2nd Human Rights Working Group (PWG) Meeting
4 – 8 January, Hong Kong

The meeting is organized by the Asia Pacific Forum- Church World Service (APF-CWS) and the General Board for Church and Society (GBCS) of the United Methodist Church (UMC) and will be attended by Churches and Ecumenical groups working on Human Rights issues on the global and regional levels and doing lobbying work in the United Nations. This year’s meeting agenda will focus on the preparations for the up-coming Universal Periodic Review of the Philippines at the UN Commission on Human Rights this coming April in Geneva. WSCF AP regional staff has been invited to take part in this initiative.

EASYNET Coordinating Team Meeting
7 – 9 January, Manila, Philippines

This is the annual meeting of the EASYNET Coordinating Team to evaluate the programs in 2007 and to plan for the Asian Student Youth Gathering (ASYG) in 2008. The meeting is also an opportunity to know the situation of the National Ecumenical Teams (NETS) in 12 countries and share the activities of each member organization. This year, WSCF AP will be the EASYNET Moderator following the International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS) turn in 2007. The meeting will be attended by the regional representatives of the six member organization comprising the EASYNET, namely; Asia Pacific Alliance of YMCA, YWCA, IMCS, IYSC, CCA. WSCF AP regional staff will attend this meeting.

WSCF AP Human Rights Committee Meeting
10 – 12 or 21 - 23 February, Bangkok, Thailand

This will be the first face-to-face meeting of the WSCF Human Rights Committee after it was formed in June 2007. The meeting will evaluate the programs in 2007 and discuss follow-up plan for the WSCF Human Rights Program in the next two years. The HR Committee Meeting will bring together the 6 members of the HR Committee, the HR Coordinator and Regional Secretary to develop the WSCF AP Regional Human Rights Advocacy Framework and Campaign Plan for 2008 and 2009. It will also plan for the Student Conference on Internally Displaced, Migration and Trafficking in 2008. The Advocacy and Campaign plan produced by the meeting will be a guideline for national movements in developing their Human Rights work in the national level in the next two years. The planning workshop will also include studies on the two thematic areas of the HRSP, meeting with groups and network in involved in Trafficking, Internally Displaced, Political Assylum, Migrants. Members of the HR Committee and regional staff will attend this meeting.

WSCF Global Staff and Officers Meeting
13 – 20 February, Geneva, Switzerland

This is the annual staff meeting of the WSCF Global Team. The main Agenda of this meeting is the detailed preparations for the upcoming WSCF General Assembly in August, coordination of regional and global plans, global fund-raising effort, leadership development.

WSCF – SCM Pakistan Joint Women’s Program
6- 8 March, Lahore, Pakistan

This Programme will be hosted by SCM Pakistan on the theme Women and Men in Partnership. 30 young women and men from SCM Pakistan will participate in the said programme .The intent of the programme is to accomplish the following objectives:

- To ensure leadership and participation of young women in all levels and aspects of Church / student work from analytical approach to decision making and implementation process.
- To challenge and transform attitudes, structures and system in Church that limit young women’s participation and leadership
- To highlight the issues concerning women’s exploitation and oppression.
- To project a vision having a new society contributing the development and promotion of theology and cultural values from women’s perspectives.
- To focus young women’s concerns at national and local level and prioritize the struggle of young women against socio-political and economic violence.
- To study women’s role for uplifting justice and peace.

CCA - WSCF Joint Program (CWP) Committee Meeting
March, Chiangmai, Thailand (tentative)

The CWP Joint Committee will evaluate the joint activities done by CCA and WSCF in 2007 and plan for future joint programs in 2008 and 2009. The Meeting will also be an opportunity to review the long-standing partnership between the two organization and appoint new replacements of the CWP Joint Committee. WSCF AP representatives, Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad (Chairperson), Nina Nayoan (Vice-chairperson) and Necta Montes Rocas (Regional Secretary) will attend this meeting.

