Joint project of the ESGD and Ivorian 2nd Generation in Abidjan, Ivory Coast

W By Yebuny Hanna e are very excited and happy strengthening our confidence to be our to share that some ESGD true selves, work on our fallen natures members and supporting and live a blessing lifestyle in order to European 2nd gen have recently become our original character and returned from Abidjan in Ivory Coast. reach our full potential. Alongside our We co-organised a West African lecture content, a workshop highlight summer workshop for more than 120 was the personal testimonies from the African blessed children. True Father elder BCs (both European and Ivorian) emphasised during his European Tour who shared how they had overcome in 2011 that Europe should have a This then led straight into welcoming certain challenges in their lives to the the 120+ workshop participants for a participants. We also had a particularly significant role in supporting Africa. week-long summer workshop in special ‘Family Day’ out where we all We are glad we could contribute to it Abidjan. Using our European summer spent the day at a local National park and that such a co-operation could come about in precious area of motto, “Be Original”, we centred all together. We enjoyed walking through the education and activities on the forest, playing team games and education for Blessed Children. connecting to our roots in God and Beginning on 23rd June, we organised a 2-day leadership training for elder 2nd gen and Jacob’s children who were taking responsibility for the upcoming workshop. Goal was to share our vision for education of blessed children based on Father’s teachings and the Principle. Content included our approach to purity and Blessing lifestyle education and also key components of spiritual leadership. Alongside these sessions, much of the value came from us and the Ivorian staff; being able to share our experiences, challenges and concerns regarding the education of 2nd gen in both continents. ESGD staff was invited to give the main sermon on Sunday service and thus also connect with broad community of blessed families, both European team in Ivory Coast: Pierre, Ntima and Sean (back row second, third and parents and children. Great step in fourth from the left), Yebuny (front row first on the left) and Martin (front row second preparations for the actual workshop. from the right)

life. They are all trying to take responsibility for their situations in life. Trusting in God is so important for them but they also know that you have to work hard in order to create something good. I was touched by their immense joy and hope despite those difficulties. Learning from their lives was definitely one of my highlights of this experience. We all were so happy to create this bridge across the 2 continents. Cultural differences between European BCs and African BCs don’t really matter because we can learn from each other and expand our hearts to one another. simply enjoying each other’s company Through establishing friendships at the Reflections from some staff workshop, I could learn that no matter outdoors as brothers and sisters. members where you live as Blessed Children, By the end of the workshop, many Pierre (Germany) the best education is always needed in participants and staff expressed that they order to create an environment where really appreciated the creative and My name is Pierre and my mother is German and father is Congolese. we love and care for each other; where personal dimensions of the workshop; we respect one another and truly feel having new experience of creative Having grown up in Duesseldorf, Germany, this trip to Ivory Coast was that we are God’s children. Through activities on workshops such as dancing this experience I could see that we as and games. They valued team meetings my first time to Africa. From the first moment I met the Ivorian blessed BCs should all have the desire to live where they could share more personally good lives with others and for others, and connect with each other more than families at the Church Centre, I was just amazed by how they all treat each connecting to each other across the before. globe. We can give hope to everyone, other. The feeling of being one family Based on workshop reflections and the is just natural for them. They expressed no matter where you come from and staff evaluation day we can say that our an intense amount of joy through their who you are, because we all have the time together was a great success! Both singing, dancing and playing with one same parents. the FFWP national leader of Ivory Coast another. I saw how powerful emotions and the FFWP regional president of West can be and how much happiness can be Flora (Ivory Coast) Africa expressed their appreciation of the created if we all include one another. European group coming there to help with Being in this environment made it easy education. Through the project we could for me to connect to them. build personal connection with elder 2nd generation active in education and willing We were able to open our hearts in to develop it further. We believe it is a such a short amount of time. I learned wonderful foundation for an ongoing co- that quite a few of the Ivorian BCs operation that can now grow and continue have difficulties in their lives, some between Europe and Africa. We will not even having the proper chance to welcome your support for our future go to school. So it really touched me that they were still trying to be hopeful My name is Flora, I am 24 years old projects – be in touch with us. and I’m a Jacob’s Child studying in and making God a part of their daily University. The past summer camp for 2nd Gen we had here in Ivory Coast was an amazing experience for me; we started with 2 days training for leaders. I learnt a lot in this time as it allowed me to understand how important it is for us as leaders to prepare and develop our heart to be a model of integrity so that we can be a better support for our younger brothers and sisters. Since I am always concerned about how to take care of others, I was very happy to learn more about spiritual leadership. Also, during the workshop I understood God’s heart through my relationships with the participants. This is because it was not always easy to deal with their characters and behaviour but still I needed

to keep loving them and helping them which opened a concrete perspective in us to hold this wonderful workshop. move forwards in a good way, just as this field for me. One thing I really When I heard about the plans for an God does with us. I appreciated is the clarity concerning international workshop here in Ivory really felt concerned and responsible the standard we should set for our life Coast, I felt really good and hopeful for them. And I realised that as blessed family members. I used to because it has been a long time since supporting each other is the key feel I was alone in this battle, trying to we had a workshop. set a high standard by myself, but now During the first 2-days leadership to succeeding in our life as blessed I know there are other people around family members. Furthermore, I training, I received a lot of inspiration the world that have a similar goal and for my life. We talked about the appreciated the lectures, which were approach. So I want to thank you - is clear and deep. And the co-operation blessing lifestyle and I was really was just wonderful! focused on it because it allowed me to with the ESDG team was wonderful - it was so easy and good to work Many parents have told me how happy reflect on myself and on how I can together, planning the schedule and they were that this workshop took become a good spouse and create an preparing activities. I felt our staff was place. And since the workshop, I have ideal family. We also talked about how a second family. Thank you to heard that many children who took part to be a good leader and the values to Heavenly Parents and True Parents and are pushing their parents to come to embody in order to develop our own ESDG for this experience! Sunday service each weekend! In my leadership. It was really good for me community, there are definitely more and I learned so many things that could sisters attending Sunday service now! help me to improve myself. So Sheloba (Ivory Coast) So I would like to say thank you for all Then after this training, we started the the hard work of the staff and workshop. I really liked all the especially to the ESGD team giving activities we did, it created a good their best in teaching the participants atmosphere. I also learned so many and engaging them in new games and things through this workshop - it activities, which all contributed to a allowed me to develop my sense of lasting result! responsibility because it was my first time that I was in the staff team and Kevin (Ivory Coast) I’m very grateful for that. In Usually when I go for a workshop, I My name is Kevin and I’m 20 years conclusion, this workshop has been a always hope to learn something new, old. I am a student, working now with real opportunity for me to rediscover grow internally and get a CARP Ivory Coast and also helping myself, to learn more and also to stronger faith. And at this workshop, I sometimes in my local church. First of consolidate my relationship with certainly received a lot. I really got a all, I would like to express gratitude to brothers and sisters; I had a great time chance to improve and learn more God and True Parents to have allowed at this workshop. about myself. I really learnt more about how to balance my own personality and my way of doing things with the wider needs of the workshop. I also learnt to be more flexible and tolerant because I discovered that being flexible towards others gives them more space to discover themselves and take action for their own situation. It was definitely a step on my path of developing a better personality. I also really appreciated working with the staff team. We were patient with one and other. To codirect the workshop with Sean and Yebuny was simply great – we worked hard so that each person played their role fully. What’s more, I could discover more about the European situation and education system for 2nd generation,