QUAKER YOUTH PILGRIMAGE 2008
PILGRIM APPLICATION
FWCC brings together people of many cultural, language and theological traditions in efforts to promote loving understanding of our diversities. The Quaker Youth Pilgrimage is an important part of the work of FWCC. Twenty-eight young Friends share an extraordinary experience of travel and learning for four weeks.
The 2008 pilgrimage will take place in Great Britain and Ireland from July 18 to August 15. The Pilgrimage will begin in Glasgow and explore Quaker themes in Scotland, England and Ireland. The Pilgrimage will bring together 14 Young Friends (aged 16 to 18) from the Section of the Americas and 14 from the Europe & Middle East Section with two adult leaders from each section on a four-week journey of exploration.
Pilgrims will discover that what may be acceptable in one cultural or Friendly tradition may be shockingly inappropriate in another. Pilgrims should come to the Pilgrimage with the awareness that there will be differences in standard of ethics and religious convictions and be prepared to explore these differences in an open and honest manner, with tenderness toward one another.
Pilgrims should be sensitive to each other in their use of language and expressions of physical affection. Willingness to accept responsibility for developing and living in community with other pilgrims and adult leaders is needed.
Being sensitive to one another’s beliefs and traditions means being willing to modify one’s own behavior so that all persons in the group can take part. To show respect for one another, you are asked to agree to certain standards of behavior during the Pilgrimage:
- Alcohol and drugs other than those medically prescribed are prohibited.
- The use of tobacco and tobacco products is strongly discouraged due to spiritual and cultural sensitivity issues.
- Sexual activity will not be permitted.
- Body piercing and other permanent changes to the appearance (such as tattooing) are not to be undertaken during the pilgrimage.
Working in the manner of Friends, the group will make additional rules and agreements, so that the experience can be comfortable for all participants.
Download application and information.
If you have questions, feel free to contact the FWCC Office for additional information:
Friends World Committee for Consultation, Attention: QYP
1506 Race
Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: (215) 241-7250
FAX: (215) 241-7285
E-mail:
Application Form
Some of the questions on this form are very challenging. They may be difficult to answer especially if your first language is not English. Please feel free to ask for help in filling in this application form.
Please return this application to the FWCC Office before Nov 30, 2007 by post or by email. E-mail applications should also include separately a hard copy with signatures.
Name: |
Address: |
Telephone number: |
E-mail: |
Date of birth: (To qualify, you must be 16 but not yet 19 at the start of the Pilgrimage): |
Grade and name of school: |
Names, addresses and phone numbers at home and at work of parents or guardians: |
Names and ages of brothers/sisters: |
Describe family activity in your local Friends Meeting/Church (if any): |
|
Give name of your Meeting/Church and name, address and telephone number of the clerk (and pastor, if applicable) of your Meeting/Church: |
Your responses to the following questions will not affect selection. However, full and honest answers are needed to facilitate planning and successful participation.
How do you intend to fund your participation in the Pilgrimage? (see page 5 for more information) |
Are there any health problems that adult leaders should be aware of, such as allergies, asthma, etc. before you begin the rigorous schedule of the Pilgrimage (extensive hiking, sleeping in sleeping bags, sleeping on buses, periods of time with little sleep)? Do you have any special diet requirements (such as food allergies or a need for vegetarian or vegan options)? Please be honest since full disclosure is needed to assist with advance planning. |
How did you hear about the Quaker Youth Pilgrimage? |
By signing this application, I acknowledge my intention to follow the guidelines developed by the Quaker Youth Pilgrimage Committee and FWCC in relation to drugs, alcohol, tobacco, body piercing, tattoos, and sexual activity. I also acknowledge that failure to comply with these guidelines could result in my being sent home while on the Pilgrimage.
Signature: ……………………………………………………………………………
Parent’s Approval
I hereby approve ………………………………….to participate in the Quaker Youth Pilgrimage in the summer of 2008. I am aware of the purpose, duration, and expectations of the pilgrimage. If my son/daughter /ward is chosen as a pilgrim I will provide my support, both moral and financial.
Signature of parent/guardian: ……………………………………………………….
Note: both parents must sign
My son/daughter is age eighteen and may apply and participate in Quaker Youth Pilgrimage in the summer of 2008 without my permission. However, I am aware of the purpose, duration and expectations of the Pilgrimage.
Signature of parent/guardian: ……………………………………………………….
PLEASE ANSWER EACH OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS WITH A SHORT PARAGRAPH. MAKE SURE TO WRITE YOUR NAME ON EACH APPLICATION PAGE AND NUMBER EACH ANSWER TO CORRESPOND WITH THE QUESTION.
- What is your participation in your monthly, quarterly, regional, and yearly Meeting/Church, and Quaker youth activities?
