2010 Anyuak Youths Conference was a success

June 13 , 2010 (MANKATO, MN) — Once again Second Anyuak Youths Conference had taken place on Saturday, June 12, 2010.  The events started in the morning at 10:00 AM with exciting basketball tournaments between four teams from different cities in Minnesota revealing amazing athletic talents among the Anyuak youths. This year final game was between Mankato, MN, and Worthington, MN teams. Mankato, Anyuak youths’ team was the winner this year. Worthington, MN, Anyuak youths’ team was in the second place. The trophy, then, was awarded to Mankato team. Worthington team was the winner last year. Unequivocally, the turnout of the youths and their parents exceeded planning committee’s and everyone's expectation. All Anyuak youths and their parents from different cities in Minnesota, US,  and other states like South Dakota, US, Texas, US, Iowa, US, Illinois, US, Missouri, US,  and even from Canada came to join the annually celebrated Anyuak youths conference. The conference had multifaceted such as basketball torments, workshops, panel discussions, dinner, cultural dance, and guests’ speakers. All these activities were done sequentially.

In the afternoon, workshops were held to educate and empower the youths and the workshops were followed by the first ever panel discussion between youths and parents. General questions on parents and children relationships were randomly asked. Even though, both sides were reluctant to talk about questions asked, the discussions between the two groups were finally heated up when the questions were hypothetically readdressed. Both groups were sated side-by-side in one of the conference rooms at the Minnesota State University in Mankato, MN. The atmosphere in the conference room was kind of quite, but when one youth spoke about his parents’ house rules, the discussions turned jovially and both sides exchanged the discussions. After the discussions were over, the crowd of about 350 plus were escorted to the nearby Lutheran Church for the dinner. At 6:00 PM, the crowd went back to the main building where extravaganza of cultural dances, and speeches from distinguished guests were conveyed. The Anywaa Community Association in North America Chairman, Anywaa Women Association in North America vice Chairwomen, and University’s academic provost were among the distinguished guest speakers.  As last year, the speakers encourage the Anyuak youths to adhere to their culture, education, and awareness of their homelands.

The evening festivities included extraordinary music and dance performances by Anyuak youth girls and one solo singer from Washington State. This is evidence that the Anyuak youth are willing and ready to participate and serve in their community. It is also a sign that Anyuak youths can be productive if their parents encourage them to do what they are supposed to do as their offspring. Planning committee, the Anyuaks community leaders, and other stakeholders are vowed to continue this annual Anyuak youths conference. Even some Anyuak elders wished the conference should be held more than one times per a year. It hoped that those who were not able to attend the event physically enjoyed reading this short write-up on the event and the attached pictures. Pictures do worth more than words. Planning committee hope to see you next year!