World Youth Congress

"So far 260 people have registered for the 5th World Zoroastrian Youth Congress (5WZYC)” to be held at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada from June 30-July 5, 2011, notes their website. "United we stand — building bridges across oceans” is the theme of the Congress that promises participants: "Come stay and play for five all inclusive days of fun and sun. Meet new friends and reconnect with old ones.”

"Hosting the Congress in Vancouver should fill us all with pride and anticipation of being able to organize an event of this magnitude and importance in promoting our faith,” notes a letter by the Congress committee chair Zain Mavalvalla carried with the newsletter (December 2010-February 2011) of The Zoroastrian Society of British Columbia (ZSBC). The core committee comprising other volunteers under 37 years of age includes Shiraz Italia, Cyrus Mizan, Armin Buzorg, Benafsha Kapa-dia, Nekzad Shroff, Eddie Madon, Narius Dastur, Mehernaz Buzorg and Yohan Irani. They will be guided by ZSBC president Homi Italia and Behramsha Mizan.

Clockwise from top left: Eddie Madon, Cyrus Mizan, Zain Mavalvalla, Homi Italia, Chan Center at the University of British Columbia; Congress logo and Shiraz Italia

Registration is open to the first 500 applicants only. To encourage participation from around 33 Zara-thushti youth speakers/delegates from Iran, Mavalvalla appealed to ZSBC members "to seriously consider sponsoring one or more of these young people... The purpose is to provide a very special opportunity to our Zarathushti youth (15-40 years) from Iran so that they can participate freely and contribute as much as they possibly can in this global event. You will all agree that these young Zarathushti men and women from Tehran, Kerman, Yazd and Isfahan could be our future leaders. They need all the encouragement possible to attend but one of the hurdles is their inability to meet registration costs…We would therefore like to offer them complimentary Congress registration which is CAD $ 640 per person.”

The delegates will be accommodated at Gage Towers, UBC and can enjoy the University’s Aquatic Center and Student Recreation Centre during their stay. The program highlights include the inauguration at the Chan Center, UBC, the Canada Day Celebrations on July 1 on a harbor cruise ship, a gondola sightseeing tour up to Grouse Mountain, a walk high in the trees across Capilano Suspension Bridge and the closing ceremony at the Grand Ballroom Hall. For further details contact: congress2011 @shaw.ca