WSCF Sub-regional Women’s Program
May, South Asia

This is a 5 days programme will focus on the thematic area of Women in war & Conflict situation, HIV/AIDS and Poverty. 15 young women from the national movements of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will participate for the programme. For details of this program, you can contact, Sunita Suna, WSCF AP Regional Women’s Program Coordinator.

The Sub- Regional Women’s Programmes are aimed to address the challenging concerns women are confronted within the sub region in today’s context. i. e. the emerging trends of migration, trafficking, women in war and conflict situation, prostitution, HIV/AIDS and poverty, women’s sexuality etc. These issues/ challenges in the sub regions are similar and interlinked to each other. Hence this progrmme would create a platform for the women in the sub regions to expose the realities and create awareness for critical analysis of the problem; share concerns from their regions, exchange ideas and plan of actions and forge networks with each other. This would also help the participants to discuss from a Christian faith perspectives .Besides, this programme would give an exposure and live in experience opportunity with the women experiencing these problems which is crucial for the WSCF women to relate with the grassroots women and understand the issues to critically analyze the emerging trends of women’s concerns and advocate on behalf of the voiceless.

WSCF Global Program on Students and Higher Education
7-13 May, Finland

Focusing on the annual theme of “students” and on questions and challenges of higher education, students from Europe and from around the globe will gather in Finland from 7-13 May for the WSCF Inter-regional conference, hosted by the Europe Region and the SCM Finland. This conference will look at the situations and issues facing students from a global perspective, examining diverse approaches from the various regions of the world and allowing for intercultural dialogue and exchange. (excepts from WSCF Europe 2008 Prospectus) IRO Office will send the details, application form of this program. For further information you may contact: Michael Wallace, , wscf@wscf.ch

WSCF AP Regional Human Rights Program
Student Conference on Internally Displaced, Migration and Trafficking
June, Thailand (details to be announced later)

The conference aims to study the situation of internally displaced, migrants, asylum seekers and trafficked persons in the region, especially among the young people; it also aims to provide students with critical understanding on the global and regional perspective of the issues, its impact on the life of people in the community; it will also produce a platform of cooperation between student and youth groups engaged and interested on migration issues. The conference will bring together 25 young people from the SCMs and groups engaged in advocacy and work among the people affected by these issues. The program will include inputs and discussion on the theme, UN and state mechanisms addressing the problem of migration, trafficking and internally displaced, studies of the work done by groups engaged in the advocacy of these issues, exposure and integration will be arranged to see the actual condition and situation of people. An action plan for WSCF and SCMs will be made to take concrete actions to address.

Human Rights Internship Program on Trafficking, Migration in 2008
June (details to be announced later)

The HR Intern will implement the action plan and recommendation of the student conference on migration and trafficking and will work directly with an NGO or People’s Organization that concerns with the issue. The Intern will work on the specific project proposed by the Student Conference in partnership with the receiving organization for three months. The objectives of the HRIP are: to provide training opportunity for young people to learn and understand the social, political, and economic and religious contexts of Migration, Trafficking in the Asia Pacific context. To bring awareness of the various forms and issues surrounding labour migration; learn from the practical experience the actual work of movements and NGOs involved in Migration campaign and advocacy work; to contribute the interns skills and talent in the actual work of the receiving organization; to build ties and implement communication and solidarity with networks that work on migration.

Regional Women’s Internship Programme
June, Bangkok, Thailand

One young woman from WSCF – AP will be selected for the 3months Internship programme focusing on the issue of Migration and Trafficking. The main objectives of the Internship Programme are:

- To provide the women SCMers an opportunity to enhance their skills and commitment towards women’s issues and rights;
- Train women students and youth in developing knowledge and skills in the works of raising public awareness, advocacy, campaigning, networking and communication on women’s issues;
- Transfer the learned and acquired knowledge and skills to other women students and youth in the SCMs, church groups, Non Government Organisation (NGO) and People’s Organisation (PO) in the Asia Pacific region;
- Establish and strengthen women’s work and networking between the SCMs, churches and various NGOs and POs in the Asia Pacific region;
- Strengthen the existing national women’s programme in the SCMs.

