Passing the Torch
YIP 2009–2010 has kicked off with a welcoming celebration for the 41 new participants. They were addressed by people from the community, who offered advice and wishes for the year ahead.
- The participants, friends and organizers of the 2009–2010 YIP year.
- Last year's YIP'ies served home made stone baked pizzas.
As the big hall of the Culture House filled up with many familiar faces, the new students keenly waited for the official start of their year-long journey. After a short introduction by the YIP-organizers, Heiner Lohrman of the agricultural highschool shared his enthusiasm about YIP. Speakers from Vårdinge Folkhögskola and the Rudolf Steiner Seminar then expressed their welcome and advice.
Greetings from last year's YIP-ies
Organizer Reinoud Meijer talked about YIP's mission, stressing that the year is shaped by the participants themselves. In the last speech, Tania Zuur (YIP 2008–2009), confirmed this, saying that it's hard to explain what YIP is because everyone experiences it differently. "Imagine being in an aeroplane during an emergency", Tania said. "Everything is chaos. YIP is the lights that lights up on the floor, guiding you to all the different exists."
She then invited 20 of last year's participants up on stage, and together they sung a song as a symbolic passing of the torch to the new participants.
Introducing 41 new YIP-ies
Ani Hanelius from the YIP Organizing Team invited the newcomers up on the stage and presented their names and countries of origin. Together, the new participants represent 15 different countries on four continents. After a warm welcoming applause, the opening continued into the evening with coffee, cakes and barbecue in the gardens.
