COYA
Introduction

What is COYA?
Shortly after the enthronement of H.G. Bishop Suriel, youth representatives from each church were selected & instructed to develop a diocese wide youth organization with it's sole focus being the youth. A number of months and a lot of effort had been spent planning COYA. A structure and constitution was developed and thoroughly reviewed and approved by ALL the Church Fathers of the Diocese. The Melbourne servants and youth committed gave their stamp of approval also.
      COYA is a Diocese-wide organization to assist and support the churches of the diocese to serve the needs of Coptic Orthodox youth on a spiritual, physical, emotional, educational and social level. It will be committed to assisting all youth within the diocese to be empowered to live and promote model Christian lives. COYA will also broaden the ministry of the Coptic Orthodox Church amongst our people and to other communities. To offer hope through a multitude of services and developing leadership, and influencing public policy and debate on issues of relevance to Christian interests.

Why do OUR Youth Need COYA?
There are a number of reasons why COYA is so important for you as our youth. First and foremost, we are constantly growing as a diocese. Therefore, His Grace felt that it was more than necessary to implement a comprehensive system to facilitate the needs of our youth that will fulfil our requirements on a broad scope. Secondly, COYA will provide resources (human & otherwise) to support all our churches in serving their youth. Subsequently, our youth will be able to utilize services and activities within their own churches that would not have been considered in the past.
Third, COYA will offer collective services to our youth, which cannot typically be provided by an individual church. For example, Drug Education Programmes, Youth Counselling Services etc., On a larger scope, COYA will be giving our youth the opportunity to participate and interact in improved and professional resources. Also, COYA will aim to provide avenues for all the youth of the Diocese to meet and interact with each other on a spiritual, social and physical level in a Christian manner. i.e. Conventions, sporting competitions etc. Although we already provide events such as these, our mission will be to offer substance to our youth on a more consistent level and we will be enhancing these projects vigorously.
Finally, now that we have such excellent facilities at our new Diocese Headquarters in Donvale, COYA will be driven to maximise its potential for our youth by developing an in depth and consistent agenda of various activities and events which will go all year round.

How was COYA Formed?
· Our youth nominated youth to represent themselves and their church within COYA by filling out a nomination form. Youth members of the Diocese also had the option of nominating themselves for the COYA Group.
· Our church priests reviewed nominations and recommendations were made.
· Within Victoria - 4 members were chosen for each church by H.G. and a Selection Committee appointed by Sayedna from the approved pool of nominations.
· Outside Victoria - At least 1 person chosen for each church by H.G and selection committee from pool of approved nominations. This final process has yet to be completed.

The final Group = COYA.
· 24 Victorian Members
· 1 Member from each of the Affiliated Regions of the Diocese.

How will COYA be Structured?
· From the 24 Victorian COYA members, 7 will be elected to key areas such as;
· Assistant Coordinator
· Spiritual Education Coordinator
· Social and Arts Coordinator
· I.T and Multimedia Coordinator
· Strategic & Planning Coordinator
· Treasurer
· Secretary
· H.G. Bishop Suriel from Our Church Fathers appointed the General Coordinators. They are: Fr. Daniel Al-Antouny & Fr. Isaac Al-Antouny.

The following Departments under COYA will be initiating youth activities and resources:
1. Strategic & Planning Department - will be responsible in developing organisational planning & review, research & analysis, financial planning, public relations, marketing, assets and facilities.
2. Spiritual Education Department - will be in charge of developing youth curriculum, training & development of youth workers, seminars & monthly general youth meetings, Coptic Mission and Coptic University societies.
3. Information Technology & Multimedia Department - will be organising the following; Information management, multimedia & Internet development, translation & publications and advertising.
4. Social & Arts Department - will be responsible in the development of social functions, community support, sporting & recreational activities, outreach programs, youth visitations and youth arts.

· Please Note: The above mentioned initiatives are not the 'be all and end all' of COYA. Other services will be introduced as COYA grows and extra youth services are required.
· Also, the above services will all not be activated at once now that COYA has comes into operation. All considerations will be taken into account, such as time and resources before a department initiates an activity or a service for our youth.

How do OUR Youth fit in COYA?
Without our youth's expertise, assistance and support-COYA will not succeed, it's as simple as that! It is so vital that each and every one of our youth get behind COYA so that the quality of youth services are sustained at a premium level across all channels and directions.
We as the youth are the future.