38th General Meeting 2011

EYCE starts a new working cycle after the 38th General Meeting

“My strongest impression from the General Meeting was to see the commitment and enthusiasm of the Member Organisations to the work of EYCE“, said newly elected Chairperson of EYCE Catharina Covolo.

The 38th General Meeting of the Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe took place from 17th – 23rd of October 2011 in Höchst (Odenwald), Germany, and brought together more than 40 young people as delegates, guests and stewards to the General Meeting.

The General Meeting was hosted by EYCE’s Geman Member Organisation Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Evangelischen Jugend in Deutschland e.V. (aej) and Evangelische Jugend in Hessen und Nassau e.V.. EYCE is deeply grateful for the support, care and endless energy invested in welcoming delegates and guests of EYCE’s 38th General Meeting.

We would like to express special gratefulness to the stewards during the General Meeting – Dorothea Gillmeister, Julius Günther, Vera Kockler, Matthias Roth and Theresa Seubold.

During the 38th General Meeting Executive Committee elections took place and the following people have been elected to the EYCE Executive Committee – Catharina Covolo (Lutheran, Germany) as the Chairperson, Adriana Florea (Lutheran, Romania) as the Vice-Chairperson and Sini Tyvi (Lutheran, Finland) as the Treasurer, as well as Andrea Aprile (Baptist, Italy), Benjamin Mlýnek (Hussite, Czech Republic), Zofia Kozlowska-Socha (Baptist, Poland) and Slavi Spasov (Orthodox, Bulgaria). We warmly welcome the newly elected ExCo members to the EYCE community and wish many blessings for the term they will serve for EYCE.

EYCE would also like to thank the Executive Committee members, who will not continue their work with the council – Pavlina Buzkova, Inka Manninen and Gunnfridur Tomasdottir, for their commitment to EYCE and all the work they have done during their term with EYCE! We wish all the best for their future and activities outside of EYCE!

EYCE was happy to welcome many guests to its 38th General Meeting, especially from the organisations in close partnership with EYCE, such as the Forum of Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO) and the World Student Christian Federation Europe (WSCF-E), as well as potential cooperation partners – European Methodist Youth and Children (EYMC). We would like to thank all the guests for their presence during the 38th General Meeting and for their essential contribution to the content of EYCE’s work!

During the day in Frankfurt the delegates and guests could experience an alternative guided tour in Frankfurt, highlighting various aspects of EYCE’s work present in Frankfurt, such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, social injustice and human trafficking. At the reception in Jugend und Kulturkirche Sankt Peter (St. Peter Youth and Culture Church), organised by Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Evangelischen Jugend in Deutschland e.V. (aej) and Evangelische Jugend in Hessen und Nassau e.V., many guests from the regional church and politics were present.

After the fruitful cooperation of more than a year in organising EYCE events, especially the summer training in Lithuania in 2010, EYCE is warmly welcoming its new member to its family – the Youth Centre of Evangelical Luheran Church of Lithuania. EYCE will be enriched by the contribution of the Youth Centre to the programme of EYCE!

During the week of the General Meeting the thematic work of the past two years was evaluated and the upcoming work planned. Besides the EYCE Campaign to Promote Ecological Justice, a special focus was set on the continuation of EYCE’s interreligious work, as well as various aspects of ecumenical leadership training. The active involvement and cooperation between the Member Organisations was highlighted, especially in the work of the campaign and in enhancing the visibility of EYCE.

EYCE is looking forward to the new challenges and new commitments in its work, especially through stronger commitment and contribution by its Member Organisations!