Resource Mobilization Report:
West and East Japan

The Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCA had just concluded another series of Resource Mobilization Workshop in two (2) areas in Japan. As Resource Mobilization Program was just being introduced in this part of the region, the APAY shared an overview on the program and its rationale. As already discussed in earlier sessions, Resource Mobilization is being pursued to help re-position the YMCAs in the context of the communities they work with. It is meant to help build relationships with people and communities, expand and accelerate the spirit of giving and sharing for the cause of the YMCAs which they may have already been doing in their respective communities. To help achieve the goals of introducing the program in 8-10 national movements, the APAY sought the help and support of the World Urban Network (WUN) and the North American Development Organization (NAYDO). Mr. Ron Coulombe helped recruit the Volunteer Consultants to be assigned in each area which now total seven (7) consultants from North America. The Volunteer Consultants shared the concepts and principles that worked in their respective YMCAs and suggested to the participants to pick up only what they think would work in their own contexts. They expressed how they wish they know what would work for us in the Asia and Pacific but admitted they are not that smart to know what is best for each of the local YMCAs in the area. They shared the programs and cases that were developed and have become successful models for more than 30 years now in North America.

The first workshop was held with West Japan group of YMCAs in Hiroshima on July 4-7, 2013. There were five (5) local YMCAs participating including Hiroshima, Setouchi, Kumamoto, Wakayama and Kyoto. The program schedule in this area was different from the earlier workshops held with other national movements because on the first day, an orientation session with leaders and staff from the participating YMCAs was conducted with about 27 attendees. The session covered welcome and introduction of the workshop, overview and outcomes, why resource mobilization and the principles and concepts of building a Spirit of Philanthropy. This was followed by questions and answers and clarified issues and concerns about the program. Not all of those who attended this session participated in the 2-day workshop. Mr Ron Coulombe, Chief Volunteer Consultant, and Mr. Jim Pacey from Austin YMCA, Texas, USA, led the sessions with 18 participants. After learning and understanding the concepts and principles, developed their cases and practiced how to ask, the participants set the campaign goal at Y 32,800,000 and raised Y 554,000 during the workshop. Visits were made to Kumamoto, Setouchi and Osaka where orientation sessions with leaders were also held.

For East Japan, the workshop was held on July 12-14 at the Yokohama YMCA with 32 participants from 6 local YMCAs including Ibaraki, Morioka, Tochigi, Osaka, Saitama and Yokohama and participants from the National Council of YMCAs of Japan led by National General Secretary Mr. Shigeru Shimada. The same workshop format/process as in West Japan was adopted with orientation session on Day 1, July 12. The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Ron Coulombe and Ms. Grace Reddy from San Francisco YMCA, USA. After going through the learning process on concepts and principles, learning and developing their cases, identifying possible donors from an inward/outward progression, expanding the inner circle where people who are committed to support the cause of the YMCA are increasing. They then practiced asking, and the goal was set at Y 35,000,000. The amount raised during the workshop was Y 1,243,000. Local leaders and contact persons for these YMCAs were also identified. Ron and Grace visited Morioka, Miyako, Tochigi and the National Council of YMCAs of Japan for follow-up presentations and to know more of the leaders and staff of the respective YMCAs. The National Coordinators for Japan will be Mr. Kazuki Yamane and Mr. Tajiri Tadakuni, both from the National Council of the YMCAs in Japan.

Eloisa BORREO

APAY Regional Workshop on Social Economy

The APAY Regional Workshop on Social Economy was held in Seoul, Korea during 27th to 30th June 2013. The National Council of Korea hosted the workshop. Eight delegates representing various YMCA movements from the region of Asia and Pacific participated at the workshop. The workshop was inaugurated by Dr. Song In Dong, Vice President of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs, while Dr. Ahn Jae Woong and Mr. Nam Boo Won, President and National General Secretary respectively, of the National Council of YMCAs of Korea welcomed all the participants. The immediate Past President of APAY, Dr. Park, Jai Chang and APAY General Secretary Mr. Kohei Yamada spoke at the opening ceremony.