WSCF RCM Pre-women’s Meeting
23 – 25, July, Hong Kong (tentative)

This meeting will be a vital place for the women leaders from the national movements. The young women will critically evaluate the women’s programmes/ activities by sharing their concerns/ experiences and struggles while addressing the women’s concerns in their SCMs. They will bring their wisdom and skills to formulate/ strategise the programmes for the next 3 years, which would strive us to achieve gender justice in the region and transform our vision in to a reality. The main objectives are:

- To elect the new Regional Women’s Committee (RWC) members of WSCF – AP for the year 2008-2010
- To understand, share and exchange information on the National Movements’ women’s issues and the programmes/ activities developed in responding to the issues
- Strategize plans for developing women’s programmes in National Movements that do not have any women’s desk or regular women’s programmes Path and make the concrete suggestions to the direction of the Regional Women’s programme, in order to achieve our vision, mission, goals and strategies for the next 3 year

WSCF AP 18th Regional Committee Meeting
26 – 29, July, Hong Kong (tentative)

The WSCF AP Regional Committee (RC) is the highest policy making body of the Federation in the Asia Pacific region. The Meeting will be attended by 25 members, delegates from the affiliated and associated movement of the Federation in Asia and the Pacific, the WSCF AP Chairperson, Vice-chairperson, Exco Members and Regional Staff. The RC will meet just a few days before the WSCF GA to prepare for the GA and accomplish the objectives and function of the RC. Please note that RC delegates will be the same as the national movement’s GA delegates.

The Regional Committee shall accomplish the following:
a) review and assess the situations of the member movements of the region in the context of the work of the Executive Committee and the worldwide situation of the Federation;
b) consider the ideas, problems and aspirations of the member movements of the region;
c) determine and review objectives, policies and priorities for the region;
d) devise the ongoing program of the region;
e) recommend affiliation or association of the movements;
f) coordinate the activities of the regional staff and national staff within the region;
g) prepare the regional budget to be submitted to the Executive Committee;
h) elect members of the Regional Standing Committee;
i) elect regional representatives to the Executive Committee in accordance to the Constitution of the WSCF; and
j) decide on a date and venue for the next meeting of the Committee.

WSCF 34th General Assembly
Theme: “, “Your Sons and Daughters Shall Prophesy “
31 July – 10 August, Montreal, Canada

The 34th WSCF General Assembly will take place from August 1 to 10,2008 at Collège Jean de Brébeuf, Montréal, Québec, Canada. With the theme, “Your sons and daughters shall prophesy (from the Book of the Prophet Joel), the GA will gather together 150 delegates from its member movements, officers and staff from over 100 countries worldwide.

The GA aims to accomplish the following objectives:
• to call forth a new generation of ecumenical leaders,
• to gather students from around the world to share stories of God's work in their lives and their work in God's world,
• to re-envision the mission of the WSCF and its 105 national movements for the quadrennium to come,
• to review and assess the situation of the member movements, the regions and the world-wide situation of the Federation.

The GA will be a space for bible study and theological formation, women’s and men’s pre-assemblies, liturgy, music and prayer. The GA will also be a time to select the leaders of the Federation and identify its mission and thrust in the next quadrennium. The assembly highlights a new approach in invigorating the life of the GA with the formation of commission that will discuss the following thematic areas: Raising prophets: Ecumenical Leadership Formation Commission, Prophecy in action; Advocacy and Solidarity Commission, Radical renewal; Biblical and Theological Commission, Making the vision real: Capacity Building Commission. For more information and details of the WSCF General Assembly, please contact the WSCF Inter-regional office, Michael Wallace, wscf@wscf.ch

WSCF Women’s Sub-regional Program
August, Southeast Asia

This is a 5 days programme will focus on the thematic area of Women, Migration and Trafficking. 15 young women from the national movements of Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste would participate for the programme.

