Pinoy youth leaders learn crisis management in int'l tilt

Filipino Catholic youth leaders learned crisis management skills after participating in an international training program in Cebu City. Leaders from Chiro Philippines learn from their counterparts from Blauring and Jungwacht, two of the largest Catholic children and youth groups in Switzerland. "Headed by Chiro Regional leaders Ninia Jayme and Neil Villaester, participants from Visayas and Mindanao learned more about organizing camps and crisis management in groups, among others," the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said. At least 33 Filipino youth leaders from Chiro Philippines gathered since last week for the four-day trainers' training with the theme: "Trip Around the World in Four Days." Last week, Pascal Vonlanthen and Erich Schwyter, leaders from Jungwacht and Blauring (known collectively as JuBla), also arrived in Cebu. Chiro is a Catholic youth and children's group, which has been gathering Filipino youth every week for discussions on selected topics, games and other activities for personal and spiritual growth since 1952. The group's national president Badette Felix said the trainer’s training aims to:

• understand more about training and training styles;
• learn how to establish and maintain new groups; and
• acquire skills in conducting creative activities for children

“Participants enjoyed the sessions, games, singing moments, etc. The Chiro Evening (cultural evening) was a blast! Most of them came with full costumes," Felix said. The training was held at the St. Louis School in Mandaue, Cebu. Felix said most participants said that they experienced a lot more than they had hoped for. Another training on different topics will be held May 19 to 22 in Silang, Cavite for the South and North Luzon regions. The trainings were arranged as part of a partnership between Chiro and JuBla which has a combined membership of almost 32,000 young people in Switzerland. Starting in 2006, JuBla chose to partner with Chiro Philippines as part of its membership in Fédération Internationale des Mouvements Catholiques d’Action Paroissale (FIMCAP). FIMCAP is an international federation of youth movements based in the parishes. FIMCAP organizations in Europe may choose to partner with organizations in African, Latin American or Asian countries to facilitate a cultural and technological exchange among the organizations. — LBG, GMA News