The group that meets us in the canteen in Moss is international and comes from a total of 12 countries; India, South Africa, Peru, New Zealand and Ukraine are just a few of them. For one year, they will work together, live together, have Bible studies and hopefully forge new, lasting friendships across backgrounds and cultures.
There seems to be a good atmosphere among the young people, and communication takes place in a mixture of Norwegian and English.
“I hope to learn a lot from the job here. Both skills, working with events, but also from the Bible studies”, says South African Nomonde Goxo (21).
Susanna Devarajan (22) from India agrees:
“Definitely. I want to learn more about the church and what we are a part of. I also hope to make many new friends.”
Nomonde (left) and Susanna (right) get to know both new colleagues and participants at the head office. This week there is training in the work tasks. Photo: BCC
Part of a worldwide youth exchange concept
The group in Moss is just one of several. Every year, a few hundred young people from local churches all over the world participate in the fellowship’s international exchange programme; A team.
In Moss, as many as 26 of the new arrivals are from countries outside the EEA. They have been granted residence through the YEP programme, which offers young people from other parts of the world cultural exchange and charitable work in Norway. Here they learn about the Norwegian language and culture and do charitable work for BCC.
Well into their first regular week, the participants are well on their way to finding their place among new colleagues in the BCC Federation. There are preliminary courses and introductions, because they will do a number of tasks for BCC Event in connection with the many conferences and youth camps that will be organized in the coming year. In addition, they will, among other things, help with media production, IT, music, photography, film and digitization tasks for BCC Media.
In their spare time, they participate in Bible studies, language lessons and activities, and they are included in the local church in Oslo Follo.
The start-up week has been full of various activities: among other things, the participants have been on boat trips, mountain trips and visits to local churches. Photo: BCC
“Coming home with a renewed spark”
“I was actually supposed to participate in the cohort that was here in 2020-21. But due to the corona pandemic, it was postponed for two years, so I had to learn a lot about patience. The only advantage was that I had time to improve my Norwegian”, laughs Nomonde.
While she waited, she learned the language online, as the vast majority of participants in the youth program do. For a period, she also received Norwegian lessons through her local church in South Africa. They are focusing on this, because several young people from here travel to exchange in Norway every year.
“Everyone who has been here for a year has said that they learned so much, both spiritually and professionally. I have seen that they have come home as people with a renewed fervour, who are helping to take hold of the local churches. It has been of great importance to us at home and has made me want to do the same.”
“I want to give something back to the church this year”, she says.
One house, seven nationalities, 13 girls
The 32 young people have now settled into the residence, where they live and do most things together. The participants have the use of a house where the girls live, while the boys are divided into three apartments next to each other. When asked what their first impression is of the group they have ended up in, both girls smile.
“Different! We are 13 girls and seven nationalities in the same house, and we are so different”, laughs Nomonde.
“It is a bit overwhelming at the start. But I am very happy that there are so many cultures from all over the world. The girls I live with are all very charming, and we already get along well. I feel incredibly lucky and blessed to be able to experience this”, says Susanna.
“One of the world’s most exciting tasks”
Gershon Twilley leads the BCC A team, of which the young people in Oslo become a part. He has worked with the young people on the exchange program for 20 years and finds it just as exciting every autumn when new participants arrive.
“For me, this is one of the world’s most exciting tasks. Young people come here from many places in the world, and we get to work with them for a whole year – it’s a luxurious task, I think.”
“Those who come here, they want something for their lives, and have made up their minds, regardless of background, culture and perhaps different challenges”, says Gershon.
He says that most people have a genuine desire to become disciples of Jesus, and many feel a need to move on in their lives.
“This year potentially contributes to two things. The first goal, which is really the main goal, is for the young people to enter the life of discipleship that they themselves want. Here we can help to inspire, motivate, provide knowledge and guidance.”
“The other aspect is the human and relational aspect. This year they are introduced to a “new world”, with new people from many different cultures, and must learn to readjust and adapt.”
For some, it can be tough to take the step into the unknown and leave home for a year.
“Some people have to dig themselves out of difficult things to get here, and when they are here, they have to deal with completely new relationships, people and things they never knew about before. But when you are challenged like this, you can grow and experience that both others, and hopefully themselves, can see that value and the potential that lies within them as human beings.”
Gershon is looking forward to getting to know this year’s class better.
“We notice that many people come here with the right attitude, and it has been very positive to meet them.”
Also read: A missionary – in the best sense of the word
“A year that will be a foundation for life”
One of Susanna’s wishes for her stay is to be able to gain a deeper connection with God, both through personal experiences and the Bible studies.
“I have three cousins who have been here before me. They recommended that I go, because this year can be a solid foundation for my further Christian life.”
“So, I want to use my time well, participate in the fellowship and the activities that are here, and become someone who can give and bless when I get home.”
This is the A team
- Every year between 300 and 400 young people in BCC apply for the youth program called A-team
- The purpose of the program is to promote the Christian faith and teachings, as it appears from the BCC Federation’s Basis of Faith, among young people from all over the world. Furthermore, the program will offer the participants a positive and healthy Christian environment that promotes fellowship based on a common faith, language training, cultural and experience exchange between young people from many countries
- The stay at A-team typically lasts a year, with main elements such as work, faith building and bible studies, joint gatherings and participation in church life and camps for young people
- Although the organization has changed somewhat over the 20 years that the offer has existed, the main lines of the program are much the same, with a clear mission profile
This is YEP
- For applicants from countries outside Europe and the EEA, the BCC Federation supports a separate programme; YEP (Youth Exchange Programme), which is administered by BCC Norway
- Here the participants get the opportunity to learn the Norwegian language and culture. In addition, they get work experience at BCC’s head office, or in other non-profit projects in Norway. In their free time, they participate in activities run by the A-team
- In 2022-23, YEP has 26 participants