Present Events
•
Tsunami Relief
- In Conjunction with JAINA
• Southeast
Regional Conference in Atlanta, GA - January
14 - 16, 2005
• Midwest
Regional Conference in Chicago, IL - February
11 - 13, 2005
• Mid-Atlantic
Regional Conference in the Poconos
- February
2005 (TBA)
Upcoming
Events
•
JAINA Convention 2005
Past
Events
•
YJA Convention 2004: Y JAin? To
See, To Know, To Realize
• Habitat for Humanity 2004
• Elections 2004-2005
•
Know Kachchh, Give Back To Kachchh
• Mahavir Swami Coins
•
Veerayatan 2003 & YJA
• Regional Conferences
2003: Six Locations, Six Unique Experiences
•
Habitat for Humanity 2003
•
JAINA Convention 2003: The Art
of Living
•
Dharma Conference
•
Veerayatan 2002 & YJA
• Regional Fest 2002: 5
Regional Conferences
•
YJA Convention 2002: Walking the
Path of Jainism
• Habitat for Humanity 2002
Upcoming
Events
JAINA Convention 2005
The Federation of JAINA and YJA are pleased to
announce that the Jain Center of Northern California
will host the 13th Biennial JAINA Convention from
July 1-4, 2005. This convention will be bigger and
better than any previous JAINA Convention. Daylong
religious workshops, sight-seeing tours before the
convention, popular speakers, and activities for all
ages are bound to make this convention a success.
If you would like to volunteer and be apart of the
process please email us at chairs@yja.org.
Check back here for more information this Fall!
Past
Events
YJA
Convention 2004: Y JAin? To See, To Know, To Realize
Young
Jains of America is proud to present the 6th Biennial
YJA Convention back in the Bay Area. Join nearly one
thousand young Jains across the world from July 1-4,
2004 To See, To Know, To Realize. Registrationis
now open!
This
exciting 4-day event will feature more interactive
activities than the last convention and some exciting
night events to entertain you. More interaction
opportunities will be provided during the day to increase
your chances of making more friends, and so be prepared
to smile, laugh and enjoy yourself the entire time!
Visit
the YJA 2004 website
www.yja.org/convention for more specific event
details and other information. Register today!
Habitat for
Humanity 2004
YJA is excited to bring back this popular volunteering
opportunity to our membership. Last year volunteers
across the country gathered at locations across the
country to help build homes for the less fortunate.
Based on the feedback we received from you, YJA is
happy to make this program available for the third
year in a row!Please visit www.yja.org/h4h
in the near future for more information, dates and
locations.
Elections 2004-2005
YJA is looking for dedicated volunteers that have
the drive and passion to take this organization to
the next level. The Executive board is made up of
fifteen board members from North America. YJA Executive
Board is an exciting opportunity. The elections process
for the 2004-2005 will begin in May 2004, but in the
meantime if you have any questions, please feel free
to email chairs@yja.org
or check out last year's elections website at
www.yja.org/elections. If you think you have what
it takes, apply for the Executive board!
Know
Kachchh, Give Back to Kachchh
YJA,
in conjunction with KOJAIN and YJP, invite you to
a ten-day expedition to Kachchh. "Know Kachchh,
Give Back to Kachchh" combines the opportunity
to volunteer at Bidada Medical Camp and the ability
to explore palaces, beaches and local attractions
and to make new friends. Join us for an experience
of a lifetime, where you can touch the lives of others
and they will surely touch your heart in a way you
will never forget. Click here
for more details
Mahavir
Swami Coins
In
April 2002, the government of India began circulation
of 5 rupee coins honoring the 2600th Janma
Kalyanak of Mahavirswami Bhagwan. YJA was able
to get a limited number of these coins and are selling
them for a donation of $3 each. If you would like
to purchase these coins for your family, please contact
the Co-Chairs at chairs@yja.org.
Veerayatan
2003 & YJA
YJA
is proud to announce that we are working together
with Veerayatan again. Check back here for more updates
soon or email veerayatan@yja.org
for more details.
