Many Lives, One Venue
On 2 December 2007, Lasallians from all walks of life and all parts of the Asia-Pacific gathered in Singapore for the 8th Asia-Pacific Lasallian Youth Congress. It is the first time this event is being held in Singapore.
Our delegates have come from Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, India and the Philippines. For many of them, this is their first visit to Singapore.
Our earliest arrivals were the delegates from Papua New Guinea who arrived on 29 November 2007. Many others soon streamed into the congress venue, St. Patrick’s School.

Registration began on Saturday evening, 1 December 2007 at the Shamrock Cove, the delegates’ common room, and it went smoothly. Afterwards, the delegates were shown around the congress venue so that they could familiarise themselves with it.

The official opening of APLYC8 was marked by the Catholic Mass in the chapel and the Opening Reflections held at The Space, an area specially set up by the Organising Team for reflections. These solemn events sandwiched the more light-hearted icebreakers.

The icebreakers served to bridge bonds between delegates from different countries. It was also a time of fun and games, enabling the delegates to settle into the Singapore environment, and more importantly, the APLYC community.

At the Opening Reflections, delegates would remember picking out their national flag, before settling down beneath it. This scene showcased the diversity of our Lasallian family within the Asia-Pacific region, and it also allowed delegates to visually realise this diversity.

Later on, delegates were asked to bring their lighted candles towards the centre of The Space. This signified the converging of Lasallians from across the region, illuminating the congress with each of their experiences. This idea, conceived by the Reflections Committee, was to symbolise the purpose of the congress: to share, to learn, and to be a light for others.