DONE 015 and DONE M1 Luzna, Slovakia reflections

W e are very pleased to programme this year had 26 Outside of the kick-off and Graduation announce that DONE 2015 participants with 7 full-time staff and workshops, the schedule consisted of FR and DONE Mission One managing ESGD staff. The participant trainings and education periods with 2016 have been successfully group was very mixed with 13 brothers lecturers including William Haines, completed! We want to congratulate the and 13 sisters, as well as 13 Europeans Frank Kaufmann, Geros Kunkel, David graduates once again for all their effort and 13 non-Europeans (from America, Hanna, Carlos Badosa, Ando Rodrigues, and achievements and wanted to pass on New Zealand, Australia and Japan). We Armando Lozano, ESGD staff and other a summary report to all blessed families also want to take the chance to thank 2nd Gen guest speakers. There were with some participant reflections. our 7 full-time team leaders once again, many valuable diamonds and nuggets of DONE is a training programme that as we attribute much of this year’s wisdom that resonated with us all, offers participants down-to-earth success to the stability, leadership and particularly from the Divine Principle education and care in aspects of building constant care that came from them. content, the Blessing workshop and the their relationship to God and furthering their understanding of life. Through the varied schedule and opportunities, young 2nd generation are given the chance to make their spiritual life and knowledge lasting and real, as well as creating strong bonds of friendship and learning useful skills and wisdom for life. We believe that Blessed children need to have a healthy understanding of who they are, seeing their potential and role in taking a lead to develop new environments wherever they go and whatever they do. In line with this, DONE aims to provide participants with the opportunity to strengthen their confidence and maturity so that they can believe they can make a positive difference in this world. Running from September 27th - December 21st, 2015, the DONE

always seemed to be a daunting task I would have to take, sacrificially. Finally I feel free now because I genuinely desire to understand the Principle fully, because this is the one beautiful thing I sincerely want to do.” A participant from Germany

“DONE has allowed me to discover for myself what my purpose in life is and has given me plenty of tools to create a meaningful everyday life. Some of the good habits I was able to create were a sense of self-awareness, hopefulness, attentiveness and perseverance. I believe that one of my most important achievements on DONE/DM1 is finally being able to be honest with myself, and therefore honest and open with others. internal guidance given by elder 2nd Upon graduating, many of DONE and Not only did it help me grow as an gen. Despite just being together for 3 DONE DM1 participants have applied to individual and discover my own months, many participants shared the help staff the ESGD European summer strengths and limitations, but it also renewed hope and confidence they had workshops, which we see as a great gave me the strength to create and found in themselves and for their future. contribution! develop deep and honest relationships As a BC community of brothers and On behalf of all of us as staff, we want to with those both on DONE and back at sisters, we were reminded of our thank all of our friends, family members, home. I am forever grateful for this potential, linked to our identity and our educators and wider connections, who experience.” purpose in life. And closely connected to supported the programme and the A participant from Australia this, there was a consistent theme participants throughout these past through all the education that months. “DONE gave me many tools, which I can responsibility is the key to freedom and apply to live my life with more strength that no matter what we do or what we Registrations for DONE 2016-17 are and awareness. Amongst the most cannot do, we can always create value if now open, so for more information, or to important things DONE has allowed me we live to love others. apply for next year’s programme, please to do is to differentiate what the visit www.esgd.org inessentials in life are. They were A group of 16 participants and 5 full- time staff then continued onto the Warmest wishes, hindering me from being the person I DONE Mission One programme (DM1), Yebuny Hanna (Educational Director) want to be and I developed more trust in which ran from February 2nd – May Julius Alexy (DONE Director) myself to take bold steps to cut them out 5th, 2016. This involved longer FR Patrick Hanna (DONE Co-director) and march forward in my life with more training period, an education period clarity and strength. I am grateful for including leadership training, a Second much needed education that enables us We asked some participants for a to be much happier people.” Generation Educator’s training, a short reflection of their mountain challenge in the High Tatras A participant from Australia experience: and a range of service projects combining a project in an orphanage “DONE has helped me to be more clear “Through DONE I could learn that God and at various heritage sites as well as about who I really am; a unique child of wants me to be myself. Being yourself running programmes and activities in God, and that’s where my real value lies. means to bring out all the good schools. This then culminated in the DONE created an environment for me to characteristics which were given to you DM1 members taking full responsibility discover this myself. Before I went to by God. It is to let your inner light shine. for directing and organising the Eastern DONE I was very scared of taking The staff created a space where we could European Spring HARP workshop that initiative, but DONE encouraged me to take the initiative and work on ourselves ran from April 29th to May 1st. Under take responsibility and made me aware based on our own creativity. Being the support of ESGD staff, the DM1 of my potential. It’s all a matter of heart, yourself also means to accept where you participants successfully took up of becoming the most loving version of come from, no matter what that means positions as Director, MCs, Sports Co- yourself. I realised that we can all be for you. Through the love and care we ordinators, Team leaders and Kitchen positive influencers, and that God can received, we could grow the confidence staff. We were very impressed by the work through us when we take the first in ourselves to build something out of initiative, responsibility and care shown step. It made me hopeful that together our own creativity and conviction. by each of them and many young HARP we can make a better, more loving I also learnt that God plays an important members who attended were very world.” role in our daily life. It is about giving impacted by the weekend. The DONE A participant from Belgium meaning to this normality in our lives mission one programme provided the that will make our life meaningful. He opportunity to build upon the “On DONE I found out I want to live this wants to be part of the normal decisions foundation of their DONE education; to life, being a 2nd Gen, following the path we take in our lives. The small ones and grow deeper, to go further, and to of my parents. the big ones. It is up to us, if God is part develop a more loving environment I thought I had known before that the of our lives or not. We have the power to together. Principle is the only truth that can make create our own reality. Let it be a reality, me happy, but still - living this life where the ones we love can come closer

to God. Let’s create an environment “DONE and DM1 helped me to build my in my life. A time of self-growth and where we can all come closer to God.” faith and hope in a natural way. I started realisation, where life lasting friendships A participant from Germany to see what it was that God wanted for were made and unforgettable us to create and that was only done experiences. Through DONE and DM1 I “Six months of DONE and DONE through the efforts that we all, as feel closer to Heavenly Parent and closer Mission1 have come to an end – a brothers and sisters, put in; taking to myself.” journey which helped me to take steps responsibility for what we were building. A participant from Ireland forward in my personal growth and in There were many things that I gained my relationship with God and True internally but by far the most important “Through DONE and DONE Mission 1, I Parents. Even though it was not always was the relationships I grew and could grasp a better understanding of an easy journey, I’m grateful to every deepened with my friends and God.” what it means to create and build a life moment as I could deepen my A participant from New Zealand of faith. Through overcoming myself and understanding of my roots and my my selfishness, I could place my priority identity as a daughter of God and of how “DONE stands for growth and growth on developing myself into a better important it is to take our lives and our comes from challenges and takes time. person for the sake of the people around mission seriously, as every decision has Growing means investing fully and then me, those I love and care for. It goes an impact on our future generations. even a small group of people is enough beyond what is established here, but the Staying hopeful and keeping integrity no to make a change. But DONE is only the education and experiences I hope to matter what so that God has space to beginning; we worked hard, learned a lot embody to bring back home and share work in our lives – this was one of the and now it is time to pass it on.” naturally is one goal I set out for, acting most precious lessons for me.” A participant from Austria as a follow up.” A participant from Austria “When I look back on DONE I can A participant from the USA definitely say that it was a key moment