Going Global With Youth

Volume 7, Issue 2

October 2006

In this issue:

CRS Education: Going Global with Youth
New CRS Education Website Goes Live! To further our commitment to fostering education for U.S. Catholic youth around Catholic Social Teaching, and in particular issues of global solidarity and concern, Catholic Relief Services announces the launch of its website for high school educators and youth ministers. Visit http://education.crs.org to access lesson plans, prayer services, retreat models, and additional resources and links for CRS and our partners. Check back regularly for continued updates, new resources, and featured ideas from educators and youth ministers across the country.

Economics is a complex issue. For many, it is too "big" to grapple or too dull to really care about. Yet, economics is very much a part of our lives from the way it shapes the systems (political, educational, societal and even religious) in which we live to the way it dictates the individual choices we make daily. As such, how we choose to participate is not only a materials issue, it is also a spiritual and moral issue. How we choose to spend money, trade goods, and exchange services reveal our priorities — what we ultimately care about — as individuals, families, nation, church and global community.

As people of faith, it is important that we step back to make an honest assessment of the economic choices made on all levels of our society. The leaders of our faith make it very clear: the poor and vulnerable need to be our first priority. From the prophets to the Gospel message of Christ, our religious tradition affirms that we are individuals rooted in community and the care of the community is the responsibility — spiritually, socially and economically — of each individual.

Easier said than done! Yet, in this issue of Going Global with Youth, we invite you and the young people you serve to take some time amidst the busy-ness of life to reflect upon our role as people of faith who are also players in the economic systems around the world. There are numerous resources available to help you explore the faith challenges and response to which we are called with respect to economics. In this issue, we give specific focus to the CRS Fair Trade programs — an alternative system of trade that is rooted in the principles of human dignity, economic justice and global solidarity.

Three additional resources that provide worthy reflection on the subject of economics and faith are:

On a broader but related level, Just Faith Ministries provides a "faith formation process for adults and youth that emphasize the Gospel message of peace and justice, Catholic Social Teaching and the intersection of spirituality and action. " Working in a small faith-sharing community, individuals explore issues related to poverty and injustice, engage in weekly meeting gatherings rooted in prayer, discussion, and theological reflection, and are enabled to develop a strong passion for social justice. Contact Just Faith Ministries for more information.

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Life in the Field

Nicaragua: Fair Trade Coffee
CRS has had a presence in Nicaragua for more than 40 years. In the past five years, part of the focus of our work shifted toward aiding coffee farmers and their families who were hit particularly hard by the worldwide collapse of coffee prices. Learn more about the CRS Fair Trade Coffee program in Nicaragua through stories, slide and video shows, and other resources which can be used in educating young people about economic systems and a worthwhile response to the injustices that exist within them.

Ghana: Fair Trade Chocolate
In 2005, CRS partnered with the Day Chocolate Company, a company that makes chocolate from 100% fair trade certified cocoa. Working with more than 35,000 cocoa farmers of Kuapa Kokoo, a cocoa farmers' association in southern Ghana, Day Chocolate ensures that farmers not only get a fair price for their fair Trade cocoa beans, they also share in the ownership of the company. The farmers and the company have created the Divine chocolate brand, which CRS promotes through a variety of products such as Advent Calendars. Information is readily available to learn more about the Fair Trade Chocolate program and the multi-faceted work of CRS Ghana.

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Called to Action

CRS Fair Trade Network
Join the CRS Fair Trade Network, an online community of concerned Catholics determined to use their consumer dollars to build a better world. Receive periodic updates about the Fair Trade Program and opportunities to participate in CRS programs.

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Active Solidarity

Buying and Educating About Fair Trade Fosters Solidarity
With the arrival of fall, CRS Fair Trade gears up to create enjoyable Fair Trade events in communities like yours and offers an alternative means for gift-giving through the purchase of Fair Trade chocolate, coffee and crafts. Additionally, educational materials are readily available on the CRS Fair Trade website.

