The Jewish African Youth and Young Adult Partnership
Submitted by: David Category: Caring for Jews in Need
The Big Idea
The Jewish African Youth and Young Adult Partnership is a program that aims to expand and continue the Los Angeles Partnership with the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda and the emerging Jewish communities of sub-Saharan Africa. It provides mutual support for both communities and engages our sub-Sahara African counterparts in leadership development and assists in the development of their youth and young adult organizations. The program is divided into three main parts, the Youth Partnership, the Young Adult Partnership, and the Abayudaya Youth Association (AYA) Convention in Uganda. The program began in 2008, when three teens from the Abayudaya Jewish community came from Uganda to Los Angeles for leadership training and to participate in the Far West USY Regional Convention. When they returned to Uganda, they were enthused and empowered. They engaged their peers and together created the Abayudaya Youth Association. Inspired by what they witnessed in Los Angeles, they decided they wanted to hold a convention for the Jewish youth in their area. The convention, bringing together 200 teens from 9 villages in Uganda and Kenya, was a great success for the AYA. The teens of the Abayudaya community united together over these five days and strengthened the relationships within their Jewish community, and have since held a second convention. Their impact on the Abayudaya community has been extremely positive and Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, Rabbi of the Abayudaya community, is excited about the AYA's development, saying that, seeing the youth doing things together and taking on leadership roles, shows the Abayudaya community that the youth are willing to move forward and take on the future. Jewish teens and young adults in sub-Saharan Africa should know that they are not isolated and alone. We want them to know that they are part of a vibrant and supportive international Jewish community.
The Youth Partnership
We will bring three teens (15-18 years old) from Uganda or other parts of sub-Saharan Africa for a three week visit in the spring (when they are out of school). They will enjoy home hospitality, engage in leadership training activities with their peers in Jewish youth programs in Los Angeles, have the opportunity to speak to a variety of synagogue and Jewish community groups, visit with local Jewish youth programs and Jewish community leaders, participate in a regional Jewish youth convention to experience Jewish youth activities in the US, and tour Southern California.
The Young Adult Partnership
The Young Adult Partnership will bring three to four young adults (19-35 years old) with leadership potential from the Abayudaya community and emerging Jewish communities in sub-Saharan Africa to Los Angeles to engage in Leadership development and Israel advocacy activities, meet with Jewish Federation and synagogue boards, local Hillels, visit university campuses, speak at various synagogues, JCC's and Jewish community venues and have the chance to help plan and lead a program in Los Angeles.
The Abayudaya Youth Association Convention
As has already been done in 2010 an 2011, we will help to fund the next Abayudaya Youth Association Convention in Uganda. We will be able to return to Uganda to help facilitate and present programming to the two-hundred teens who come from nine villages throughout Uganda and Kenya. We will be able to subsidize travel for three to four rabbis/rabbinical students/Jewish educators/outstanding Jewish teens to travel to Uganda for a two to three week visit to the various Abayudaya villages to offer education, support, educational materials, Israel education and to be part of and teach at the AYA Convention.
The Impact
Rabbi Gershom Sizomu of the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda first came to Los Angeles to study at Ziegler Rabbinical School. He became a rabbinic intern at Shomrei Torah Synagogue, where he remained throughout his tenure in Los Angeles. Rabbi Gershom came to Los Angeles to study and learn, and while he did accomplish what he set out to do, it was us who learned from he and his family. They, living as subsistence farmers in an undeveloped area of Africa, are truly committed to Jewish life, its values, and teachings. Under not such easy circumstances, they observe Judaism with joy and delight and are looking to learn more. Their dedication and love of Judaism was contagious and inspirational to us. By bringing Ugandan Jewish teens to Los Angeles, we enrich the lives of the Los Angeles Jewish community by sharing the culture and diverse backgrounds of fellow Jews. Our light burns brighter when we help others shine. Our Judaism becomes stronger when we help others learn and grow.
As Jewish groups in Africa continue to emerge into the new century, and additional opportunities present themselves, the young people could choose to leave the life of subsistence farmers, and go to the universities to learn new ideas and pursue new professions. Just as we leave our homes to go to college, and our experiences in the Jewish community help us establish a strong bond to our Judaism which we take along with us, so too, the youth in Uganda, need the opportunities to strengthen this Jewish identity, to take along with them, as they leave their homes. With greater knowledge of Israel, they will be advocating in Africa for the Jewish state. Our synagogue and youth groups help do this for us. We hope that by establishing youth programs in Uganda, the Jewish youth there will benefit as well.
This Is A Great Idea Because
Dr. Gary Tobin (z"l) of the Institute for Jewish & Community Research, noted that the worldwide Jewish community is stronger and more diverse than many acknowledge and has unlimited opportunity for growth. The Jews of Uganda and sub-Saran Africa have shown this to be true. Dedicated to living Jewish lives, learned and learning, they are a growing group, and I believe, could represent on of the next major chapters in the history of the Jewish people. Their sincerity and ability to learn and observe, under what we might call less than ideal conditions is and should be a source of inspiration and pride to us all. On a continent where genocide often runs wild, humans killing humans for religious and ideological differences, the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda have found ways to work with their Christian and Muslim neighbors, joining in co-operative farming and marketing ventures to promote inter-group relations, peace and financial sustainability to their families and communities.
We in Los Angeles can learn much from our interaction with our brothers and sisters in Uganda. Our community can learn and be inspired by them. Our community can help break down barriers when we realize that there is more that we have in common as Jews and fellow human beings, than that which separates and makes us different. These can have a huge impact on our community.
This Partnership can and will make a positive impact on our lives here in the Los Angeles Jewish community just as it will benefit and have a huge impact on the growth and future of the Jews of Uganda and sub-Saharan Africa.
In addition, we are wise to support areas that are working towards peace and unity amongst different groups of people, rather than simply reacting to the horrors of genocide. Prevention is an important investment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fJ8AwT4lts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3J4TGCBuD4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLjSE1FbLpk