PRESS RELEASES
Church of Scientology Activities
AMSTERDAM •
Volunteers from the Church of Scientology of Amsterdam bring The Way to Happiness to the people of their city.
Nearly every weekend for the past 12 months, volunteers from the Church of Scientology of Amsterdam have been out in the streets, distributing copies of The Way to Happiness. Their plan: to deliver a copy of the booklet to every household in Amsterdam. As of December 2013 they have handed out 35,000 booklets—a copy to every home in two of the seven districts into which the city is divided, Amsterdam Center and Amsterdam East.
AQUILA, ITALY •
Scientology disaster response team acknowledged for their unconditional help
The city of L’Aquila in central Italy presented the Scientology Volunteer Ministers with a plaque in appreciation for their 18,000 volunteer hours spent helping the city and region recover from the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO •
Speakers share ideas/tools to counter drug abuse
The Truth About Drugs Forum at the National Scientology Organization of Mexico brought together community groups concerned with tackling drug abuse in Mexico City.
The purpose of the program was to raise awareness in the community on the problem of drugs and effective solutions any caring person or group can implement to help make a difference with this important social problem.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA •
With the motto, “Something can be done about it,” Scientology Volunteer Ministers traveling exhibits or “cavalcades” have been making effective solutions available for a decade.
2013 marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of the Volunteer Ministers Cavalcades, making the help of the Volunteer Minister available to communities the world over.
SARDINIA, ITALY •
Volunteers from Scientology Churches and Missions throughout Italy mobilize to help those left stranded by Sardinia floods
Scientology Volunteer Ministers throughout Italy are helping in the wake of Cyclone Cleopatra, which descended on the Italian island of Sardinia November 19, sweeping away cars and bridges, flooding streets and homes, killing 18 and leaving nearly 3,000 homeless.
PHILIPPINES •
Helping the Philippines recover from the typhoon Haiyan
A month since Super Typhoon Haiyan ravaged the Philippines, the country is still staggering. The Church of Scientology Mission of Manila immediately activated their Volunteer Ministers to help. They were joined by Volunteer Ministers from abroad who have continued to provide relief to help the country recover.
HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES •
Scientology Celebrity Centre holds 21st annual fundraiser in support of Hollywood Police Athletic League youth development programs
GRANTORTO, ITALY •
Grantorto officials in acknowledging Youth for Human Rights, the human rights education initiative the Church of Scientology supports. Grantorto Mayor Luciano Gavin proclaimed November 10, 2013, and this date in future years, to be Youth for Human Rights Day for his city.
MERIDA, VENEZUELA •
A fun-filled day of activities organized by the Scientology-supported Truth About Drugs initiative and the Vigia Anti-drug Foundation in Merida, Venezuela
Young athletes from local schools competed in an intramural soccer match in October in the state of Merida, Venezuela. The level of excitement of the players, their friends and families was a living demonstration that life is more fun when you don’t use drugs.
TSWHANE, SOUTH AFRICA •
Truth About Drugs educational materials provided to community and civic leaders
The Church of Scientology of Pretoria was invited to attend the Twshane City Hall Substance Abuse Summit November 14, which drew together civic and community leaders concerned with this important issue.
SARDINIA, ITALY •
Cycling for the rights of all, members of the Church of Scientology of Cagliari kick off a month of activities that will culminate on UN Human Rights Day December 10th, the 65th anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
TOKYO, JAPAN •
Tokyo Scientologists helped runners at the finish line of the Ichikawa Marathon
Runners who competed in the October 2013 Ichikawa Marathon benefited from a simple technique that eased the physical stress of the 26-mile race. Scientology Volunteer Ministers from the Church of Scientology of Tokyo set up “recovery stations” at the finish line and helped runners with a special Scientology technique that speeds healing and recovery.
HUIXQUILUCAN, MEXICO •
Volunteers from the National Scientology Organization of Mexico distributed drug education materials in Huixquilucan October 28 as part of an ongoing project to bring the truth about drugs to youth in the area.
Volunteers from the National Scientology Organization of Mexico bring the truth about drugs to Huixquilucan, a town of extremes, where lavish, high-end shops cater to clientele just blocks from one of the most impoverished barrios of Mexico City.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA •
The Church of Scientology of Melbourne hosted a human rights award event to mark United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
CARMIEL, ISRAEL •
Hundreds of guests and dignitaries convened in the city of Carmiel to celebrate the opening of the new Scientology Center for the North of Israel. The Center will provide Scientology Life Improvement courses and spiritual counseling and will serve as a hub for the many social betterment and humanitarian programs Scientology supports.
Leaders of the Druze and Scientology religions joined in the dedication November 9 of the Scientology Center for the north of Israel in the city of Carmiel.
PLETTENBERG BAY, SOUTH AFRICA •
Members of the Church of Scientology of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, help bring police and local residents together through a unique booklet.
PALAU, SOUTH PACIFIC •
Bringing tools for life to the South Pacific.
The Scientology Volunteer Minister South Pacific Goodwill Tour launched a series of workshops October 11 at the Palau Community College assembly hall in the city of Koror with a grand opening ceremony dedicated by the dean of continuing education of the college.
LOS ANGELES, CA •
Celebrating three years of free online training in 17 languages through the Scientology website and the Volunteer Ministers website: since launch of the program in October 2010, thousands have improved their lives through these courses.
An engineer from the Philippines, Jay had reached a dead end in his career. He had worked hard to earn a degree, but soon found his skills obsolete, outstripped by the speed of technological change. Searching online for a new direction, he found the Volunteer Ministers website.
GUERRERO, MEXICO •
Hurricane Raymond swept through areas already flooded by last month’s storms. Volunteer Ministers in Guerrero since tropical storms Manuel now providing relief in wake of latest downpour.
The third major storm to hit Mexico this hurricane season has left an already weakened infrastructure reeling.
Hurricane Raymond careened toward Mexico’s Pacific coast threatening new flooding in Acapulco, which is still recovering from September’s heavy rains.
PRETORIA, AFRICA •
Summit urges action to empower the African people.
Public officials and NGOs joined African Youth Union (AYU) delegates at the Church of Scientology Pretoria October 17-18 for the 3rd annual African Youth Union Summit. The theme of this year’s program was “On the Road to Action: Moving Beyond Pan-Africanism Rhetoric.”