IHS Grant Fund Success Stories: IHEYO

More than half the world's population is under 25. The Institute for Humanist Studies does not take that statistic lightly.

That's why the IHS Grant Fund has awarded about $60,000 over five years to the International Humanist and Ethical Youth Organization (IHEYO).

IHEYO works to share humanism with the world's youth and functions as an umbrella organization for humanist youth groups around the globe. Since 2002, the IHEYO has held annual international youth conferences in the Netherlands, Berlin, Uganda and Paris. They are planning the 2006 conference for Vijayawada, India. The conferences have focused not only on the spread of the humanist doctrine, but also global issues such as human rights, poverty and the right to not believe in gods or religion.

More than $20,000 of the IHS Grant Fund money awarded to IHEYO made these conferences possible by providing for travel scholarships and speakers, as well as accommodations and catering.

The 2002 IHEYO Conference, held in the Netherlands as part of the International Humanist and Ethical Union's 50th Anniversary Congress, boasted youth representing more than 16 countries worldwide. Since then, attendance has only grown.

The conferences have produced very encouraging plans for the future, among them ideas for an intercultural Arts Camp, humanist training sessions, critical thinking workshops and even "flying humanists," a plan to create a humanist team that can respond to humanist questions and special needs around the world.

In the past four years, a portion of the IHS grants have been used to enhance the internal structure of IHEYO. The organization's website and databases have been improved to accommodate communication between international humanists. Furthermore, in 2005, a full-time staff member was hired to perform day-to-day business and increase efficiency.

The grant fund has also allowed IHEYO to expand upon their Internship Leadership Program. The agenda, started in 2001, enables a young humanist to participate as an intern in a foreign humanist group. The IHEYO is able to sponsor two interns a year. Thanks to the IHS Grant Fund, Yemi Johnson of the Nigerian Humanist Students Society was able to intern at the Norwegian Humanist association. Johnson is now the IHEYO's General Secretary.

One of the main goals of the Institute for Humanist Studies is to foster collaboration among the freethought fold. So it is encouraging to see IHEYO help youth get involved in cross-cultural cooperation.

What's our favorite thing about working with young humanists? They've got high standards and lots of energy.

Here's what one participant at Berlin IHEYO conference wrote in a conference evaluation: "There is always room for improvement. The sky is the starting point, not the limit."

With that kind of energy and passion, backed by financial support from the Institute for Humanist Studies, IHEYO has secured its place in the global arena for years to come.