COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE APAY 38^TH ADVANCED STUDIES PROGRAMME
HELD VIRTUALLY FROM 4^TH TO 22^ND OCTOBER, 2021

Preamble

We are a diverse group of fourteen (14) participants hailing from eight (8) countries, and eleven (11) different YMCA’s across Asia joined the first-ever Advanced Studies Programme(ASP) held virtually via zoom. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, international travel became extremely challenging, and restrictions, quarantine policies, and protocols were obstacles to organizing the ASP in person. The world has been ravaged by this pandemic which has caused the death of more than 500 million people worldwide, devastated economies and affected the livelihood of billions.

The theme for the programme this year is Leadership and Mission in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, which is very relevant to the issues all nations are currently facing.

During these challenging times, we are ever more grateful to the contributing Facilitators, resource personnel from across Asia and most of all, the leadership team at APAY for taking up the challenge to conduct this important programme virtually. The participants also acknowledge with immense gratitude the tremendous organisation and coordination effort made by the organising committee at APAY to ensure the programme's success.

Our Collective Learnings and Reflections

The 38th ASP was a learning space for practising creative liturgies while celebrating and respecting the diversity of the religions around the world in the context of diverse realities of society. Our sensitivity to the world's pain was sharpened through the inputs on various issues such as Climate Justice, Gender Justice and Economy of Life and we were all challenged on how we, the YMCA, respond to these realities through our mission.

The 38th Batch of ASP is a product of our resiliency over the challenges of this current pandemic. As ASP graduates, this achievement was extraordinarily done during uncertain and challenging times. May our learnings at ASP reap shining and good examples of leadership in the communities we serve, solidify our commitment to YMCA, and strengthen our conviction and zeal for its worthy cause. Indeed, our communities were our constant inspirations during the 19 days of class work at ASP. Without the people whom we serve, all our patience and diligence in studying and striving to formulate and finalize our re-entry plans will be for nothing. Our perspective of the YMCA was totally changed when we heard of the life’s journeys of our classmates/colleagues from the YMCAs in the Asia Pacific Region. We are from different countries, and our realities differ from one another. Each of us had a different story to tell, and our understanding of the YMCA movement and different approaches towards our missions have been fully enriched.

Our Affirmation

We reconfirm and reaffirm our foundation of YMCA as a pioneer of the ecumenical movement in the world. Challenge 21 inspired by the Paris Basis of 1855 and Jesus Christ as God magnified in his first publicly read Scripture passage: “The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour”. (Luke 4:18-19, NRSV).

This learning at the 38th ASP strikes us most that human beings are mere stewards of God's creation. And that at some point, they no longer exemplify love, solidarity, justice and peace, and veered from the guidance of the Divine One (Eternal God Almighty) who loves all Creation. It resulted in what we are already encountering in the world today, like rapid climate change, inequitable and unjust societies, gender disparity, unequal treatment, unsustainable life. As YMCA professionals, we will work for a sustainable, equitable and just society for this generation and future generations. Our ASP learnings have imbued us with practical wisdom and a deep understanding of the YMCA Mission context and face its current challenges by enabling us to conceptualize, formulate and implement inclusive, vibrant and impactful programs for our communities.

Read more: COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE APAY 38TH ADVANCED STUDIES PROGRAMME

Mission Review - Anchored on our Rock, Striving for Unity in Diversity: Ad Fontes

Last Updated (Thursday, 29 April 2021 19:36)

Anchored on our Rock, Striving for Unity in Diversity: Ad Fontes

Yoon-Jae Chang

There is one of my favorite proverbs. "If you don't live as you think, you will think as you live." I do not know who said it, but that is true. If we think that obesity is bad for our body, we have to eat less and move a lot. If we think as we live, we translate the English word “diet” as “from tomorrow,” and rationalize the way we live today. "We must be a thinking people," said Ham Seok-heon, a great Christian thinker in Korea, whom we celebrate the 120th anniversary of his birth this year.

Read more: Mission Review - Anchored on our Rock, Striving for Unity in Diversity: Ad Fontes

 

Executive Committee Meeting of the APAY was held virtually

Last Updated (Friday, 30 April 2021 22:37)

Communique

Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs
Executive Committee Meeting
16–17 April 2021
(Online meeting)

The Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs (APAY) held its annual Executive Committee Meeting (ECM) from 16th-17th April 2021. Due to travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, APAY held its ECM 2021 online via Zoom for three hours, from 3:00-6:00 p.m. (HKT) each day on 16th and 17th April 2021. One hundred and ten (110) registered delegates and representatives from 22 movements in the Asia-Pacific region attended the meeting.

Prof. Chen Chin-Seng, President of APAY, presided the meeting and assisted by Mr. Nam Boo Won, General Secretary of APAY. SG Carlos Sanvee, Mr. Tom Valentine, Vice President, Y-USA International Group, and representatives from the Y’s Men International -- Hong Yong Seung, Area President of Korea Area and David Lua, Area President of Asia Pacific Area gave their fraternal greetings.

COVID-19 was first reported in December 2019 and the World Health Organisation declared a global pandemic by the in March 2020. As of 13 April 2021, the WHO confirmed more than 136 million cases, attributing more than 2.94 million deaths, making it one of the deadliest pandemics in history. Governments and health officials struggled hard with policies and decisions between saving lives and livelihood. On the political front, some governments also took the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to suspend the democratic processes and impose emergency rules.

Apart from health concerns, many YMCAs are struggling economically to survive due to the forced lockdowns and cancellation of programs and services. All YMCAs have had to redesign and adapt their programs and services to the requirements of a new normal imposed by the pandemic.

It is under such tough travel restrictions and quarantines procedures imposed worldwide that APAY's Executive Committee is meeting online for the second consecutive year.

Within these contexts, the meeting started with a Mission Review Session with a view to understanding the challenges and relevance of the YMCAs at such a critical time.

Read more: Executive Committee Meeting of the APAY was held virtually

   

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