CRS Education:
Going Global with Youth
CRS Education: Going Global with Youth is a gateway to lesson plans, simulation activities, prayer services, stories, web links and opportunities that looks at global issues through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching. Use this resource to invite young people to see the world with new eyes and to challenge them to respond to our faith call to global solidarity. New features are listed below.
New Features
- Update: Frontiers of Justice and Called to Witness Trips
In the face of the global food crisis, exacerbated by the current extraordinary economic uncertainties and challenges, Catholic Relief Services has found it necessary to make difficult choices that allow us to carry out our mission of serving the poor and maintain our commitment to be good stewards of the resources we have. It is within this context that we have made the difficult decision to suspend the global solidarity trips, Frontiers of Justice and Called to Witness, for 2009. Though this announcement comes as a disappointment to many, it does not diminish the commitment of CRS to serving you in your effort to lead young people to live in solidarity with those living in poverty. As we ascertain the long-term effects and demands of both the food and economic crises, we will update our plans for future trips on this website and through our partners at the National Catholic Educational Association and the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry If you would like to be notified personally regarding those updates, contact Ted Miles (tmiles@crs.org) for more information.
- World AIDS Day
- Leading up to World AIDS Day on December 1, Catholic Relief Services is recognizing the lives and amazing efforts of people living with HIV around the world, those who have died from related illnesses and the work of countless organizations dedicated to reversing the impact of the pandemic. Numerous resources for World AIDS Day provide extensive information on the global impact of the pandemic, ways to get involved and bring awareness to your community, how to engage the media, as well as stories and prayers that provide a window into the lives of the people we serve.
- Catholic Social Teaching and Food
- The current food crisis has impacted billions of people around the world as the cost of almost all agricultural products has increased by forty percent in the last year and eighty-three percent over the last three years. The populations most impacted by the crisis have been children and the urban poor. World Food Day (October 16) and the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (October 17) have passed; however, the need for education and action remains. Numerous educational resources on the food crisis are currently available from CRS with more to come on this website.
- Order the New FOOD FAST Materials
- This year's Food Fast materials focus on the global dimension of migration, its relationship to hunger, and how we as Catholics can respond to this issue. New activities and prayer sessions include a session on advocacy and a backgrounder on Migration, Hunger and Catholic Social Teaching. This year's giveaway item is a fair trade olivewood cross from the Holy Land. Visit the Food Fast website to ORDER the FREE Food Fast materials.
- Visit the 2008 Travelogues for Called to Witness and Frontiers of Justice
- Read about two separate journeys to Africa taken earlier this year: one to Nigeria with Catholic youth ministers and another to Burkina Faso and Ghana with Catholic high school teachers. Read and be challenged or inspired by their reflections. CRS is finalizing plans for the 2009 trips and application materials will be available in November 2008.