D and P Youth Team Welcomed Warmly in Jos, Nigeria

The youth team of Tana Kayler (St. John's, NL), Innah Gaspar (Halifax), Tara Hurford (Digby), Mandi Peterson (Otttawa), Lori Ryan (Toronto) and Natasha Halpin (Vancouver) have arrived in Jos, Nigeria and will be hosted by YARAC (http://www.yaracnigeria.org/) for the next two weeks.

On Friday, the team travelled with YARAC staff to Bauchi state to a community that had just gained access to water and sanitation through the support of DEC and WaterAID. A community theatre piece was presented to a large community gathering to raise concerns re water access and to spark discussion about how the community can maintain this wonderful new set up. What an incredible way to engage the whole community in this very important issue.

Tomorrow, the youth team co-hosts and facilitates a workshop for Catholic youth eager to become stronger leaders in their parish, entitled - Just Youth - The Church, Young people, Social Justice and Peace in Nigeria. A key resource person works for the Justice, Development and Peace Commission here (another D and P partner).

It's so inspiring to witness the persistent work of so many for democracy and the endless energy of our partners here.

- Lori