm. As be open and freely express our faith and what’s in always, you really can’t beat the HARP team spirit. our hearts, but of course this shouldn’t be the case. From this short but meaningful workshop, I was really On the second day we had another guest speaker, an impressed by my younger brothers and sisters. Given older second generation brother, Michael Schroder, the opportunity there’s so much that the HARP who also went to the CARP Convention in the US. He generation can give. There’s definitely a lot of talent gave a talk on what it means to be a good role model. there, but more importantly a deep level of heart and He spoke about purifying the attitude of those a shy determination to express it. around you through living a pure lifestyle, and even