At our recent regional retreat, an SSE teacher approached the young adult group with this problem. This prompted us to reach out to the younger YAs and the older SSE children. One way we addressed this issue at retreats was by gathering the 15-18 year olds and explaining to them how they could start a YA group if one did not already exist in their area. We suggested ways that they could begin by focusing on service and meeting on a regular basis. If they felt the need, they could ask an adult to help them as a young adult advisor to get a group started.

One group in particular seemed to have all the right ingredients to starting a YA group. They had a handful of enthusiastic YAs and the means to meet each other at least once per month, if not more often. Following the retreat, they are beginning to mobilize to establish a YA program. Additionally, we are in the process of implementing a program in the Boston Young Adult Group through the formation of a Youth Outreach Group. This group is specifically designed to address issues pertaining to the transition between SSE and YA programs.

Another way in which this gap between SSE and YA is bridged is through an annual "Sai Camp". The Sai Camp is a one-week program where a number of Young Adults help run a camp for SSE children. This environment allows the SSE kids to get to know YAs more closely, and encourages the SSE kids to join YA activities when they get to be that age. There are also examples from other countries, such as Malaysia, that have implemented programs such as this to address this challenge. Special YA activities, tailored to attract younger YAs, are organized to encourage youth participation. Mentoring and Buddy Programs are implemented so that younger YAs do not feel that there is no longer a place for them, when they graduate from SSE. Identifying and implementing certain key activities to help group III SSE students transition to the young adult group has resulted in a stronger YA program for us overall.