The speakers in the opening ceremony explained the rationale for the involvement of the YMCA in social economy. Soon after the WWII, poverty became the key global issue, various poverty alleviation programs were taken by the governments and civil society organizations for the upliftment of the poor, but in reality, all these programs miserably failed to meet the aspirations of the people, the gap between the rich and the poor widened more and more. The ever growing number of unemployed youth affected the society very much. The YMCAs had been involved in various poverty alleviation programs and also been exploring various ways and means to address the issue of poverty, the search for alternative approaches to enrich the lives of common people continued. In Korea the YMCA has been one of the pioneers to introduce various social enterprises, especially the cooperatives, aiming for the economic emancipation of the people at the grass roots. Study of these successful economic models could inspire the YMCAs to be involved in introducing various social enterprises in the YMCAs as an effective tool for economic emancipation of the people.

The key note address of the workshop was delivered by Dr. Young-Geun Kwon, Vice President of Korean Institute for Study of Rural Societies. The theme of his paper was, “Association, the current movement and prospect of social economy.” The panel presentations were, (i) “Institutional Changes on Social Enterprise Promotion Act, Cooperatives Act and etc”. by Mr Hyuk-Jin Choi, Director of Infrastruction Formation HQ Korea Social Enterprise Promotion Agency. (ii) “Flux on social economy activities on local governments” by Mr. Chang-Bok Yoo, CEO, Seoul Maeul Community Supporting Center. (iii) “Flux on Korean Consumer Cooperative Activites” by Ms. Hyung-Mi Kim, Executive Director, iCoop Institute and finally (iv) “Flux on activities on self-support, cooperatives and social enterprise” by Mr. Byung-Hak Lee, Chief of Gyeonggi Self-Supporting Center.

During the workshop the participants had the opportunity to visit the Cooperative Social Economy Network in Wonju and visit various social enterprises in the city in their exposure program. These included high schools, nursery schools and other village social enterprises and also one of the flagship social enterprise programs of the National Council of YMCAs of Korea, the Café Timor, the Peace Coffee Project.

The participants learnt more about the YMCA initiatives in social enterprises, Mr. Ki-Hyun Kim, General Secretary of Bucheon YMCA shared about the Lighthouse Consumer Cooperatives. Mr. Kyung Min Kim, General Secretary of Daegu YMCA shared the “Hope Bike Production” the bicycle movement and also the project of recycling of bicycles, the trend setting of art bike and the bike theatre, which made bicycling more and more popular in the city. He also shared about his experience of creating a park for the people, using maximum manual labor to be more people oriented and this has been one of the attractions of the city as being transformed to natural habitat of various species of animals.

Ms. Jeong-Hee Lee, General Secretary of Guri YMCA shared about her experience in forming cooperatives as a YMCA response to redress the economic crisis in Korea, create employment and work for the economic welfare of the people.

Mr. Peter Burns, CEO of Victoria YMCA, Australia shared about the social enterprises of Victoria YMCA, the Bridges Project, empowering the youths in this half way home for job creation after the completion of their terms in the prisons. The Project PRISM was also an example of social enterprise, where the YMCA involves with the aim to train thousands of kids to know the art of swimming, to avoid the danger of drowning, which is one of the common threats for kids in Australia.

On the final day the participants were engaged in discovering an effective working definition of social enterprise applicable for the YMCA and also involved in working out an effective policy for nurturing social enterprises in the YMCAs for the benefit of the people.

The Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs expresses their gratitude to the National Council of Korea for hosting this event and do aspire to continue working for more involvement of the YMCAs of our region in social economy.

Duncan CHOWDHURY

APAY Green Challenge 2013:Oct 18-31, 2013
Challenge to become "Green to the Core"
partnership project between YMCA and Y's Men's Club

There are 30,000 Y’s Men members in the world, of which two-thirds are in Asia. There are nearly 5,500 members in Korea, 4,100 members in Asia area, 230 members in Australia, and 9,500 members in India. One of the most important goals of the Y’s Men’s Club is to serve the communities in strong partnership with the YMCA movements in each area. Just in APAY area, 1,600 Y’s Men’s clubs exist while 12,000 local YMCAs exist.

Both the World Alliance of YMCAs and Y’s Men International have agreed to further strengthening the partnership especially for the youth development. APAY also has proposed the Y’s Men in the Asia Area to develop the common ground to work in partnership with Y’s Men’s clubs and YMCAs in the Area.

