Asia and Pacific YMCA Development Fund (APYDF)

General Programme Period : 1 April 2002 - 31 March 2003

Purpose and Objectives :
The Asia and Pacific YMCA Development Fund (APYDF) is mainly a multilateral effort of the YMCAs in this region. It aims to serve the YMCAs as an instrument supporting their efforts to re-orient their attitudes and re-tool their programmes in order that they may be involved more meaningfully in the equitable development of their respective communities locally and nationally. Herein "development" is seen as the ongoing process where people liberate themselves from all conditions and structures that prevent the full realisation of their potentials and hinders the establishment of humane and equitable sets of relationship within communities. The over-riding objective of this development is social justice and within this framework the twin goals of economic growth and self-reliance. For a more detailed description of criteria of the APYDF, please refer to Annex 1, APYDF Policy Guidelines.

Project Proponents :
National or Local YMCAs. All local YMCA Projects should be processed and endorsed by the National YMCA.

Approving Body :
The APYDF grants would be approved by the Executive Committee of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs on the recommendations of the Standing Committees and Programme Related Task Groups, held during the Executive Committee Meeting.

When Approvals Are Made :
During the Meetings of the Executive Committee of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs normally held in March every year.

Financial Limits :
The maximum amount of grant or loan from the APYDF for any application is US$6,000 per submission. In the case where the project or programme cost is more than the maximum allowable APYDF grant or loan, the APYDF will either fund part of the requirements up to a maximum of US$6,000 and endorse the project or programme to a partner organisation for the balance, or refer the programme in full to a suitable partner. The current practice is to make such referrals generally to the Time of Fast Fund (TOF) of the Y’s Men International or the World Service Fund of the YMCA of the USA.

Release of Funds :
The funds would be released immediately after the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs Executive Committee Meetings in March, in appropriate instalments to meet the cash flow needs of the programme to be implemented.

Applications :
Applications should be submitted according to the Format attached.

Policy Guidelines

The purpose of the Fund is to accumulate financial resources created by multi-lateral efforts and to utilise these in the advancement of the new dimension of YMCA work in our region by participating in the support of selected programmes and projects that embody the Priority concerns/criteria for APYDF.

The Fund is to serve as an instrument to support all efforts by YMCAs to re-orient their attitudes and re-tool their programmes in order that these YMCAs may be more meaningfully involved in the equitable development of their respective communities, locally and nationally. Herein "development" is seen as the ongoing process where people liberate themselves from all conditions and structures that prevent the full realisation of their potentials and hinders the establishment of humane and equitable sets of relationship with the communities. The over-riding objective of this development is social justice, and within this framework, the twin goals of economic growth and self- reliance.

The APYDF is a primary source of funding for the development involvement of the YMCAs in the region. While the Fund itself will only participate in a limited way in the actual contribution of monies to specific projects and programmes, it shall make its service available and seek out partners with similar objectives that will support the involvement of YMCAs.

Development Education
Through the process of development education, efforts are made to create conditions for critical awareness of the justice issues among the YMCA members, volunteers, leaders, staff, the community in which the YMCA functions and the groups with which the YMCA relates. The process of awareness building is geared to stimulate YMCA participation in the community action for development with all emphasis on justice for the poor and oppressed in the community.

The situation at the local level is intrinsically related to the situations at national, regional and global levels. Therefore, a structural analysis of the socio-economic and political realities at the different levels helps to develop a critical understanding of the contemporary issues as poverty and development, militarisation, violation of human rights, TNCs, globalisation, refugees and migrants, race and minorities, etc.

With the empowerment of people and critical knowledge gained through the development education process, people are motivated to active involvement in the local and global processes and community.

Community Organising
Through the process of education for justice, efforts are directed to create awareness among the poor and the oppressed to comprehend the root causes responsible for their circumstances and potential of people to change their situation. These are community- based programmes and YMCA participates, supports and assists in the efforts of the community for self?help, relying on their own resources and capabilities to resolve their difficulties.

The process of community organising is followed by the formation of people’s organisations and community institutions to provide socio-economic stability. These community organising programmes are directed to fulfill specific issues in the community and do not become ends in themselves.

