– Excellent Opportunity For Worldwide Zoroastrian Youth –

The 12th World Zoroastrian Congress 2022 is delighted to launch ‘Zarathushti Youth Across Borders’ or (ZYAB) – a brilliant opportunity for the worldwide Zarathushti youth. The ZYAB program proposes to bring young Zarathushtis from around the world to attend the 12th World Zoroastrian Congress 2022 in New York City.  The Congress will be held at the Hilton Midtown Hotel in New York City from July 1-4.

The goals of the ZYAB program include facilitating the attendance of Zarathushti youth (Ages 18-25), who live outside North America, at WZC 2022, prioritizing young Zarathushtis who would not be able to attend due to economic circumstances; Increasing dialogue and active participation among Zarathushti youth from all over the world; and Empowering Zarathushti youth to represent their regions and develop their aspirations for the future.

The outreach to local communities will be organized by the ZYAB team through the Global Working Group representatives. ZYAB is seeking applications from youth who are excited to attend the Congress but do not have the financial resources to do so; as well as support from local Zoroastrian Associations and worldwide Zarathushtis to support the ZYAB Program.

The ZYAB program is based on the ‘Zoroastrian Field Students Program’, initiated at the World Zoroastrian Congress in Houston (2000). Modelled on the American Field Service program where students around the world travelled to the US to attend a year of high school, the Zoroastrian Field Student Program brought 21 students who would not have been able to attend the World Zoroastrian Congress due to economic circumstances. The Program was highly acclaimed by the first group of students who attended, and their leadership and exchanges have continued until today.

WZC 2022’s theme, ‘Bridging the Global Zarathushti Existence’, aims to strengthen connections, concepts, and ideas, and build bridges for the next generations, while respecting our identities and diversity. Part of the bridge involves engaging the youth whose ideas and perspectives will shape the actions of the Zarathushti community in the 21st century. WZC 2022 seeks to enable these discussions among young Zarathushtis who can represent their own regions and collaborate across borders.

 Prospective youth can apply on the 12 WZC 2022 NYC website: https://wzc2022.nyc/zyab/

For further questions and clarifications, please write to the ZYAB team, zyab@wzc2022.nyc

APPLICATION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 15, 2021