This could be a test case in this October. APAY Youth Committee (YPLD) proposed to conduct the APAY Green Challenge, “Green to the Core” campaign during this October 18 to 31 in this year.

Like we did last year for the “World Challenge” day, a total of 432,123 people from 86 countries shot basketballs on October 13, 2012. From Asia/Pacific area alone, 16 countries and 288,000 people joined in this Challenge. This year in October, we are challenging to the youth to initiate the activities related to environmental issues. Also we propose many Y’s Men members to do this campaign together in planning, actions and evaluation with YMCA groups. All the activities will be recorded by photos and videos, and will be shared among YMCAs and Y’s Men after the campaign period.

If it works in many YMCAs and Y’s Men’s clubs this year, we can try for the next World Challenge day (scheduled on June 6, 2014) in bigger scale and stronger partnership between YMCA and Y’s Men.

I hope it works in many YMCAs and Y’s Men’s clubs. This is the beginning of our stronger partnership and important step for “Green to the Core”.

Kohei YAMADA

MOVEMENTS' UPDATE:
Ng Yee Khai Elected as Acting Hon. Secretary of the National Council of YMCAs of Malaysia

Mr. Ng Yee Khai has been elected as the Acting Honorary Secretary of the National Council of YMCAs of Malaysia at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the NCY Malaysia held on 22nd June 2013.

Mr. Yee Khai is an active member of the YMCA Kuala Lumpur especially in youth development work. He has been a member of the Executive Committee of National Council of YMCA Malaysia since 2008, the Youth Chair of National Council of YMCA Malaysia during 2010-2012. He was the APAY YPLD Committee member from 2007-2011. Besides, he represented the YMCA National Movement at various international events. At present, he is the Board Member of the Asia & Pacific Alliance of YMCAs (APAY) 2011-2015.

We wish Mr. Ng all the success in his new role.

Paul Donald Le Gros Elected as National President of the National Council of YMCAs
of New Zealand

Mr. Paul Donald Le Gros has been elected as the National President of the National Council of YMCAs of New Zealand at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the NCY YMCAs of New Zealand held on June 8, 2013. Earlier he served as the President of the National Board of YMCA of New Zealand during 1990-1996. He has been the President of the Nelson YMCA since 1978.

He was an Executive Committee Member of the Asia Alliance of YMCAs during 1988-1996, Vice President of Asia & Pacific Alliance of YMCAs during 2007-2011. He was also an Executive Committee Member of the World Alliance of YMCAs between 1985-1988 and 1991-1998.

Mr. Le Gros is a Barrister and was Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand from 1974 to 2011.

Our congratulations to Mr. Paul Le Gros on his appointment as President of the New Zealand YMCAs.

Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong held University & College YMCA International Youth Conference: Link-Age cum Charter Ceremony of Alliance of University & College YMCAs

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of University & College YMCA, Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong held the University & College YMCA International Youth Conference: Link-Age from 19 July 2013 to 24 July 2013. The Opening Ceremony cum the Charter Ceremony of Alliance of University & College YMCAs was officiated by Mr. Yau Chung Wan, President of Asia & Pacific Alliance of YMCAs, Dr. Cecil Chan, President of Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong and Dr. Arnold Cheng, Chairman of University & College YMCA Committee, together witnessed by YMCA Board of Directors and over 170 international and local delegates.

The conference, Link-Age, wishes to bring together like-minded youngsters in building up a closer connection among individuals and communities, creating a boundless world through genuine cultural exchange. A diversified kind of activities, including speeches, fieldwork, forum, workshops, social service, city hunt, cultural night, etc. were organized to increase the delegates’ understanding on the keys in maintaining a close and harmonious relationship with others, as well as to build up a stronger tie among delegates from different YMCAs.

Dr. Ruan Danching, Associate Professor from Department of Sociology at Hong Kong Baptist University was the keynote speaker of the Conference. She gave a clear picture to delegates on different types of relationships and how they can make use of strong ties in contributing to the good of the society. Dr. Oh Hyun Jee, Assistant Professor from School of Communication at Hong Kong Baptist University and Dr. Eric Chui, Associate Dean from Faculty of Social Sciences at The University of Hong Kong were invited as guest speakers of the Conference. By the end of the Conference, delegates from different YMCAs came up with joint projects and action plans in improving connection with people in their own nations.

