THE PORTRAIT OF YOUNG ASIAN STUDENTS IN 21 ST CENTURY:

1. THE PORTRAIT OF YOUNG ASIAN STUDENTS IN 21ST CENTURY: Hour of Interculturality and Religious Pluralism 10th Nov. 2011 6th IYCS ASIAN CHAPLAINS AND ANIMATORS FORMATION EXCHANGE (CAFÉ) Sriracha, Chonburi, Thailand “Called to be Ambassadors of Christ (2 Cor. 5:20): Student’s Education in the Hour of Interculturality and Religious Pluralism”

2. How do we see Young Asian Students?

3. Draw images of Young Asian Students

4. My school in Sri Lanka

5. “Other” schools in Sri Lanka

6. Young girls – rebels and army

7. Young boys – army and rebels

8. Teenagers in Sri Lanka

9. Teenagers in Sri Lanka

15. Interculturality and Religious Pluralism

16. Colours of the Wind

17. You think the only people who are people Are the people who look and think like you But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger You’ll learn things, you never knew The rainstorm and the river are my brothers The heron and the otter are my friends And we are all connected to each other In a circle, in a hoop that never ends

18. We need to sing with all the voices of the mountain Need to paint with all the colours of the wind You can own the earth and still, All you’ll own is the earth until You can paint with all the colours of the wind

19. We are all born into a culture / religion No choice!!!! But religions / culture evolves!!!

20. But later, we do have a choice To reaffirm our own culture – religion WITHOUT critical –conscious reflections Or to reaffirm our culture – religion WITH critical – conscious reflections Or to reject whole or part of culture – religion WITH critical – conscious reflections And also embrace new cultures – religions, WITH critical – conscious reflections

21. Do we encourage – facilitate – support critical – conscious reflections? Or just compel to conform / follow uncritically? • In education? • In church? • In YCS?

22. Mono culture – mono religiosity vs. Interculturality and Religious Pluralism

24. Moving from symbolism to substance Internalizing From tolerating / respecting to appreciating

25. Fr. Michael Rodrigo, OMI (Sri Lanka)Killed 10th Nov. 1987 • Dialogue of life – lived in very poor Buddhist village • Buddhist Monk accused him of converting • But later invited him to even preach at temple • Identified with Buddhism through: • his option for the poor • and option to be poor • Joining struggles for justice

26. Concept of Fruitsalad We can open doors and windows in our house (and in our lives!) to allow winds from all sides blow through – but we don’t have to be swept off our feet!

27. Coin in a bucket

28. ONE CLEAR VOICE The whole world is talking Drowning out my voice How can I hear myself, With all this noise But all this confusion, Just disappears When I find a quiet place, where I can hear One clear voice, Calling out for me to listen One clear voice, Whispers words of wisdom I close my eyes, ‘Till I find what I’ve seen missing If I’m very still I will hear, One clear voice

29. One clear voice, Calling out for me to listen One clear voice, Whispers words of wisdom I close my eyes, ‘Till I find what I’ve seen missing If I’m very still I will hear, One clear voice

30. I’m always searchingFor which path to takeSometimes I’m so afraidTo make mistakesFrom somewhere inside meStronger than my fearsJust like the sound of musicTo my ears, I hear

31. Finding the balance & Common ground

32. Asia Suffering / poverty / inequality injustice / oppression But also Religious / Spiritual !!! How can this be???

33. FABC’s triple dialogue Cultures Religions Poor

37. Three faces of Asian students • As oppressed, victims, poor, suffering • As silent • As those who struggle for justice and positive change

38. Boy and Tree