Student Empowerment for Transformation (SET) Program
Theme: “Young People Becoming Stewards of the Environment”
August 28 - 2 September, Seoul, Korea (tentative)

The SET Program will be attended by 20 participants from the national movements. The same participants will also attend the ASYG. The focus of the SET Program will be Young People Becoming Stewards of the Environment . The program aims to provide students with knowledge of the state of the global environment, people’s role as stewards of the environment, teach concrete ways to contribute in the preservation of natural resources and protection of the environment. The program will be conducted in a camp, where students can participate in the on a daily basis, they will also visit and interact with environmental groups and NGO’s working on specific issues and advocacy to learn ways of advocate for the environment. At the end of the program, an action plan will be developed to recommend concrete actions for the SCM, WSCF and student communities to consider.

3rd Asian Student and Youth Gathering (ASYG)
Theme: “Youth Across Boundaries…Redefining a Culture of Peace
3-9 September, Seoul, Korea

The 3rd ASYG will be a gathering of 150 young people from the six member organization of EASYNET, namely: YMCA, YWCA, WSCF AP, IMCS, IYSC and CCA. With the theme, “Youth Across Boundaries, Redefining a Culture of Peace,” the Gathering aims to achieve the following objectives:
- To provide a framework for strengthening existing ecumenical cooperation at the local, national and regional level.
- To engage the ecumenical youth to actively participate in the promotion of regional solidarity towards peace building, social justice and environmental protection.
- Enhance the social awareness of the youth towards a more active and responsible participation in society.
- To initiate interfaith conversation and create space for collaboration amongst Christian youth groups/organization in the region.
- To provide a platform to challenge the youth to participate in promoting a culture of peace with a pluralistic perspective.

For registration and further information, please get in touch with the EASYNET Coordinator, Wataru Arizumi, EASYNet easynet_pic@yahoo.com

WSCF Sub-regional Women’s Program
October, Northeast Asia

This is a 5 days programme will focus on the thematic area of Gender Sensitivity workshop and women’s sexuality . 15 young women from the national movements of Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, would participate in the programme.

Bossey Ecumenical Institute 2008

The Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, Switzerland is opening admissions for students and researchers for the following academic studies in year 2008. WSCF AP is inviting theology students who are active members of SCMs to apply for the Graduate School of Ecumenical Studies (one semester). A partial scholarship is provided by WSCF to successful applicants. For more information visit: www.bossey.ch about the courses. For further details about the WSCF partial support, please get in touch with the Regional Secretary.

1.       EASYNET National Coordinators Training and Coordinating Team Meeting, February 5 to 10,2007, Manila, Philippines : This is a training program for new Easynet national coordinators in different parts of Asia and Pacific attended by 20 participants selected by the network members. The training will include inputs about challenges and prospect of the ecumenical youth movement, history and biblical foundation of the ecumenical movement. The coordinator's team meeting, composed of the representatives of the six partner organizations of Easynet will discuss the plans for Asian Student and Youth Gathering (ASYG) in 2008, selection process of the next Easynet coordinator and fund raising for the network.

2.       WSCF Staff and IRO Officers Meeting, February 8 to 14, Geneva, Switzerland. This is the annual regional and IRO staff meeting with the global officers of the federation. The agenda includes review of activities in 2006, plans for the year, WSCF GA plans in 2008, Ecumenical Assistance Program (EAP) and other personnel and administrative matters. WSCF AP Regional Secretary will attend this meeting.

3.       WSCF AP Regional Women's Committee Meeting, February 19-20, Hong Kong. The meeting of the Women's Committee will be attended by the members of the Committee to plan for the Women's programs for the region in the next two-years, discuss the regional coordinator's position and other matters related to the program.

4.       WSCF AP Regional Coordinator's Search Committee Meeting, February 21, Hong Kong. This meeting which coincides with the RWC and SC is the final process for the search of the next Regional Women's Coordinator. The Committee members will interview and recommend the successful candidate for the Regional Women's Coordinator position for the region.

