International Young Leaders Network
The world has great need of new forms of Christian inspired leadership... Your network has enormous potential.
Bishop Michael Evans
Bishop of East Anglia Welcome to the International Young Leaders Network: IYLN is a major initiative of Blackfriars Hall and is organised jointly with The Epiphany Trust and the Von Hugel Institute at St Edmund's College, University of Cambridge. Its patrons include Timothy Radcliffe OP, Lord Alton of Liverpool, Rt Hon John Battle and Abbot Edmund Power OSB.
We seek to identify, nurture, sustain and train young and emerging leaders aged 18 to 33 from any part of the world and all Christian denominations. The ethos of IYLN cherishes a combination of prayer, community, study and open search for truth. It seeks inspiration from those who have been able to combine social judgement with these attributes such as Fr Georges Pire OP (Nobel Prize Winner), Bartolome De Las Casas OP (human rights campaigner) and St Catherine of Siena OP (mystic and advisor to those in government and leadership positions).
The IYLN held its first successful colloquium in Cambridge in September 2006, followed by one in Bucharest, Romania in April 2007, another in Oxford in September 2007 and one in The Hague/Brussels in April 2008. Speakers have included Bishops and Cabinet Ministers, leading businesspeople and NGO Chief Executives, Ambassadors and world class academics. The next event will be in Israel/Bethlehem from 7th - 19th September 2008.
We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds as we recognise that intense learning can take place in a wide range of sectors and activities including - but not only - the academic sphere. Baptism is our call to leadership and our programme seeks to enable participants to take that call forward with focus, energy, rich theological insights and a grounded spirituality. If you care about "what matters", seek to analyse "what counts" and want to deliver "what works" for real change IYLN is a place for you.
WHAT DOES THE IYLN EXPERIENCE COMPRISE?
IYLN centres around two intensive one week residential events. In recent times these have been held in The Hague/Brussels, at Blackfriars Hall, Oxford , in Cambridge and in Romania. The next event will be in Israel/Bethlehem from 7th - 19th September 2008.
Please note that while occasionally we offer Global Intern opportunities this is not an internship programme. We recognise that young people today need flexible support and leadership development which can be combined with work, study and other commitments.
From the academic year 2008-09 the intensive study weeks in each academic year will be held in September and December. There will be an extra week at Easter in each academic year. So, in 2008-09 we invite you to Israel/Bethlehem for a special two week event followed by a week in South Africa around Christmas. If you cannot make one of these you will have the option of attending the Easter event. From time to time we also organise “one off” events which are optional but to which you will be invited.
Each week combines study, community, prayer and an intensive practical project. It also gives you the opportunity to spend one intensive hour in each week with a mentor to discuss personal and vocational questions to you. Our speakers are outstanding and a key part of our process is to encourage them to stay on after their sessions to speak with participants. To date contributors have included newspaper editors and Cabinet Ministers, world class academics and entrepreneurs, Ambassadors and NGO leaders.
Another key part of the IYLN experience is the cross-sectoral nature of the group. We do not want to put you in a room with people that you know will agree with you on every matter. We consciously seek to put together diverse groups in terms of national background, professional experience, theological and ecumenical preferences and future plans. So, from Eastern Europe to Australia, Africa to South Asia and the UK to North America and mainland Western Europe we have attracted participants who were working in business and the law, studying, active in the social care and NGO sector or who are teachers or prospective politicians. While aimed at lay people we have also enjoyed contributions from those considering or training for ministry or ordination in the Christian Churches. This rich weave of relationships reflects our Dominican ethos which encourages debate and reflection grounded in a commitment to serious community and character building.
Once you are in the programme we will also work with you on particular projects that you may have: This could include a planned study tour, accessing work placements , funding challenges and so on. We agree to help on these on a case by case basis when you raise them with us , but also strongly encourage “scholars” to offer each other mutual support.
As a member of IYLN you will receive occasional updates and access to on-line learning resources to help you develop further knowledge skills geared to study, community, and practice. These include a number of special websites of spiritual reflection and resources such as the GodsDogz site. You also automatically become linked to Blackfriars Hall who will circulate you with information of all their activities at home and abroad. |
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