At the White Elephant training, Claire was motivated by her previous positive experience in Toronto, Canada but found Houston’s approach different, with a focus on group discussions and new topics. A highlight for her was BLIA Lay Dharma Teacher Jimmy Zhao’s speech, where he emphasized that “Buddhism is a pursuit of knowledge, not exactly a religion,” offering a fresh perspective. Claire plans to apply these lessons in event planning, community-building, and hopes to earn the White Elephant vest in the future.

Erin attended the BLIA YAD International Conference, where the theme of Co-prosperity and Co-existence resonated with her. From the perspective of a participant staying in a hostel and exploring Berlin allowed her to experience Europe's multiculturalism. As a staff interpreter, she facilitated communication and gained a deeper understanding of the conference's organizational aspects.

During the peer sharing, Vancouver YADs learned about the significance of lifelong learning in Buddhism, fostering personal growth and continuous self-improvement. Both Claire and Erin look forward to using their experiences to enrich future peer YAD activities and promote community engagement.