5.       WSCF AP Standing Committee Meeting, February 22 to 24, Hong Kong. This is the regular biennial meeting of the officers and staff of the region composed of the chairperson, vice-chair, excos, member-at-large and regional staff  to discuss biennial plans, approve the budget of the region, evaluate the over-all health of the national movements and review the vision of the federation. If you have some concerns that you want to be discussed by the Committee, please feel free to send in your ideas and suggestions to the regional office.   

6.       WSCF AP Human Rights Defender's Workshop for Students, June 18 to 21, Manila, Philippines. The regional workshop will be participated in by all member movements of the federation in the region, with at least one participant from each national movement. The workshop will be hosted by SCM Philippines, with support from Forum Asia. The Human Rights Defenders Training Workshop for Students aims;

·        to provide students with the skills for human rights advocacy work,

·        develop a Human Rights campaign strategy,

·        provide them with human rights framework of analysis by looking at the varied aspects of human rights issues from different perspective (i.e. gender perspective) and;

·        plan for the formation of Human Rights Desks in some countries.

At the end of the workshop, the participants would have become equipped with the necessary skills as Human Rights Defenders and Advocates.  The workshop will be attended by 25 students from all over Asia Pacific and the members of the newly-formed WSCF AP Human Rights Committee. We invite you to plan ahead and select your participant to this workshop as soon as you can, deadline of application is April 30.

7.       International Solidarity Mission (ISM), June 22 to 25, Philippines. Immediately after the workshop, the participants will travel to different part of the Philippines to undertake a mission to gather data and information on the killings of student activist in some parts of the region. The ISM aims to contribute to bring justice to the victims of human rights violations, the speedy resolution of the cases and promote Human Rights in general. 

8.       WSCF Exco Meeting, August, Cairo, Egypt (dates to be confirmed by IRO). Biennial meeting of the federation's global executive committee members, officers and staff to discuss the health of the federation and plan for the WSCF General Assembly in 2008. The WSCF AP region will be represented by our Exco-members, Nina Nayoan and Michael Perkins. 

9.       Inter-regional Women's Program, August, Cairo, Egypt (dates and concept to be confirmed by IRO)

10.   WSCF Inter-regional program on Migration, August, Latin America (dates and concept to be confirmed by IRO)

11.   School for Ecumenical Leadership Formation (SELF) Program, September 2 to 22, Sri Lanka. This year's SELF program will be a joint undertaking between CCA Youth and WSCF AP on the theme, "Young People Working Towards Wider Ecumenism in a Pluralistic Society". As an intensive leadership development program, it will be attended by 40 young people, 20 from WSCF AP and 20 from CCA member youth groups.  The SELF Program aims to accomplish the following objectives:

·        Sharpen their awareness and analysis of the social, political and economic setting of the world in the context of Asian societies and challenge to the churches through sharing of experiences, exposure, studies and reflections;

·        Articulate the biblical and theological perspectives on the global burning issues such as globalization, militarization/war on terror, justice, peace, ecology, feminism, etc;

·        Trace the history of ecumenical movement in the national, regional and global levels, identifying convergence, challenges and possibilities;

·        Search alternative approach to communicate and advocate ecumenical witness among students and youth in the concrete life of the peoples;

·        Strengthen each other in their ecumenical journey and aspiration.

Once again, please prepare and select your participant in advance for this program, deadline of application is July 30.

12.   General Secretaries and National Coordinator's Meeting, October 27 to 29, Chiangmai, Thailand. The GS and National Coordinator's Meeting will be attended by the current General Secretaries or National Coordinators of the 18 SCMs in the region. It will be an occasion to discuss matters on movement life and movement building and share our common concerns and ideas. This year, the meeting will focus on the topic, " SCM Theology and Spirituality". The meeting is also being planned to coincide with the CCA Youth Forum on October 30 and a joint meeting with the NCC Youth Secretaries and CCA youth leaders on October 29. 

