ⓒ 2019 WATV

ASEZ the Church of God University Student Volunteer Group, which is working in and out of campus to create a happy society and a healthy earth, was invited to the 68th UN Civil Society Conference held for three days from August 26. Formerly known as the UN DPI/NGO Conference, it is the biggest annual event for NGOs where more than 700 representatives of civil societies from over 100 countries gather to discuss a variety of topics such as climate change, human rights, and volunteer services through forums, workshops, and exhibitions.

This year’s conference, held at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, UT, U.S., focused on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Solving urban problems and improving the environment are one of the major tasks to tackle as half of the world’s population lives in urban areas, a proportion that is expected to increase to 68% by 2050. ASEZ hosted a workshop themed Youthful Innovation and Volunteering to shed light on the role of young adults contributing to sustainable cities.

Katherine St. John the President of UN Association of Utah, and Dean McGovern the Executive Director at Lowell Bennion Community Service Center of the University of Utah, who had cooperated with ASEZ, made presentations to more than 250 participants, including UN officials, civil societies, professors, and university students.

ⓒ 2019 WATV

Both speakers emphasized the importance of cooperation; they said that ideal volunteer service is possible when innovative younger generations and experienced older generations work together. “When we need many hands, heads, and hearts, ASEZ is playing an important role of gathering people,” said Executive Director McGovern, asking for continual efforts. “We can find innovative solutions to problems humankind faces when young adults who are free and have many opportunities make efforts to change the world with their strength,” said Sidney Rogers, a student representative of universities in Salt Lake City.

ASEZ signed MOUs with many organizations like the UN Association of Utah during the conference. Even afterwards, it held a forum on climate change at the Grand Ballroom of DoubleTree in Denver, CO, on September 8, to establish a network for sustainable cities and communities and to encourage civil participation.