For the 12th World Zoroastrian Congress in New York from July 1 to 4, 2022 young Zarathushtis in the 18 to 25 age group residing outside North America who would like to attend the event but do not have the financial resources to do so may send in their applications before October 15, 2021. Students currently enrolled in academic courses/studies at an accredited college/university and involved in their local Zarathushti community activities are eligible to apply, according to a notification from Nerina Rustomji and Behroze Clubwala, co-chairs of Zarathushti Youth Across Borders (ZYAB) and Congress administrator Katayun Kapadia.
Those who submit their applications on the Congress website wzc2022.nyc must agree to several rounds of online interviews at the local, regional and global level to help the organizers rank submissions. Designated local focal points will nominate candidates based on the criteria provided by the ZYAB team. The Executive Steering Committee (ESC) of the Congress will decide on the number of applicants to be selected from each region based on which a final list of approximately 20-25 participants will be confirmed by January 15, 2022.
Applicants must be able to obtain their own visas, travel and medical insurance, be in good health, duly vaccinated and observe Covid protocol, be willing to share accommodation during the Congress and for the travel planned prior or subsequent to the event. Further, they "must agree to a code of conduct during their participation and be open-minded, flexible, friendly and ready to participate at the Congress if suggested by the Program Committee,” stressed the organizers. For further clarifications, the team may be approached at zyab@wzcc2022.nyc.
To fund the travel costs, registration and hotel costs of the youth for the duration of the Congress, estimated at USD 3,000 (Rs 2,21,718) per participant, the ZYAB team will reach out through the Global Working Group (GWG) to donors in Australia, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, India, Middle East, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, UK and USA to support the Zarathushti youth from their respective regions. Additionally, the ZYAB team is currently working with Zoroastrian associations in Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC to facilitate visits with youth in these cities to create a stronger dialog between the hosts and the visitors.
WZC 2022’s theme, "Bridging the Global Zarathushti Existence,” aims to "strengthen connections, concepts and ideas, and build bridges for the next generations, while respecting our identities and diversity. Part of the bridge involves engaging the youth whose ideas and perspectives will shape the actions of the Zarathushti community in the 21st century. WZC 2022 seeks to enable these discussions among young Zarathushtis who can represent their own regions and collaborate across borders… The goal of the program is to provide widening experiences for the Zarathushti youth and to help them set up a platform for further communication, collaboration and leadership.” The program is based on the "Zoroastrian Field Students Program,” initiated at the World Zoroastrian Congress in Houston in 2000 when 21 students were similarly helped.