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SGM Commemorates 60th Anniversary of Youth Division in Discussion Meetings
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| A discussion meeting in Penang |
July is traditionally regarded as the month of youth within the SGI. This is because the Young Men Division (YMD) and Young Women Division (YWD) were formed in this month, on July 11 and July 19 respectively. This year marks the 60th anniversary for the founding of the two constituents of the Youth Division by second Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda.
President Toda formed the YMD in a simple but dignified ceremony with the attendance of 180 YMD members, one of whom was young SGI President Ikeda. Eight days later, the YWD was inaugurated with the attendance of 74 pioneer YWD members, one of whom was Mrs Kaneko Ikeda. In reminiscing about these significant events, SGI President Ikeda wrote: "I have never met a leader who loved and trusted youth more than Mr Toda. He founded the Soka Gakkai Youth Division, cherishing a grand vision of changing the very course of human history. We, the youth at that time, were all poor and unknown, but, with the founding of the Youth Division, we were transformed into young men and women with boundless courage fuelled by the awareness of our profound mission for kosen-rufu."
These two significant events were commemorated in the July discussion meetings held throughout the country. Youth Division members took up the main responsibility for conducting the discussion meetings. During the meetings, the youths shared the significance of the founding of the YMD and YWD, which is to advance kosen-rufu and the ideals of the three founding presidents, thereby leading to a peaceful and harmonious society.
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