Press Release

Youth Making a Difference (YMAD), a group of youth ages 12 - 26, is co-sponsoring along with Youth for Action and The World Congress of Families a conference in honor of the natural family and calls on youth everywhere to attend.

YMAD, a non-profit group of LDS & non-LDS youth in Manitoba, Canada is actively involved in promoting the family. In our first project youth rallied together and collected the most signatures ever in a youth driven petition. This petition called for keeping child pornography a crime, which became a concern after a BC court decision, which effected the stability of that law in Canada.

We are now involved in planning and fundraising for the upcoming Millenium Youth Assembly & Family Celebration in Lethbridge, Alberta April 28^th - 29^th. The Goodman Family, Richard G. Wilkins of the World Family Policy Center and Roy Beyer, President of Canada Family Action Coalition are among some of the speakers. From this conference personal statements from the youth will be compiled for the purposes of promoting existing pro- family language at the UN and providing media, governments, and the UN with pro-family statements and recommendations from youth.

In order to make this conference possible we are asking for donations suggested at $50 - $100 for individuals and $500 - $1,000 from businesses. These donations are needed to fund travel expenses for the speakers and youth, and the printing of the youth statements on the family. Additional funds will go towards the transportation of youth to the Young General Assembly in Australia, The UN Millenium Forum in New York, and a youth presentation to Parliament.

If you are interested in attending please contact Kim Malacko at (403) 328-6556 or (403) 327-9081, Fax (403) 320-7809, email: kmalacko@scm.ca. Donations may be made out to Youth Making A Difference - Millennium Youth Project and mailed to 251 Sansome Ave. Winnipeg, MB Canada R3K 0N9 or call Joann Gorham at (204) 896-9623, fax (204) 896-7478 or email joannymad@hotmail.com

WORLD CONGRESS OF FAMILIES

North American

Millennium Youth Assembly & Family Celebration

April 28-29, 2000

University of Lethbridge

Lethbridge, Alberta Canada

In honor of the natural family, the World Congress of Families will convene a Millennium Youth Assembly and Family Celebration, April 28-29, 2000, at the University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. Co-sponsored by Youth For Action (YFA) and Youth Making A Difference (YMAD), the conference is open to all pro-family youth (12 - 26 yrs) and families of good will, of all faiths, cultures and nationalities.

The purpose of the Millennium Youth Assembly and Family Celebration is to motivate, educate, and rally youth and families to protect and fortify the natural family; and to create a Millennium Youth Report, which will outline youth generated recommendations to the UN and to national governments for the protection and promotion of the natural family. The Millennium Youth Report will be distributed at the UN Millennium Forum (May 2000), the Young General Assembly (July 2000), to the federal government, and at other public venues.

The decay of the family throughout the world is accelerating. Disturbing developments are happening nationally and at the UN which jeopardize the natural family. At this critical moment in history we have an incredible opportunity to stand for the natural family and light the way to a brighter future. In the words of Katie Davis, 17, of Winnipeg, Manitoba "the power we possess as youth is great and at times underestimated. This is our chance to prove that we can make a difference. We cannot just sit back and wait for someone else to do it. Those before us fought to ensure our freedom and leave us a better world. That responsibility now lies in our hands. We must uphold the freedoms given to us and leave a better world for those who succeed us." (Katie Davis,17 of YMAD, Winnipeg, MB)

Workshops, lectures, and entertainment will be presented by the Howard Center; Professor Richard G. Wilkins of the World Family Policy Center at BYU; Susan Roylance and representatives of United Families International; Roy Beyer, President of the Canada Family Action Coalition (CFAC); Hermina Dykxhoorn, President of the Alberta Federation of Women United for Families (AFWUF); Cecilia Forsyth, REAL Women of Canada; and the world renowned Goodman Family who share a message of commitment to the family and hope for the future.

To encourage youth attendance from across North America, registration fees are being kept to a minimum. For conference and registration information contact Kim Malacko at (403) 328-6556 or (403) 327-9081, Fax (403) 320-7809, email: kmalacko@scm.ca, website: http://youthforaction.virtualave.net/index.htm#topofhome. For more information on the World Congress of Families see www.worldcongress.org.

Families Worldwide
5278 Pinemont Dr., Suite A-180.
Salt Lake City, UT 84123 USA
Phone: USA 801/262-6878
Fax: USA 801/262-7107

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