Zoroastrians Abroad
Global youth platform
"We have set the ambitious goal of bringing over 600 Zoroastrian youth from around the world to California from July 1 to 6, 2019,” noted a message by Parshan Khosravi, chair of the Seventh World Zoroastrian Youth Congress (7WZYC) on their website wzycongress.org. Held every four years, such congresses have brought together "hundreds of current and future leaders of the Zoroastrian community and provided them with a platform to build global partnerships and relationships and work towards addressing the challenges facing our community,” he states.
While the Congress will be hosted by the California Zoroastrian Center in partnership with the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America, the organizing of the Congress is in the hands of Zoroastrian youth from southern California and all over the world. The executive committee of the 7WZYC comprises "a diverse group of youth, born both in the USA and Iran and completely in tune with their identities as global Zoroastrians in the 21st century. They bring along diversity of thought and practice, (as) both Iranian and Parsi Zoroastrians, with a common goal to celebrate our rich and varied cultures that have spanned the globe from ancient Iran and India to modern-day Zoroastrian diaspora in the western world,” notes the website. The office bearers who will be assisting Khosravi are Adil Minocherhomjee, vice chair of revenue, Anahita Hormozdyari, vice chair of operations, Khodarahm Partovi, treasurer, Hanoz Santoke, webmaster and Roxanne Unwalla, secretary.
In keeping with the theme "A Global Zarathusti,” the Congress will feature "a broad array of speakers, panelists and performers drawn from all over the world. If you have special expertise, a special skill, or a special talent, we encourage you to share it with our delegates,” urges the section "Be a part of our program.” Participation in the Congress to be held at the Pacific Palms Resort is restricted to those in the 18 to 35 age bracket (as of July 1, 2019). Some of the topics for the panel discussions planned by the executive committee are: Blood and cleansing; Status of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) community in Zoroastrian religion; Future of Zoroastrianism: How to preserve our religion; Innovation and leadership: How to make a difference in our community.
While the Congress will be hosted by the California Zoroastrian Center in partnership with the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America, the organizing of the Congress is in the hands of Zoroastrian youth from southern California and all over the world. The executive committee of the 7WZYC comprises "a diverse group of youth, born both in the USA and Iran and completely in tune with their identities as global Zoroastrians in the 21st century. They bring along diversity of thought and practice, (as) both Iranian and Parsi Zoroastrians, with a common goal to celebrate our rich and varied cultures that have spanned the globe from ancient Iran and India to modern-day Zoroastrian diaspora in the western world,” notes the website. The office bearers who will be assisting Khosravi are Adil Minocherhomjee, vice chair of revenue, Anahita Hormozdyari, vice chair of operations, Khodarahm Partovi, treasurer, Hanoz Santoke, webmaster and Roxanne Unwalla, secretary.In keeping with the theme "A Global Zarathusti,” the Congress will feature "a broad array of speakers, panelists and performers drawn from all over the world. If you have special expertise, a special skill, or a special talent, we encourage you to share it with our delegates,” urges the section "Be a part of our program.” Participation in the Congress to be held at the Pacific Palms Resort is restricted to those in the 18 to 35 age bracket (as of July 1, 2019). Some of the topics for the panel discussions planned by the executive committee are: Blood and cleansing; Status of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) community in Zoroastrian religion; Future of Zoroastrianism: How to preserve our religion; Innovation and leadership: How to make a difference in our community.
Above: Congress venue, Pacific Palms Resort in California; top: Parshan Khosravi
Additionally talks or workshops will cover history and culture, environment and health, innovation and entrepreneurship, justice and liberation, defining our identity, Zoroastrian academia. Speakers well versed in these fields are invited to present papers. A Zoroastrian Shark Tank (Shark Tank is a television program where successful businesspeople interview potential entrepreneurs to decide whether their ventures are worth funding), ZoroBuddies Program and a College/Job Fair have been planned along with regular networking sessions. Silent Disco, Movie Night, Fashion Show and Gala are some of the other attractions on offer. Performers excelling in music, dance, magic, fashion shows are invited to display their talents. Those selected as speakers, panelists or performers will have to bear their own costs of registration (see "Re-energize our youth,” Zoroastrians Abroad, Parsiana, September 21, 2018) and accommodation, clarify the organizers.
◆ ◆ ◆
From the archive