Young Adults in Global Mission
YAGM Program
Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) is an ELCA program that provides one year mission service and learning opportunities in international settings. Currently there are 62 young adults serving Mexico, Argentina/Uruguay, UK, Hungary, Madagascar, Rwanda, Southern Africa, and Jerusalem/West Bank through the YAGM program. All of us are between the ages of 20-29. As a YAGM missionary, we not only serve our respective communities, but we also learn more about ourselves, our relationship with God, and our place in God's world. Further, through our experiences in YAGM, we return and are equipped to provide a global perspective on issues facing the church and society.
YAGM in Hungary
YAGM in Hungary has a focus on the social justice issue of Roma discrimination and hate crimes. Within our respective communities, we work to support the Roma community while also challenging anti-gypsy views of non-Roma.
What does this look like in Szombathely?
My main job is working at Reményik Primary School (grades 1-8) assisting my supervisor in teaching English. Reményik is a private school that is owned by my hosting congregation, The Lutheran Church of Szombathely. Although it is private, there are still many Roma students who attend this school for they are not discriminated against at Reményik.
I also work at a Roma job center called Hárofit. It is the only organization in Szombathely that supports the Roma community through providing jobs, training, education, clothes, food, etc. Since I do not speak much Hungarian, most of my work at this office is cleaning and being their webmaster (they are using an English web domain).
But really my work challenging anti-gypsy views occurs outside of these two workplaces as I interact with Roma on the streets. I receive many "looks" and questions when I stop and greet a Roma person with a hug and/or the Hungarian kisses. But it is then that I can engage the non-Roma person in conversation and learn about why they have these anti-gypsy views.
-Katerina Canter
Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) is an ELCA program that provides one year mission service and learning opportunities in international settings. Currently there are 62 young adults serving Mexico, Argentina/Uruguay, UK, Hungary, Madagascar, Rwanda, Southern Africa, and Jerusalem/West Bank through the YAGM program. All of us are between the ages of 20-29. As a YAGM missionary, we not only serve our respective communities, but we also learn more about ourselves, our relationship with God, and our place in God's world. Further, through our experiences in YAGM, we return and are equipped to provide a global perspective on issues facing the church and society.
YAGM in Hungary
YAGM in Hungary has a focus on the social justice issue of Roma discrimination and hate crimes. Within our respective communities, we work to support the Roma community while also challenging anti-gypsy views of non-Roma.
What does this look like in Szombathely?
My main job is working at Reményik Primary School (grades 1-8) assisting my supervisor in teaching English. Reményik is a private school that is owned by my hosting congregation, The Lutheran Church of Szombathely. Although it is private, there are still many Roma students who attend this school for they are not discriminated against at Reményik.
I also work at a Roma job center called Hárofit. It is the only organization in Szombathely that supports the Roma community through providing jobs, training, education, clothes, food, etc. Since I do not speak much Hungarian, most of my work at this office is cleaning and being their webmaster (they are using an English web domain).
But really my work challenging anti-gypsy views occurs outside of these two workplaces as I interact with Roma on the streets. I receive many "looks" and questions when I stop and greet a Roma person with a hug and/or the Hungarian kisses. But it is then that I can engage the non-Roma person in conversation and learn about why they have these anti-gypsy views.
-Katerina Canter