20th General Assembly

20th General Assembly of Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs

Theme “Living Together Within Nature on a Path to Peace”

 

A new milestone has been installed in the history of Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs with the successful holding the 20th General Assembly at Tozanso, Japan during 2nd – 6th September 2019, where 377 participants from 22 countries including 130 youth participated.

 

The inauguration ceremony of the General Assembly took place in the morning of Tuesday 3rd of September 2019. The opening worship was led by Fr. Philip Thomas, President of Kuala Lumpur YMCA with the theme “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called Children of God.” and Rev. Aika Taira from Okinawa shared his testimony during the worship. After the opening worship, the opening ceremony was initiated with an indigenous dance presentation from Indonesia.

 

The President of APAY Mr. Babu Markus Gomes inaugurated the Assembly. While Mr. Nam Boo Won, General Secretary, introduced the distinguished guests and resource persons and all the delegates at the opening ceremony. The Chair of the GA Planning Committee, Mr. Peter Malone, President of the National Council of YMCAs of Japan Mr. Mitsuo Oikawa and President of the World Alliance of YMCAs Ms. Patricia Pelton delivered words of greetings at the inauguration ceremony.

 

The keynote address was presented by Mr. Steven Leeper, former Chairperson of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, Japan. His keynote was based on the General Assembly theme “Living Together Within Nature on a Path to Peace”. He inspired the delegates to lead a low carbon life style and work towards a nuclear free world base on culture of peace. Later the delegates broke in small groups to discuss for internalizing, and sharing their thoughts on, the keynote address.

 

Secretary General of the World Alliance of YMCAs Mr. Carlos Sanvee had the floor to share on the New Strategy of the World Alliance of YMCAs in the afternoon. In the late afternoon, the candidates of the APAY elections for various positions of the APAY board had the opportunity to share their aspirations with the delegates if they are elected.

 

In the evening after the welcome dinner, the welcome ceremony was held with words of felicitations from the dignitaries attending the Assembly. Secretary General of the WAY Mr. Carlos Sanvee conveyed his words of felicitations, AP Mr. Hiroyuki Tanaka, Y’s Men Asia & Pacific Area, AP Mr. Kim Sang-Chae, Y’s Men Korea Area, Ms. Chung, Hiu Fan (Fanny), Executive Committee Member of WSCF AP and Ms. Natalie Thomas, Y Care International also delivered words of greetings to all the delegates on behalf of their respective organizations. The welcome dinner was enlaced with a cultural soiree depicting the rich musical and cultural traditions of Japan.

 

On the second day, Wednesday 4th September, 2019 Prof. Chen Chin-Seng from Taiwan led the morning worship while Dr. Emma Leslie, Executive Director, Center for Peace & Conflict Studies, shared biblical reflections on the sub-theme: “Building Communities of Peace inclusive of People and the Earth” at the worship.

 

Following the worship, the six parallel thematic workshops were held. These were (i) Alternative Tourism And Social Enterprise (ii) Gender Justice (iii) Ecological Concerns And Climate Change (iv) Disaster Response Management (v) Good Governance In the YMCAs and (vi) Sustainable Development Goals. These six workshops were again held on the following day at the same time. So that each of the delegate was able to participate in two of such workshops, these workshops were presented by competent resource persons. The participants were able learn more about these issues and also share their own perspectives and experiences with other participants.

 

The exposures arranged by the host committee on Wednesday 4th September, 2019 provided opportunities for the participants to learn more about the historical heritage, Japanese art and culture, the environmental programs, traditions and customs of Japan as well as various program activities of the Japanese YMCAs. These exposures took place in and around the Gotemba City. The delegates had the choice to participate in one of the following seven exposure sites: (i) Fuji Sanpo (ii) Tour of Fuji Gotemba Distillery and Fujisan Eco Park, (iii) Mishima Skywalk and the Kakita River Park (iv) Tokyo YMCA Yamanana Lake Center (v) Yokohama YMCA Program for the Elderly People and (vi) Yokohama YMCA Childcare Program. All youths participated at a fixed exposure at Fujisan YMCA Global Eco Village of Yokohama YMCA.

