SGI-Europe Youth Celebrate March 16 and Reaffirm Their Commitment to Peace

SGI organizations throughout Europe commemorated March 16, 1958, a significant day in SGI's history when second Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda met with 6,000 youth and bequeathed to them what he considered their mission--to work tirelessly for humanity's peace, prosperity and happiness, based on the philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism. With next year marking the 50th anniversary of this historic event, the youth members of SGI-Europe set a goal of engaging in heartfelt dialogues with 10,000 people.

The day was commemorated in various ways across the continent, with meetings, seminars and training courses. From March 15-18, 150 youth members of SGI-Denmark held a seminar at the SGI European Center in Trets, southern France, where they studied and discussed the relevance of March 16 in the contemporary world. In other countries, such as Austria, the members gathered at their national culture center, while in Portugal some 100 youth members traveled from all corners of the country to attend a meeting in the historical city of Évora. SGI-Netherlands, meanwhile, held small discussion meetings around the country, while in Luxembourg the youth members gathered in a member's home.

Regardless of the format of the meeting, the members commemorating the anniversary of Mr. Toda's statement seized the opportunity to further strengthen their faith and commitment, as well as the determination summed up in the slogan of the youth members of SGI-Luxembourg, "Youth Will Change the World."

[Adapted from an article in the March 29, 2007 issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, Soka Gakkai, Japan]