Regional
Conferences 2003: Six Locations, Six Unique Experiences
Regional
Conferences are back and are coming to a city near
you! Hundreds of young Jains will attend regional
conferences where everyone will be able to take something
back after a weekend of learning and fun. Contact
your regional coordinators for more details about
your region's conference. For more information please
visit:
www.yja.org/regionalconferences/index.html. Register
today!
Habitat
for Humanity 2003
YJA is excited to bring back this popular volunteering
opportunity to our membership. Last year approximately
100 volunteers across the country gathered at locations
across the country to help build homes for the less
fortunate. Based on the feedback we received from
you, YJA is happy to make this program available to
you again for 2003! Please visit www.yja.org/h4h
for more information, dates and locations.
JAINA
Convention 2003: The Art of Living
Jaina
Convention 2003 was held in Cincinnati, OH from
July 3-6, 2003. The local Jain sangh hoped that
the 3000 attendees would learn about "The Art
of Living."
Thursday
kicked off the convention in style. With youth and
JNF Icebreakers, people from across the United States,
Canada, and even as far as Singapore met each other.
The Raas/Garba was held later that night, and everyone
enjoyed circling the floor with their dandias in
their hands. "I danced so much that I can't
even walk!" said Pranali Koradia from Detroit.
Friday
morning started early, with a center procession
into opening ceremonies and yoga/meditation exercises.
All of the speakers for the weekend were seated
on stage, and a notable speech was given by Gurudev
Chitrabhanuji. Attendees spent the rest of the day
visiting the exhibition area to see the many booths,
learning about different aspects of Jainism through
the wide variety of sessions, and meeting new people.
Young Jains of America led four sessions on Friday
and also organized icebreakers for youth in the
13+ age group. Neha Shah of New Jersey's Satya~J
led "Vardha Who?". A panel consisting
of Ankit Shah (New Jersey), Subir Shah (Detroit),
Bijal Shah (Chicago), Palak Doshi (New Jersey),
Rina Shah (West Virginia), and Suchita Shah (Detroit)
talked about "Being Jain in College."
Nishma Shah and Arpan Shah from Houston, TX led
a session on "Anger Management." Finally,
YJA Board held a Leadership Summit. Friday night
concluded with Night Rhythms, where youth enjoyed
room after room of different music. The favorite
room was of course the Salsa Room.
Saturday
morning also started early. Many chose to attend
Bhangra Aerobics or yoga, while the rest gathered
for the Service Project. From 9am to noon youth
visited four sites. One group went to theFreestore
Foodbank to separate food for hungry people. Another
group went to the Children's Home to paint, while
the third group went to Mount Airy Forest to clean
up paths. The last group went to Keep Cincinnati
Beautiful to do landscaping. All the youth had a
great time working to help the community. "I
feel like I gave back something this past weekend,"
said Mona Shah of Atlanta. Sessions filled the day
again, YJA held 3 different sessions. Chirag Shah
(Milwaukee) led a successful discussion on Jainism
believing the Earth was flat, which really opened
the eyes of many people. Ami P. Shah (LA) and Sheel
Mohnot (Pittsburgh) talked about Kain Rituals. Finally
a panel discussion consisting of Dhrumil Purohit
(Delaware), Chintan Shah (Milwaukee), Karishma Shah
(LA), Nishma Shah (Houston), and Neel Shetti (New
Jersey) talked about current events and Jainism.
Saturday night ended with a comedian and magician
for the 18+ crowd, followed by an amazing cultural
show.
Sunday morning was closing ceremonies, and everyone
was sad to leave all the new friends they had
met. We all parted together knowing that in one
year we would all be together again.
Highlights
of the convention included:
- Programs
for all ages and language
- Debates,
discussions, seminars, and workshops
- Professional
entertainment program and Bhavana to be performed
by professional artists from India
- Jain
Networking Forum
- Jain
Art & Exhibits
- Daily
Pratikaman, Yoga and Meditation classe along with
youth
programs including seminars, discussions and other
fun things to do!
