!YES says: “Yes” four times in a row

By: Rudy Khalil sj

The Youth Educational Services center “YES” in Minia – Egypt had a new start this February. The “Cinema Club” and “three workshops” took place on Saturday, hosted by the novices Daniel and Rudy. So how did the idea take its shape?

As simple as it is, after the first Thursday watching a movie with my big brother Bassem at home, the question came up: “why not to watch a movie with the youth around us, since more or less, they are our friends!” Bassem always welcomes new ideas for the continual support of the community. It was hard at first to figure out the timing for the movie that best suits our friends. A month passed until we figured out that Saturday night around 6:30pm is the best time for the most of them. And so “Cima El-Abaa” began! A small community accompanied by Bassem tried to lead this weekly event. Step by step we wish that this Saturday night could be a place for discussion, culture, ideas and of course for FUN!

In parallel with this movie night, “Play” and “Crack the Egg” had their weekly rendezvous. Saturday morning and for four consecutive weeks, those workshops took place as the first formation workshop for YES!

“Play”, as Daniel describes it, is a workshop for the ones who want to discover their own creativity in a funny way! Based on theater exercises, we laugh, enjoy and live a real lifetime experience. Each week had his own target. It started with the corporal and the emotional exercises to unleash the improvisation that could take place even in the street! We tried to act in different stores seeing the reaction of the people who are in front of a couple who try to buy “Blue Bees” via a phone call. We learned to “PLAY”.

“Crack the egg”, an attempt to discover one’s dreams based on a harmony between the one’s esteem for their personality – their love for themself – and their esteem for their competences. In parallel with this psychological axe, a try to dive in one’s deepest heart to visit their own sacred place in a meditation to know his “Buddha made by gold” as the famous story tells. It’s all about getting a general idea about self-esteem in a psychological point of view that helps us to esteem the spiritual presence in us. Based on exercises inspired by Jean Monbourquette, a real adventure took place! And it seemed that it was a really interesting workshop. Why?

Because the 4^th yes was for a repetition to this “Crack the egg”. One of the participants shared her experience with her church protestant community who insisted to attend this workshop. Due to the lack of time and the desire for both Rudy and the community to crack the egg, a full day workshop took place. It was a space to grow, explore one’s self and share real dreams that will come true one day!

So with a Start we finished our four months experiment as novices in the 2^nd year. Yes, yes, yes and Yes for each experience that gathered people. Fulfilled them with joy and satisfaction. Planted a seed that one day will transform to become a fruitful tree. Touched their hearts because “we see well only with the heart. The essential is invisible to the eyes.”

Keep in touch with us on our Facebook pages:

دير الآباء اليسوعيّين – المنيا

https://bit.ly/3wf0Ey6

YES

https://bit.ly/3lUR0vE