- Describe your participation in activities of other organizations (conferences, work camps, seminars, public witness, etc.) related to Quaker concerns.
- Describe your talents and skills and how they might contribute to the Pilgrimage.
- What languages do you speak? What languages do you understand?
- Describe experiences you have had living/working as part of a group.
- Tell us how you felt about an experience you have had with a person or people who were different from you.
- List three of your greatest strengths and three of your greatest weaknesses.
- Write a brief description of your spiritual journey.
- Write a short piece (about 100 words total) about why you want to go on the 2008 Pilgrimage and what you expect or hope to learn.
- List additional information that will help the Selection Committee know you better.
- Give two references. There are letters for these references enclosed. They should be returned to the FWCC Office by Nov 30, 2007. These references might include clerks, members of your meeting, pastors, adult leaders of camps or seminars.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND SUGGESTIONS
The cost of the Pilgrimage is expected to be approximately $1,500 to $2000 (final estimate provided at time of acceptance). The cost does not include travel between home and the airport in the eastern US from which the group will depart, or the transatlantic flight to and from Glasgow. Pilgrims will be responsible for arranging their own personal travel & medical insurance. Pilgrims will be responsible for obtaining a passport and any required visas prior to the event. FWCC will make attempts to coordinate a single US-Glasgow departure city. More information on this would be forthcoming.
The individual pilgrims and their monthly and yearly meeting or group should cover funding. Sometimes a small amount of scholarship aid is available through special donations to FWCC but other funding options must be fully explored first.
Please include with your application specific statements about each of the sources of funding available to you for this Pilgrimage. Sometimes service clubs (e.g. Rotary, charitable organizations) in the hometown of youth seeking such opportunities are able to help with funding. Also include letters of support from someone involved with each source of funding which you plan to seek.
Some suggestions:
Write to clerks or other appropriate leaders of each source and tell them that you are applying for the 2008 Quaker Youth Pilgrimage. Tell them if you are accepted for the Pilgrimage, you will need financial help. Tell them that if you are able to participate you will learn about Quaker history, as well as Quaker faith and practice. Tell them why you want to participate in the Pilgrimage and tell them how you plan to share and use your experiences with people in the Meeting.
When you know of your plans either to go, or not to go on the Pilgrimage, be sure to let all of these people, that you initially contacted for financial support, know of your decision.
It is important that you have a mentor with whom you can share thoughts, reflections and experiences both before and after the Pilgrimage. This would usually be an adult Friend in your meeting or someone who has been on a previous pilgrimage either as a pilgrim or as a leader.
FRIENDS WORLD COMMITTEE FOR CONSULTATION
Section
of the Americas
Quaker Youth Pilgrimage Committee
FWCC QUAKER YOUTH PILGRIMAGE 2008
REQUEST FOR REFERENCE FOR PILGRIMS
Dear Friend,
A young Quaker who has submitted an application to join the Quaker Youth Pilgrimage in the summer of 2008 has given this letter to you. We hope you will help us carefully consider this application by sending us your thoughts about the readiness of the young person for this experience, in light of the following information.
28 young Quakers will be chosen from the Americas and Europe. Four adult leaders will accompany the pilgrims. The Pilgrimage will involve four weeks of travel as a group in Great Britain and Ireland During the month, the pilgrims will be living and traveling together. Sometimes they will be staying with local families. They will explore some Quaker historical sites. They will be exposed to people from different cultures and with different beliefs.
The purpose of this experience is for pilgrims to see roots of their Quaker faith and to exercise their maturity in Quaker practice. It will give the individuals the opportunity to consider the relevance of what they see of their Quaker heritage and apply it to their own lives, values and futures.
The pilgrims must be mature, open young people who show promise of active participation in the Religious Society of Friends. As you evaluate the candidate please address your comments to the following:
- Readiness for a significant spiritual experience
- Physical stamina for a month of strenuous activity
- Ability to get along with others in intensive group situations
- Ability to relate to people from different cultures
- Ability to relate to people with different values, views and beliefs
- Ability to contribute to role modeling for other Quaker youth
- Demonstrated seeking in their Quaker faith commitment
As part of your letter, please describe three strengths and three weaknesses of this person. Include other points that you think would be helpful. Unprepared or immature participants could experience significant disappointment and provide the group with a great deal of stress. For this to be the best possible experience for all of the pilgrims, we need your most candid thoughts.
Please reply by Nov 30, 2007 to the FWCC Office:
Friends World Committee for Consultation, Attention: QYP
1506 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: (215) 241-7250
FAX: (215) 241-7285
E-mail:
Thank you very much for your help.
Sincerely,
For Sharon Hayden, QYP Committee Clerk