 

On Thursday 5th September 2019 the morning workshop was led by Ms. Magda Gana & Mr. Paul Chow. Dr. Bart Shaha, Former WAY Secretary General & GS of APAY delivered the biblical reflections on the theme “Ecological Crisis and Climate Change”.

 

Election of the APAY Board was held during the lunch time and the newly elected board members were: President Prof. Chen Chin-Seng from Taiwan, Vice Presidents: Ms. Hanna Dunlop from New Zealand (Pacific), Mr. Chin Chung Philip Poon from Hong Kong (East Asia), Mr. Honorio Tan from the Philippines (South East Asia) and Mr. Raymond Areng from Bangladesh (South Asia). Treasurer Mr. Shin Dae-Kyun from South Korea, and Board members: Ms. Nagako Okado from Japan and Ms. Panha Chhem from Cambodia. The Chair of the Election Committee Nirmal De Fonseka declared the results of the elections.

 

In the afternoon, four forums were held with the participation of the delegates who opted for their participation at any of the following forums. (i) The Strategic Directions (for the next Quadrennial) (ii) Y’s Men and YMCA Partnernship (iii) Christian Foundation of the YMCAs and (iv) Student YMCAs.

 

In the evening of that day, the farewell dinner and the APAY cultural night were held. Each of the participating movements had the opportunity to present one cultural event at the evening.

APAY awards were handed over to the recipients during this cultural night. The eleven local/national YMCAs who had hosted various YMCA events since the last Executive Committee Meetings were recognized with commemorative plaques. The highest contributors of Golden Anniversary Trust Fund were recognized with commemorative plaques. They were two individuals - Mr. Babu Markus Gomes and Dr. Philip Kwok, and five YMCAs - Hong Kong Council of YMCAs, National Council of YMCAs of India, National Council of YMCAs of Sri Lanka, Macau YMCA and YMCA of the USA. Mr. Hiroyuki Tanaka, AP of Asia Pacific Area and Mr. Cha Young Doo, IPAP of Korea Area were given appreciation awards for their contribution to Advanced Studies Program whereas both IPIP Mr. Moon Sang-Bong and Dr. Kim Sang-Chae, AP of Korea Area, were given special recognition for their contribution to Laos YMCA establishment fund.

 

The recipients of the APAY Green YMCA Award for the year 2018 were Makati YMCA of the Philippines, Suncheon YMCA and Yongin YMCA of South Korea. The local hosts of the General Assembly, the YMCA Youth Center, Tozanso and the National Council of YMCAs of Japan were also appreciated with commemorative plaques.

 

On Friday 6th of September, Mr. Yohei Wakabatshi, Honorable Mayor of Gotemba City was the guest of honor at the closing ceremony. In the beginning, he delivered his words of greetings to the delegates. The acceptance speech of the newly elected President of APAY was delivered by Prof. Chen Chin-Seng, followed by the symbolic handover of the mandate by the outgoing President Mr. Babu Markus Gomes to the newly elected President. The Assembly mandate was presented by the writing team and then the 20th General Assembly concluded with an induction ceremony of the newly elected board members conducted by the present past presidents of APAY, namely Dr. Philip Kwok, Mr. Chim Hou Yan, Rev Sam Stephens, Mr. Yau Chung Wan and Ms. Patricia Pelton, President of the World YMCA. Dr. Ahn Jae-Woong, former General Secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia, delivered his sermon at the closing worship.

 

Earlier the Executive Committee Meeting and Council Meeting of APAY were held on Monday 2nd September prior to the General Assembly. The Annual Report of APAY was presented at the Executive Committee Meeting, while the Quadrennial Program Report was presented at the Council Meeting by Mr. Nam Boo Won, General Secretary of APAY. He presented the Quadrennial Program Evaluation Report at the Assembly as well. A Global Alternative Tourism Network (GATN) workshop was held during that time, and a special workshop of the Interfaith Cooperation Forum (ICF) was also organized on 4th and 5th September – for two full days – with some invitees from ICF alumni and selected YMCA youth as participants.

 

The APAY wishes to express its heartfelt gratitude to the 20th GA Planning Committee as well as Japan YMCA, in particular, the Host Committee of the GA for their dedication and contribution to the success of the GA!

 

The Assembly Mandate which reflects the outcome of the 20th General Assembly is as follows:

Read more: 20th General Assembly