For the first time ever:
- Shorter
opening ceremony, 2.5 hours
- Youth
Service project
- Dinner
Theatre for youth -- Relax and watch the show!
- “Night
Rhythms” for youth members. Dance to the music of
your choice!
- Official
breaks for all, with surveys and drawings.
Dharma
Conference
YJA is proud to co-sponsor the upcoming Dharma
Conference to explore different South Asian religions
and their path to Dharma. Through distinguished
scholars and dignitaries, including Gurudev Chitrabanuji
and Samaniji Charitrapragya, Dharma hopes to seek
solutions of the national and global issues that face
us today. Join thousands of other youth and
YJA for this rewarding experience, July 25th – July
27th, at the Convention Center in Edison, New Jersey.
YJA members receive a discount! Learn more at
www.dharmaconference.org
before accommodations sell-out.
Veerayatan
2002 & YJA
From
December 25, 2002 to January 10, 2003, YJA sent a
group of 6 youth to the Veerayatan site in Bhuj (Kutch),
India. Veerayatan is an international organization
established over 29 years ago by Acharya Shri Chandanaji,
the first woman to receive the title of Acharya in
the Jain tradition. The organization is committed
to extending the concept of spirituality and service
to humanity.
Volunteer
work in Bhuj includes teaching, administration, and
health care. Individuals will have the opportunity
to witness the true spirit of “compassion in action.” Veerayatan
provides room and board and all meals free of charge. Veerayatan
staff escorts volunteers to and from airports and
train stations and is present every step of the way. There
is also the opportunity to take classes in Hindi,
Gujarati, Sanskrit, and
learn more about Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
For
more information regarding the program, please visit:
www.yja.org/education/veerayatan/veermain.htm.
Don't forget to visit our Veerayatan Memories page
at www.yja.org/memories/memories.htm
and see the "compassion in action."
Regional Fest 2002: 5 Regional
Conferences
YJA successfully hosted five regional conferences
across the nation. These conferences give youth the
opportunity to meet fellow Jains in their youth, learn
more about their religion, and discuss their questions
and concerns in an informal manner. Most importantly,
regional conferences provide a network for further
Jain youth activism. For
more information please visit:
www.yja.org/regionalconferences/index.html. Be
sure to visit our Regional Memories page at www.yja.org/regionalconferences/memories/index.htm.
YJA Convention 2002: Walking
the Path of Jainism
YJA
Convention 2002, entitled “Walking the Path of Jainism,”
was held on July 4-7, 2002. It was a tremendous success
with over 800 youth from all around the world attending.
Jain youth had an opportunity learn more about their
faith from inspiring Jain figures like Chitrabahnuji,
Sadhviji Shilapaji, and Satish Kumar and discuss their
heritage with fellow Jain youth. Youth also
had an opportunity to relax, learn more about their
culture, and meet fellow Jain youth. On Thursday
night, YJA hosted a Mela night, where youth played
carom, drank raw juices, enjoyed cultural performances,
and joined an Indian mock wedding. Youth also performed
raas-garba and danced the night away at the Semi-Formal.
To
take a look back at all that happened, please visit:
www.yja.org/lookback. There you will find the
interactive group picture, a survey about your feelings
on the convention and pictures from the convention.
Habitat
for Humanity 2002
In
the summer of 2002, YJA and Habitat for Humanity teamed
up and brought four groups of people around the country
to different sites to help build houses for the less
fortunate. There were sites in Texas, New Jersey,
Michigan, and California. Each of the four groups
stayed for one to three days and helped build houses
for those less fortunate. These houses will
become homes for several hundred families.
Neha
Shah, New Jersey:
“Altogether
it was a wonderful experience. We came together
for a great cause: to help better a community, and
had a great time doing it. Most
importantly, we brought home with us a sense of community,
accomplishment, and a new meaning to the word, ‘shower’.”
To
see pictures of last summer’s project and learn more
information regarding next summer’s activities, please
visit
www.yja.org/h4h.
