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Youth is an exciting and sometimes challenging period in a person’s life. It is a time when independence is being asserted and this, along with competition from outside interests and challenges can lead them to become disengaged from faith or religion. In collaboration with youth and parents, the Lifespan Faith Development (LFD) staff seeks to keep youth engaged in their faith, work for justice and provide leadership opportunities for better preparation when entering the adult world.
In the 6th and 7th grades, youth are taught from curricula designed to help them be agents of positive change in the world and to examine the diverse faiths in our world.
6th-7th Grade:
HEEDING THE CALL CURRICULUM: Youth are encouraged to view themselves as agents of change in the world as they develop qualities crucial to justice work. Workshops on empathy, courage, abundance, joy and other qualities ask participants to recognize how these standards can be tools for justice.
This year the 6-7th grade group will be following the Heeding the Call Curriculum and meets in the Meeting House on Sundays at 11:00 am. If you are new to TUCW or the LFD program or in case there may have been a scheduling change, please contact Shahan Islam, Youth Program Coordinator.
BUILDING BRIDGES CURRICULUM: A world religions curriculum that compares Unitarian Universalist values and religious diversity in our world through studying about and visiting other faith communities. This program will likely be running in the 2018-19 year.
8th-9th Grade:
Coming of Age (CoA) includes Our Whole Lives (OWL) and will be held in the Meeting House. Contact Shahan Islam, Youth Program Coordinator, for details and the schedule – TIMES VARY
Coming of Age is a rite of passage that comes once in a lifetime. Youth write and present a credo statement after exploring their beliefs over the course of the year. There is a Boston UU Heritage Trip in the Spring.
OWL is grounded in a holistic view of sexuality. It not only provides facts about anatomy and human development, but also helps participants clarify their values, build interpersonal skills and understand the spiritual, emotional and social aspects of sexuality. Topics also include body image, social media/internet, bullying/bystander responsibilities and consent education.
The Required OWL Parents orientation recognizes the primary role parents and caregivers play in sexuality education for their children/youth.
10th-12th grade
Youth group meetings: Teens meet in a comfortable setting to explore and share together their questions about many topics such as life, relationships, spirituality, social justice and leadership.
The Youth programs meet in the Meeting House on Sundays at 11:00 am. If you are new to The Unitarian Church in Westport or the LFD program or in case there may have been a scheduling change, please contact Shahan Islam, Youth Program Coordinator.
Shahan Islam
Youth Program Coordinator – 6th to 12th Grade
(203) 227-7205 ext. 17
And you can find more about our LFD programs in Realm.
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