13.   Women Doing Theology Workshop, November (dates will be finalized after the RWC Meeting in Feb) . With the theme "SCM Women & Sexuality: Embracing, Inclusiveness and Encompassing", the one-week workshop aims to gather 20 young women participants to accomplish the following objectives:

·        To de-construct and de-mythisize the notion of taboo in the discourse on sexuality, particularly female sexuality

·        To understand the androcentric impact and power structures that perpetuate control and oppression of women through the androcentric construction of sexuality

·        To understand the present situation of SCM women’s experiences and reflection on sexuality in their own definition

·        To critically reflect on the religious roots of patriarchy and androcentric outlook in the Christian Theology and text interpretations in the Bible;

·        To do Bible Studies using methodologies of Critical Feminist Hermeneutics;

·        To explore Feminist Theologies that inspire deep, inclusive and encompassing Christian Theology

·        To relate SCM women’s experience and struggles to the Christian Theology that is an inspiration and not an oppression

Once again, please prepare and select your participant in advance for this program, deadline of application is September 30

14.   SCM-WSCF AP Joint Women's Program. We would like to invite you to submit your activity proposals for the SCM-WSCF AP Joint Women's Program. The Regional Women's Committee will select 2 national movements to organize a joint program with us on issues and topics relevant to the women in the national movement. The dates and details of the program will be discussed by the national movement and the Regional Women's Coordinator. 

15.   SCM and NCC National Consultation. This year, we would like to encourage our movements in Cambodia and Australia to organize a joint program with church youth organization and the youth department of the National Council of Churches (NCCs) in their country on the topic of "Campus Student Ministry." These two countries have been chosen by the CCA-WSCF AP Joint Committee as there was no opportunity to organize a similar program in the last five years.

II.  Internships and Bossey

Human Rights Intern on issue of Migration. We would like to invite you to nominate a member of your movement to apply for  3-months Human Rights Internship Program on the issue of "Migration" in 2007. The Internship Program will be conducted in one of the Migrant host country either in Korea, Taiwan or Hong Kong with Migrant organizations or center as host. The internship will begin on June and end on August. Deadline of application will be April 30,2007.   

Bossey Theological Course. We would like to invite you to encourage a member of your movement who has a formal theological training (minimum of 3 years full course leading to a Bachelor's Degree in Theology or Masters of Divinity)  to apply for the Bossey Graduate School of Ecumenical Studies for 2008.  WSCF will recommend and provide a partial scholarship to the successful candidate. The deadline of application is end of December 2007. You can visit the website for further information: www.wcc-coe.org/bossey   

English Teacher Volunteer at "Tomorrow House" of the Haien Migrant Church in Korea. One of the Minjung church in Korea, with a senior friend Pastor invited WSCF AP  to invite a volunteer English teacher for one year in their Church. The church will provide the airfare, basic needs and honorarium to the volunteer. If you are interested, kindly get in touch directly with the Regional Secretary for the details.

III. New Initiatives and Projects

WSCF Team Visit to China.  This year we are planning to have a Team Visit to China which aims to gather information about the realities of Christian youth and student in China, and to establish our links with students in the theological schools for possible movement building in the future.  The visit will be organized in cooperation with Asia Alliance of YMCA and Amity Foundation.

Movement Visit to Fiji and the Pacific. To begin the process of re-establishing the national movement in the Pacific Islands, a visit by the regional staff will be organized within the year. 

Publication Project, SCM and WSCF Organizer's Handbook

IV. Other Events and Activities

CCA 50th Year Anniversary Celebration, March 3 to 8, Parapat, Indonesia. As a member of the ecumenical movement, we are taking-part in the celebration of the 50th Anniversary Celebration of CCA. The region will send representative to the celebration in Parapat Indonesia to show our solidarity and commitment to the ecumenical movement of the churches in Asia.

March - August

Human Rights and Solidarity Internship Programme

16th Regional Committee Meeting

SCM Friends Support Network

WSCF 33rd General Assembly

Asian Student and Youth Gathering

May - August

SCM Friends Network

Internship Reports

- October

Exco Meeting of WSCF