BAPS Youth Leadership Conference 2015, Toronto, Canada
159 youth leaders • 20 volunteers • 3 Pujya Swamis • 15-photo event gallery
On 7 February 2015, 159 youth leaders and 20 volunteers, along with three Pujya Swamis from Canada and the United States, gathered at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto for the 2015 BAPS Youth Leadership Conference, known as KarCon.
KarCon is a karyakar convention held at the local or national level every few years. It provides youth leaders with an opportunity to further develop the spiritual and practical tools needed to offer seva effectively. The conference also brings together bal, balika, kishore and kishori karyakars in the presence of Pujya Swamis, allowing them to share ideas and strategies for strengthening youth seva throughout the Canada region.
The participants represented a wide range of leadership responsibilities. Some volunteers worked directly with youths at BAPS mandirs, while others supported the activities through administrative and organisational roles.
The entire conference was planned and delivered by the youth leadership team. Youth volunteers served as group leaders, logistics coordinators and one-on-one coaches, helping each participant develop a personal roadmap for 2015.
“Shanti, I am a das”
The theme of the 2015 KarCon was “Shanti, I am a das”.
The theme guided the delegates through five powerful prasangs from the life of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. These prasangs highlighted challenging circumstances that Swamishri experienced while performing seva.
Pujya Swamis elaborated on important aspects of each prasang, demonstrating how Pramukh Swami Maharaj navigated difficult situations while maintaining a stable and inspiring level of shanti.
The lessons were then explored through breakout sessions, where karyakars considered how they could apply these principles in their own lives and improve the quality of their seva.
Interactive Leadership Development
To make the learning experience engaging, group leaders used a variety of creative approaches, including games, speeches, videos and focused group discussions.
These activities encouraged participants to think about leadership not simply as responsibility, but as an opportunity to serve others with stability, humility and purpose.
The conference provided participants with practical opportunities to consider their own roles within youth activities and how they could contribute to their continued development.
Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders
By the conclusion of the day-long conference, the volunteers had gained a better understanding of how they could help expand Canadian youth activities while simultaneously strengthening their own satsang.
Inspired by the life and example of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the delegates concluded the conference feeling empowered to become emotionally agile leaders — leaders capable of responding to challenges with stability, maintaining shanti and continuing to serve with a spirit of dedication.
The 2015 KarCon therefore served not only as a leadership conference, but also as an opportunity for young volunteers across Canada to come together, learn from one another and develop a clearer roadmap for their seva in the year ahead.