Youth for Life International is building a network, taking action, and aiming 'to make a difference'

Michael Trolly

During the past two years, I have had the opportunity to do many things in the pro-life community, and I would like to share some of them with you.

In the fall of 1996, I felt compelled to start a pro-life group which would welcome younger people, and so I founded Youth for Life International. I began simply e-mailing youth in the Ottawa area, not imagining at the time that it would grow to include youth in five countries.

A year later, things were not moving ahead as quickly as I had hoped. I had been trying for a year to start a quarterly publication. Liz Philmeck, from Pennsylvania, had joined the group, and she volunteered to do a newsletter for us. In January, 1998, A Cry for Life was born. Since Liz was able to assist with only one issue, it would be exciting to have others join who could help in this project.

Over the past year or so, I have had a tremendous amount of correspondence with members of Parliament. Since the beginning of the year, I have attended the Day of Infamy, a Show the Truth demonstration, and the Ottawa Conference on the Family. I have also been interviewed on CHRI-FM in Ottawa.

During this time, YLI has received many letters from pro-life youth. Even on the Internet, writing can be time-consuming, but we have made contacts. I've had the chance to talk with local pro-life youth leaders in Washington, Virginia, and Wisconsin, and we are hoping to have a number of affiliated groups soon in these areas.

YLI is privileged to have a fantastic team of young volunteers. One of our two newest board members is vice-president Francine vanWoudenberg. This energetic young woman currently volunteers with the Winnipeg Crisis Pregnancy Centre, and is organizing an extensive promotion in area schools.

YLI is also excited to have a new board member from Ghana, Osman Umar. In addition to having a passion for the pro-life movement, his family is currently helping an orphanage that is undergoing a financial crisis.

What are we planning to do now? We'd like very much to have someone to undertake political action for the group in the U.S., and also a member or two in Europe.

In Canada, we are planning a media campaign for the next Ontario election. YLI also needs representation from provinces besides Ontario and Manitoba.

I certainly don't feel like I am qualified to be responsible for all these activities. People in the group ask me questions about how to do things, and often I have to say that I just don't know. It often seems like the group will crash if something doesn't happen at a certain time, but we have a great deal of prayer support, and God is faithful.

There are people in the world who need help. There are people in the world who are trying to make a difference. I've been blessed with knowing a few of these helpers. It is my desire that I will be able to meet many more, and that I will be one of them myself.

(Michael Trolly is founder and president of YLI.)
For information, please contact YLI PO Box 443, Bowmanville, ON L1C 3Z2.
Email: m-trolly@earthling.net
Website: www.ncf.carleton.ca/yli/