ACTIVITIES OF YPLD COMMITTEE

We are together in YMCA!

YMCA of Macau held “Y-Sport” activity on June 16th. The aim was to connect YMCA members. The “athletes” were the participants or staffs from different part of our Y—school counseling department, youth community centre and short-term dormitories.

The whole “Y-Sport” activity was organized by youth. We really felt empowered where we used to be participants led by the staff; throughout this event, we learnt about event organization. Other than an exciting basketball match, we played dodge ball and had long-jump competition. Seeing everyone’s smiling face, we were satisfied and gained not only the prizes but also the friendship and bonding in the Y. “Y Sport” was a good chance to link up the YMCA family and reminded us that–although we may not meet each and every member or colleague very often, we are together in YMCA!

Fay CHENG, Macau

My role as YMCA Change Agents

I have been involved with the YMCA in Victoria, Australia for over 12 years as an adventure camp leader, leadership program facilitator and volunteer with the Youth Leadership and Development Unit. I have also worked for a short time at a YMCA run community centre managing a youth sports program for migrant a refugee young people.

From my experience working with many young people, I recognize the need to work with them on issues that they care about and want to make a difference on, because the engagement needs to be genuine and needs to come from within. For me, leadership is about inner strength and showing integrity in what you do and how you live your life. Leaders are individuals who others want to be around because of their ability to make people feel safe, supported, special and valued. Leaders should have a strong vision and should be able to articulate this so others can choose to stand/work with them.

I understand that the role of the YMCA Change Agents is to champion the global citizenship concepts within our local/national associations and to work at a national and international level strengthening the capacity, role and profile of the YMCA’s mission to lead youth empowerment. I believe empowering young people is the most important thing we can do globally to affect positive change in society. For this to be an effective process, I think you need to work concurrently on developing skills and offering experiences for young people to be involved in taking action and ensure there are opportunities for personal development, ongoing reflection and deep transformation from the experiences.

Alicia CRAWFORD, Australia

YMCA T-shirts exchange in Prague

Twenty nine change agents from Asia and Pacific region are packing up for YMCA Europe Festival in Prague from 4-10 August 2013. The delegation will organize a T-shirt exchange to meet friends from all around the world. If you are planning to join the festival, bring a few T-shirts from your YMCA! Be the “change”!

Alvin KAN

India, here we come!

We cannot wait until another excitement this summer—YMCA Regional Youth Conference 2013 in India. If trekking in the beautiful nature of Yelagiri hill cannot fill you up, we learn Yoga from India masters. If Campfire is yet enough for you, we learn Bollywood dance from professional dancers. Make sure you have a wonderful experience with the diversity and friendship in India. Register up NOW !

Betsy WILLIAMS

Transforming the Youth, Transforming the Community

Bangladesh YMCA National Youth conference was held on 10-13 July 2013 at Birisiri YMCA, Durgapur, Netrokona. 45 youth members from the 12 different local movement of Bangladesh YMCA, Raonati program participants and members of ecumenical movements of Bangladesh were participated. History of YMCA, Life movement and experiences, Changing the World, the role of Youth, Key Elements of good governance and its impact, understanding the concept of globalization and Gender justice through youth empowerment session were included the training.

National Youth Conference is a tool of nurturing young people to become a vibrant member in the movement. Which was given very deep understands about the YMCA vision and mission through serve peoples’ need.

All the participants committed to work with YMCA when they back home, keep closer relationship with the local and national movement to change the YMCA as visible international youth movement in the world.

Roger PEIRIS

APAY Youth-for-Youth award launches

A new “Youth-for-Youth” award will be bestowed by APAY to the youth below the age of 30 years who contribute a sum of US$300, under “Fellow-for-Youth” scheme. The contribution can be either through fund raising or by them towards the youth fund of APAY. The goal includes empowering youth in responding to issues related to the local community through meaningful actions. For detailed award guidelines, please refer to APAY homepage or contact Youth Officer Roger Peiris.