For Immediate Release
A fundraising event by the youths in Toronto in response to Sichuan earthquake, through music and story to share our feelings towards the disaster
(May 28th, 2008 –Toronto) “I don’t know why but I don’t have any particular feelings towards the earthquake in Sichuan!” a youth said. In Sichuan, China, thousands and thousands of people died and lost their homes due to the earthquake, people’s lives are seriously destroyed by it. Is there something missing in the young generation to cause them difficulty in expressing emotions? Many natural disasters occurred recently, it is a good timing to encourage youths who are living peaceful and abundant lives to learn and cherish the people around them and contribute to the community. In response to this need, Across U-hub is hosting a “Lament” Youth Concert at Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church, from 7 – 9pm on June 8th (Sunday),in hopes to use interview, story, multi-media and music, to encourage youths to care about the society in action, and build a positive value.
Over 60,000 people died in the earthquake in Sichuan, and over 120,000 in the cyclone in Burma in early May. In facing these natural disasters, what feelings are provoked from our Chinese-Canadian youths in Toronto? In what ways can they express their emotions? Across U-hub held a discussion with the youths in response to these disaster, during the discussion some youths felt sad and helpless, because they wish to do something for the victims in China, but don’t know where to start; however, some did not have any particular emotions provoked despite seeing the suffering of victims, “because the earthquake happened in a distance”, seems like this disaster had nothing to do with their daily lives”. Many others might have seen videos and pictures of the earthquake and rescue mission, but still not much emotion is stirred up. What causes this generation to feel indifferent about their world?
An experienced student and youth worker Jonathan Chan believed that “youths today have many good qualities and empathy towards the world. Couple years ago, a twelve-year-old Caucasian youth in Toronto learned a devastating news from the newspaper: a twelve-year-old Pakistanian youth was shot and murdered, this victim had once bravely declared at the United Nation about teenage labor in Pakistan and other related countries, “We shouldn’t be scared of those factory owners, but now it’s the time for factory owners to be scared of us!”, this Pakistanian youth received Reebok’s World Greatest Youth Award and is prepared to study abroad in the United States the same year. This is only a story among all helpless teenage labors in Pakistan. Moved by the story of this Pakistanian, this twelve-year-old Toronto youth form a group called Kids Can Free the Children and started a big scale rescue mission, including forming girl schools, pursuing teenage labor factories, negotiating with third world governments and pledge that all youths to stand up and contribute to the improvement of humanities and future of our society. This group is still continuing its rescue mission, and hosting Summit for Youth Leaders. Since the Sichuan earthquake, youths made different responses, some held fundraiser at their school, some formed Discussion Groups on Facebook, some youths saved their own classmates in Sichuan, some are traveling to Sichuan to perform rescue mission. I believe that there is still something to be done by the youth here in Toronto”.
The executive director of Across U-hub states, “In response to natural disasters where casualties are of scale of genocide, many youths is stumped and majority of them would hide their emotions or run away from facing the truth. We can relate to their reaction, as they are surrounded by daily reports from the Far East, they could identify with the tragedy but is left with helplessness, incapability and numbness towards the situation; this is a misfortune condition for today’s youth to be at and it is worth for us to concern about them. It is Across U-hub’s mandate to nurture youth development socially, emotionally and spiritually, in response to recent disasters around the world, Across U-hub encourages youths to start from their surroundings, to care and comfort people around them, family members, our community and also those who have relatives in the disasters; be sensitive of world happenings and be involved in community fundraising events. We hope that in organizing the “Lament” Youth Concert, we can provide a platform for youths to express themselves through writings, conversations, multi-media and music.
A youth named Kitty Ng said that the recent catastrophes around the world prompted to her realize that people can depart anytime without a chance of proper farewell, reminded her not to take family and friends for granted. When she learned that victims are living in conditions that lack clean water, she felt regretful to have been hassled when she is just a bit thirty. She also felt helpless when seeing suffering victims, and when she was in high spirits when learned that she can be involved in “Lament”, as she sees this as an opportunity to express her sentiment and an occasion when she can be united with other youths to show care for these victims.
Across U-hub is pleased to host “Lament” Youth Concert, along with co-organizers Hong Kong Association of Christian Music Ministry (ACM Canada), Ambassadors for Christ (AFC), East Toronto Chinese Baptist Church, Logos Baptist Church (Milliken), Richmond Hill Chinese Community Church and Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church and many youth musicians and bands such as Desmond Lo, takeNation, Whitebase, all parties are excited to share and express their care to Sichuan victims through music and story telling. A collection of their songs is recorded in a CD in a limited edition is on sale at the concert only. In addition, a special designed T-shirt for the event is also on sale too. 100% of donations and sales incomes at this concert will be donated to World Vision Canada for earthquake in Sichuan China.
“Lament” Youth Concert will use interview, story, music and multi-media to encourage youths to reflect and take action in the society; to construct a positive life value. Just as the event slogan states, the organizer urges youths to “Take part …. in the grief of those who are sorrowing.”, and to attend the “Lament” Youth Concert on June 8th (Sunday). It will be located at Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church, 3223 Kennedy Road, Scarborough, from 7 – 9pm. For more details, please contact 905-944-1944 or visit www.acrossuhub.com.
Across U-hub Overview
Together we help nurture our youth:
- to become a bridge across cultures by taking roots in Canada while developing a global perspective
- to become servant leaders for communities by helping them grow holistically
Work:
We adopt creative, interactive and multi-disciplinary approaches:
- to nurture our youth’s holistic growth
- to cultivate their servant leadership skills
- to promote peer support and mentorship
- to foster their sense of community and to encourage active participation in cultural and civic activities etc.