PRESIDENT

“A Church without Youth is a Church without a future. Moreover, Youth without a Church is Youth without a future.” — Pope Shenouda III Of Alexandria. The words of His holiness Pope Shenouda III planted the seed into me of the importance of the youth within the church, at the end of the day we are the ones who will be responsible for it in the near future. With this in mind a couple of us wanted to find out what was the biggest obstacle for the youth to forming that relationship with the church and their traditions, the simple answer was language! Hence the birth of OTYUKI. We strive to bridge that gap between the youth and the church so that they are able to form a solid relationship with God and a spiritual foundation in a language they understand.

VICE PRESIDENT

Growing up, there was a lack of resources and opportunities for young Orthodox Christians to explore and understand their faith, and a lot of the struggle came from a disconnect between our generation and the older one, and the absence of a strong youth community. I want OTYUKI to help clear up the uncertainty that many young people feel and give them the chance to truly understand and express their faith, grow in confidence, and carry that into their daily lives, with the hope that they’ll one day pass it on, because we are the future of the Church. I joined OTYUKI because I want to be part of something that will initiate change and give the youth spiritual purpose.

SECRATARY

It was an answered prayer when I was asked to join and form the OTY UKI because, like many, it was a long awaited heart desire and request to God for such association to exist here in the UK and Ireland. This is mainly due to the urgent need in bringing the youth together and serving wholeheartedly while bridging the existing language gap.

The purpose of getting the youth closer to God and our Holy church, thinking of other souls than just ourselves has won my heart. I'm here to learn, to serve, to love, and to walk this journey in unity and fellowship along with my spiritual family.

AUDIT AND INSPECTION

I joined OTYUK because living in the diaspora, I saw how easy it was for many youth to feel disconnected from the Church and their spiritual identity. I believed that by coming together as one, rooted in Christ and guided by the traditions of our ancient faith, we could build a strong foundation for the future.

OTYUK is very important because it provides a vital platform for young members of the Orthodox Tewahedo faith to stay connected to their spiritual and cultural roots while living in the UK. Through faith based events, discussions, and fellowship, OTYUK helps young people grow spiritually, develop leadership skills.

TREASURER

OTYUKI creates a space where we can come together and grow-not just socially, but spiritually. It's a place where we can speak our language, ask questions without judgement, and learn about our rich Orthodox faith, canon and dogma. Many of us face language barriers at home or in church that can make it hard to fully understand our faith or connect with our community. This group helps bridge that gap.

I joined because I felt it was necessary that we have a group in the UK that the youth can connect to and grow their spiritual lives with. At times, I felt isolated in my faith, not knowing who to turn to for answers or how to grow spiritually in a world that didn’t reflect my traditions or beliefs. This group changed that by allowing me, as well as many other youth, to strengthen our relationship with God within a supportive community that share the same faith and similar experiences growing up in the UK.

I joined OTYUKI because I believe our generation needs a strong spiritual foundation rooted in the truth and beauty of our Orthodox Tewahedo faith.

I wanted to be part of something greater than myself — to grow in Christ, to serve with love, and to walk with other youth who share the same values and purpose.

Through OTYUKI, I found a family where we pray together, learn together, and uplift each other in faith.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

I joined OTY UKI because it allows me to fulfil a deeply rooted duty to the Youth and the Church that has raised me and I currently serve. The Youth thirst for the Word of God and I believe God is using us as vessels to achieve a common goal.

I believe OTY UKI is important because it is primarily Youth led which allows for the authentic message of salvation to be delivered in a way that best fits young people who reside in the UK, without altering or diluting our ancient church tradition. A group that is able to relate to the needs and wants of the youth means an effective solution to bridge the gap between the current generation and our Mother, The Holy Church.

DEPARTMENT OF GOSPEL SONGS

I joined OTYUKI to grow in my Orthodox faith alongside fellow youth. It’s a space where I can truly feel spiritually supported, culturally connected, and genuinely heard.

OTYUKI unites young EOTC believers from all over the UK, helping us stay rooted in our identity while building meaningful fellowship in Christ.

COMMUNITY SERVICE LEAD

'm excited about the opportunity to join OTYUKI, a youth movement that empowers young people to deepen their faith and connection to their cultural heritage. As a young person myself, I believe it's essential to nurture our spiritual growth and understand our roots. By joining OTYUKI, I hope to be part of a community that shares my values and passions, and together, we can explore, learn, and grow in our faith and cultural identity. I'm looking forward to contributing to and learning from this dynamic movement!

PRESIDENT LEAD SUPPORT

I joined OTYUKI because I’ve often seen how we, as young people, tend to point fingers at the older generation for not doing enough to keep us involved or close to the Church. But rather than just highlighting the problems, I felt it necessary to work towards the solution. And OTYUKI felt like the right place to start. It gives me the chance to be part of the solution, to help bring the youth together and keep our faith alive. Like Pope Shenouda said, “A church without youth is a church without a future.” I want to be part of building that future.

LEAD SUPPORT

I joined OTYUKI to grow spiritually and also helping bridge the gap between the Church and today’s youth. OTYUKI is important because it will preserve the sacred traditions of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church while making them accessible in English, Amharic, and Geez in order to educate the youth. I believe it will creates a safe, united space where young people can strengthen their faith and support one another in Christ.

LEAD SUPPORT

In this generation the youth face many challenges and set backs that come from society and the western world we live in. Many children lack the understand of their religion and their spiritual journey due to reasons such as language barriers or the lack of accessible and engaging resources. I believe through OTYUKI, we can break all barriers that the youth face and with the Will of God guide and motivate the youth to evangelise and spread the Gospel in their mother tongue language.

LEAD SUPPORT

The reason why i joined OTYUKI is because not only do i get to help others but also get faithful support by being surrounded by those who strive to better themselves with God.

OTYUKI provides a safe space to talk ask questions, and be vulnerable without fear of judgement. It also builds genuine friendships with others who share the same values and spiritual journey.

LEAD SUPPORT

I joined OTYUKI because I saw an opportunity to be part of something that gives direction, and belonging. As a youth, I’ve seen how much our generation needs a space that will connect us to our faith, culture, and purpose; that disconnect is real for a lot of us born or raised here. OTYUKI felt like a space where that gap could be bridged. To me, it is a place where I can contribute, learn, and deepen my bond with God not just personally, but with others walking a similar path. I also believe it

It matters because it fills a gap that isn’t given enough awareness. It’s more than tradition, it’s transformation. And I’m here to be part of that