"Save Lives in Sudan" T-shirt
You can purchase a t-shirt to help support our response to the crisis in Sudan. All proceeds from t-shirt purchases will support the CRS Sudan Emergency Fund and assist the Nueva Vida Women's Sewing Cooperative in Nicaragua, the world's first worker-owned export processing zone.

STAND UP Against Poverty
Invite young people to STAND UP for the Millennium Development Goals on October 15-16, 2006. Resources include education, sign-up information, contests for youth, and more.

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Global Thoughts

Global Trade that Works for All
In a statement issued on Labor Day, 2004, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick challenged our leaders "to look at trade policies from the bottom up — how they touch the lives of the poorest families and most vulnerable workers in our country and around the world. " The statement raises key concerns regarding globalization and poverty, and asks important questions underpinning the moral measure that at times is lacking in the development of international trade policies. Cardinal McCarrick's statement, Global Trade that Works for All, can provide a strong base for discussion on trade in the classroom and is available with other bishops' statements on the USCCB website.

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Media Watch

Fair Trade at the Movies: The issue of Fair Trade is the subject of recent documentaries and films. Check the CRS Fair Trade website for current listings and ideas.

Solidarity in a Cup is a 15-minute multi-media presentation that introduces you to the farmers and Fair Trade coffee program in Nicaragua. It can be downloaded or ordered on cd-rom from the CRS Fair Trade website.

Encourage your students to promote Fair Trade through artistic expression! At the 2005 Fair Trade Futures Conference, the conference keynoter opened the conference with a rap song developed by two British youth. Learn more about the conference and check out the lyrics to the winning song. Encourage the same creativity from your students — poems, raps, posters, sculpture, etc. , and use their creations in to help promote a fair trade sale in your community.

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Announcements

New Food Fast materials now available! Order a fair trade olivewood magnet for the participants!
The new Food Fast materials are now available! This year we packed more multi-media resources in the CD-ROM and created activities and prayers focused on the relationship between hunger and peace. This year's Food Fast giveaway item is a fair trade olivewood magnet from the Holy Land. The design comes from a 6th century mosaic in the Church of the Multiplication of Fishes and Loaves, built on the traditional site of the miracle of the Loaves and Fishes. Palestinian craftsmen living in the West Bank area of Israel have been carving olivewood for Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land since Franciscan monks introduced the craft in the 17th century. Through this magnet we not only provide income and support to the olive wood artisans, but also are reminded to pray for a lasting peace in the Holy Land.

Called to Witness Trip Announced
Called to Witness is an overseas program co-sponsored by CRS and the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM). It is designed to provide a short-term, firsthand experience of the developing world for adults serving and working in Catholic youth ministry. Through Called to Witness, CRS provides youth ministry professionals with an opportunity to enhance their ministry to young people and strengthen their ability to promote global justice in the Catholic educational community. The 2007 Called to Witness trip is scheduled to take place in Ecuador from March 14-27, 2007. Download an application to be part of this unique opportunity. Registration deadline is October 29, 2006.

A Window into Afghanistan
Introduce your students to Afghanistan with this one-week high school educational unit. Five in-depth lessons cover history, culture, Islam, women and rebuilding a nation. The resource includes power point presentation, ready-to-print student handouts, assignments and teachers' keys.

Education for Justice offers numerous educational and prayer resources on Catholic Social Teaching and related topics and issues. Education for Justice (EFJ) is rich in resources and provides opportunity to share, dialogue and connect with colleagues across the nation. Contact EFJ directly to sign up for a free 30-day trial membership.

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CRS Regional News

Visit the CRS Education website to obtain the contact information for your regional youth program officers and additional information about CRS resources and events in your area.

CRS West:
Register Now! The Point 7 Conference to Make America's Poverty History is being held at St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco, CA, October 27-28, 2006. The event promises speakers, dialogue opportunities, resources, and opportunities to mobilize American Catholics to join the fight against extreme global poverty.

Speakers Available in the West: CRS also works closely with dioceses and schools to help engage the Catholic community in global solidarity. You can also take advantage of a tremendous opportunity to host a CRS speaker at that is coming to the Bay Area's Point Seven Now conference.

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