European Second Generation Summer Activities 2014

The theme of the summer workshops for various age groups of second-generation European members this year was Let us be the ONE: to Practice, to Realize, to Carry On

This summer, the European Second Generation Department (ESGD) worked together with an international group of volunteers to staff our program of workshops — organizing, directing and providing care and education for second- generation members across Europe. We were joined by many brothers and sisters who created something of precious value to all involved– learning and growing together through the combined efforts of everyone, in an atmosphere where we could feel the love and support of God and True Parents.

Through the annual summer activities, we seek to provide different opportunities across a range of workshops, which bring together our unique European community and give us the precious opportunity to study the Principle together and experience the culture of heart. It is a tradition which has built many strong bonds and which has supported many brothers and sisters to take steps forward in their spiritual lives.

This summer we had a twenty- one- day mobilization, a Football Workshop, Junior HARP Workshop, Senior HARP Workshop and the ODP+ Workshop. Altogether, they brought together approximately Summer workshops for members of our second generation in two hundred and fifty participants Europe allows for bonding and refreshing the soul and staff members from twenty- five different nations between the ages of fourteen and twenty-five across sites in France, Slovakia, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands.

This article is meant just to give a taste of the experiences across the different workshops, through a brief overview, some short excerpts from participants’ reflections, and photographs that capture some of the faces and moments from this summer.

Each year we have a motto across the activities; this gives us an internal focus for our workshops. We use it to connect us to True Parents vision, while giving us space to express our creativity through shaping a unique meaning of the motto on each work shop. This year’s motto was Let us be the ONE: To Practice/To realize/To Carry On.

With this motto, we wanted to directly connect and refer to the motto for this year onward until 2020: “Let us become true owners of Cheon Il Guk who practice true love in resemblance to our Creator, the Heavenly Parent!”

We wanted to reinterpret this motto to make it personal — but also to emphasize the importance of practicing true love, substantially realizing the ideal in our environment, and carrying on God’s lineage from our parents and True Parents, despite difficulties and challenges that might confront us. This motto combined our individual and collective responsibilities and could give us personal insights and inspiration.

Each workshop targeted different age groups with different programs. The Junior HARP (for fourteen to sixteen year olds) and Senior HARP (for sixteen to eighteen year olds) workshops target members in high school, to provide relatable spiritual material — practical application of the Divine Principle, and guidance and support for maintaining a pure lifestyle.

We see this as planting the seeds for future blessing preparation while creating and nurturing true friendships that can support this important journey. Young adults at the Original Divine Through all aspects of the workshop — lectures, team Personality workshop know it will be challenges, discussions, creative projects and rigorous. Here, they do pushups in a creek. worshipping together in song and prayer, we could build an atmosphere that was energetic and joyful but also a serious, sincere and supportive.

The Football Workshop gave brothers an opportunity to play sports together in a healthy team spirit. Sport supports the development of self-control, mind and body unity, communication and teamwork. All of these are essential habits for our spiritual growth. Through training and competitive match practice, as well as internal guidance and team activities, the goal was not only to develop their football skills, but also their inner character, values and ethics. We wanted to give them a vision of hope for the future of this world, and the confidence and tools so that they can have a positive impact in their families, schools, workplaces, communities and society — as well as any sports teams they may be part of.

The twenty-one-day mobilization gave participants the chance to experience service projects, fund raising and David Hanna, speaking to 14 to 16 year olds Ocean Challenge (fishing on the sea). When we consider the educational possibilities of these different components, we can also see the value that True Parents placed on those experiences. Journeying across Europe for three weeks gave us more time to open up and grow closer together — and the chance to seriously reflect, have a change of heart, and realign our compasses.

Young HARP students from throughout Europe at their summer workshop

The ODP+ workshop is filled with intense physical and spiritual challenges. Participants are challenged to push themselves out of their comfort zones and receive support and guidance to take steps forward in their spiritual life. It is open to anyone eighteen years and older, from high school students, university students or those who are now in full-time employment. It provides the opportunity to be in a completely different environment from day-to-day life — to give the change of scene needed to gain a new perspective. Lecture topics included Original Divine Principle content and focused internal guidance relevant for living a genuine spiritual life. ODP+ stands for Original Divine Personality + more, so through the education and experiences together we worked to become closer to our true selves and to gain a clearer sense of the way of life that each of us should pursue to be truly happy.

The older high school student group

Despite the different ages and schedules, common across all the workshops is the culture that we want to create. A culture of purity and true brother–sister relationships, a family atmosphere that can give us a taste of Cheon Il Guk and of how we can live our lives if we choose to.

Also, we experienced two workshops in the newly renovated Camberg center, a historic workshop center in Germany. Camberg also benefitted from financial support from True Mother to help fulfil its role as an education center for Europe.

We have held summer workshops there for many years, but we were definitely grateful for the precious

environment that has been further developed and beautified. The holy ground and the natural surroundings provide an environment of freedom and peace to which we want to return.

ESGD, HARP and Youth Leader Patrick Hanna

We drew inspiration from what True Mother said recently, which we included on each graduation certificate: “Those in the second generation are the precious existences who are the first outcome of Heaven in the six thousand years of providential history…. Be able to embrace people around you by creating a suitable environment, and become a model family to the young people in society.”

Through these collective experiences, we could understand that our identity is rooted in True Parents, and through our deep bonds, we could experience the fruits of the blessing. It was a substantial, tangible experience, for which we are grateful. We want to thank all the parents and communities for supporting their children to attend, and all the lecturers and parents who supported each workshop directly.

Also, we want to thank all the staff members and participants for their sincere efforts and unique contributions, which created each environment and all the unforgettable moments!

Excerpts from written reflections

(Junior Workshop): “During this workshop I learned that I can overcome even my strongest fears, if only I involve God in my life. I also learned that there is a huge way to go through that is waiting for me. I have realized many important things, especially about purity and the kind of lifestyle I am leading right now. But I don’t feel heavy, about it. Now I just see a clear path, which I want to follow. Even though it might be hard, I can see that it’s really worth it.”

“I think that my most precious moments were when I made new friendships with people from all around Europe. I also found that bonding with my team was precious, as we were all becoming more unified.”

“I learned that unity is more important and achievable than I expected. And that purity is related to Older high school students do Hoon Dok Hae everything; it’s not only about being “pure” but also thinking of the sake of others, always.”

(ODP+) “The most important thing I could learn about myself was that I have the capacity to love unconditionally. This was the first time in my life I felt that I was loving unconditionally, without needing any credit or anything, I was just okay with loving others and seeing people happy.’’

‘’I discovered that True Parents are my identity as a member of the second generation. I am a by-product of my parents’ wishes to make this world a better place. My role is to take responsibility for who I am and quit mucking around with my conflicting interests.”

‘’I learnt that I’m physically quite strong when I have the right mindset.”

Senior workshop

“I learned that God can really be experienced and felt when our standard is crystal clear and we understand why that is. Our conscience is awesome, always helping us to get on the right track, always helping us to see what the best and most pure thing is to do.”

“Being on this workshop, to me, is somehow like being in the heavenly kingdom, Cheon Il Guk. It makes me absolutely believe in what Jesus said once, that the heavenly kingdom starts between us, and not in a random place.”

“What the motto means to me is that you have to become a person who practices true love, who realizes what a true life should be and what to do to achieve such a life and to carry on.” The atmosphere and camaraderie draws members of our second generation to these annual workshops.

The workshops create a fun environment.