A scene from the youth festival ‘Transformation- Youth against Addiction and Abuse’. Photo: Dicoese of Karimnagar

[Church of South India] The Diocese of Karimnagar in association with the [Church of South India] Synod Youth Department organised a Diocesan Youth Festival from 7 to 8 August 2015 at CSI Centenary Wesley Church, Karimnagar. The theme for this Diocesan Youth Festival was ‘Transformation- Youth against Addiction and Abuse.’ Around 400 young people from various congregations from the Diocese of Karimnagar were present to participate in this youth festival.

The festival started with greetings from Rev. K Priscilla Parimala Reuben, Ordained minister and the Spouse of Rt. Rev. Dr. Reuben Mark, the Bishop of Karimnagar Diocese. She encouraged the young people to become agents of transformation in bringing peace and re-conciliation in church and society. Key note address was shared by Rev. M. Prashanth Babu, Ordained Minister from Medak Diocese who shared about the life of Daniel and his faithfulness to his calling.

Activities like camp fire, and competitions like Elocution, Skit and Quiz were conducted on these days on the theme; Youth against Addiction and Abuse. The young people participated in these competitions and very creatively presented their views and opinions about the menace of addiction and abuse in the society. Mr. Brainard, along with his music and choir team led the singing and inspired the youths during the entire youth festival.

Rev. Solomon Paul, Director, Synod Youth Department led sessions on the theme. He spoke about the life of Daniel in the Old Testament who, though was placed in a foreign culture and context, made a commitment to never defile himself from the food habits that the new culture offered. He urged the youths to withstand the peer pressure and the temptations this world offers in captivating the youths into the vicious circle of addiction and abuse. He gave a gist of the different kinds of addictions prevailing in society today and also shared how it has ruined the lives of many youngsters.

A massive rally was organised on the same day to create awareness in the town of Karimnagar. Around 400 youths marched the traffic driven roads of Karimnagar, holding placards and shouting slogans against addiction and abuse. The rally went into the diocesan office campus to celebrate this occasion. There the Diocesan Treasurer Mr. Ch. Ramaswamy brought greetings and the youths made an appeal to the diocesan leaders to create an addiction and abuse free church and society. As the festival came to a close, prizes were given to the winners of the competition and the youths pledged their commitment to stand for the Youth against Addiction and Abuse Campaign.

Festival organisers included the Bishop of Karimnagar, the Rt Revd Reuben Mark; the Officers of the Diocese; the program co-ordinator, the Revd S. John; the Youth Director of the Diocese, the Revd D. Rebecca and the congregations of CSI Centenary Wesley Church and Wesley Cathedral.