Networking with and among people’s organisations is encouraged to build solidarity among the people to intensify social action for justice, including with people of other faiths and all the progressive forces committed to the common good of the people.

Leadership Development
The leadership development efforts of the YMCA are designed to raise the level of awareness, competence and capability of YMCA members, volunteer leaders and staff to be more responsive to the YMCA tasks for the holistic development of people and communities with of justice, peace and equality. Through training opportunities for volunteer leaders and staff, the efforts are aimed at developing an understanding of the Mission of the YMCA to contribute towards the social transformation and the process of realising justice for all within communities.

Extension of YMCAs
It is envisaged that the YMCA philosophy and ideals of justice, peace and equality will inspire people to launch community-based initiatives and vehicles for the common good of all. Such YMCAs will be owned, sustained and nurtured by the people themselves. The YMCA initiatives will be determined by the people and will have distinct indigenous agenda, direction, form and identity. Thus, the extension of the physical presence of the YMCA in a given geographical location will be to facilitate the participation of the people in community action for development.

The 14th General Assembly called for the creative use of the APYDF during the current Quadrennium to give support to the YMCA commitment to work for sustainable, humane and equitable communities through peoples' empowerment programme such as:

• Organising affected communities (children, youth, women, dalits, indigenous people, peasants, fisher-folk, migrant workers, urban poor, workers, etc.) through programmes of social education for conscientisation, self-help, and setting up of community organisations.
• Developing leadership skills through specialised training programmes including technical knowledge, and managerial know-how for organisation development.
• Developing and widening the civil society by fostering civil movement in the areas of concern such as environment and sustainability, consumer rights, media monitoring, local and national governance, gender equity, etc.
• Networking with the NGOs and ecumenical partners engaged in working with people.
• Sharing experiences and learning opportunities through exchange programmes, field exposures, information, dissemination, etc., to promote solidarity and joint action programmes.
• Lobbying and engaging in advocacy work to influence the public opinion and government decisions.

Therefore, the Programme Proposals addressing these core areas of work would receive special consideration.

Decisions on APYDF support to particular applications will be made based on the following criteria:

• The project or programme should fulfill the Purposes and Objectives of the APYDF and must be within the Priority Concerns/Criteria for APYDF Grants. Preference will be given to programmes falling within the Programme Thrusts of the current Quadrennium.
• The project or programme proposal should show project community and Local/National YMCA contribution towards the financial and other resource requirements. There must be mobilisation of local and national resources.
• There must be strong partnership between the YMCA and the project/programme community from the planning stage, through implementation and evaluation.
• The project/programme must be technically viable and written in a simple but logical manner. The standard APYDF application Format must be used.
• In particular, the project or programme must include as part of its objectives and as major components the following :
  • The conscientisation of people towards their self-awareness of human dignity, solidarity and responsibility towards their own community;
  • Community organisation for self-reliant activities for and of the people of the community;
  • Co-ordination and linkage with other development efforts within the community.

The maximum amount of grant or loan from the APYDF for any application is US$6,000 per submission.

In the case that the project or programme costs more than the maximum allowable APYDF grant or loan, the APYDF will either fund the project or programme up to a maximum of US$6,000. It will endorse the project or programme to a funding partner, or assist the applying YMCA in looking for a suitable funding partner for the balance. The APYDF may also refer the project or programme in full to a suitable funding partner.

Projects and programmes extending over one year may be submitted to the APYDF. In such cases, the APYDF requires that the project or programme be submitted in its entirety. However, the amount of grant or loan will not exceed the maximum amount of US$6,000 per submission. Remaining portions of the project or programme will have to be re-submitted, again in its entirety. Approval of subsequent portions of the project or programme will also require the submission of reports on the implemented portions, including an audited financial statement.

Asia and Pacific YMCA Development Fund (APYDF) grants would be approved by the Executive Committee of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs, on the recommendations of the Meeting of Chairpersons of the Standing Committees and Programme Related Task Groups, held during the Executive Committee Meeting.

During the Meetings of the Executive Committee of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs normally held in March every year.

The funds would be released after Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs Executive Committee Meetings in March in appropriate instalments to meet the cash flow needs of the programme to be implemented.