About the Convention

Thursday 12pm, July 3rd - Sunday 12pm, July 6th

Jainism, one of the oldest religions in the world, is a religious minority in India with 4.2 million adherents. There are small but notable immigrant communities in Belgium, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and the United States. Being a minority in its home nation of India makes Jainism a minority within a minority in the United States. A chance to participate in a forum targeted at the youth of the religion is very rare and provides a great opportunity to meet other youth of the religion while educating oneself on Jain principles. Education and knowledge has historically proven to be one of the cornerstones of Jainism (Jains have the highest degree of literacy (94.1 percent) of any religious community in India), and the future of Jainism depends on its youth being well versed and knowledgeable.

YJA 2014, Young Jains: Today’s Learners, Tomorrow’s Leaders, will inspire youth to understand life experiences through learning the principles of Jainism. The participants will leave the convention ready to impact the world as an active leader. By interacting with attendees of all ages, youth will learn how Jainism is a source of support at each phase from the teenage social network to a young graduate’s career.

The attendees have the opportunity to connect, learn, and share their thoughts with one another on a variety of subjects. Sessions, speakers, and new friends will all come together to complete the learning experience through a variety of fun, innovative, and interactive programming experiences; attendees will engage in wide-ranging activities and sessions related to atma (the soul), developing leadership, and creating a better community.