Disaster Risk Management
The Asia and Pacific region is considered as most disaster-prone region in the world. Over the past decades, the region has witnessed several of the most devastating disasters recorded in history. With these events, the people, community and environment absorb the impact of losing lives, livelihood and property. As more people and communities are becoming vulnerable to disasters, the challenges and opportunities to coordinate and mobilize risk management remain relevant to achieve greater impact on the efforts of rebuilding lives and communities.
As a community-based, Christian and ecumenical movement, it is recognized that each YMCA is called to build a human community of justice with love, peace and reconciliation for the fullness of life for all creation. The difficulties, struggles and crises in communities affected by disasters and human crises present an opportunity for the movement to actualize its mission of holistic development that strives for spiritual, intellectual and physical well-being of individuals and wholeness of communities and of re-building self-determination and re-establishing self-reliance.
The humanitarian work/engagement by YMCA in a sense affirms the movement’s mandate to commit to work in solidarity with the poor, dispossessed, uprooted people, oppressed racial and ethnic minorities, the aged, the youth, the women and peoples with special needs. Moreover this nature of work provides an opportunity for the movement to explore our social relevance particularly in addressing poverty stricken communities, safety of women and children and their specific needs, youth empowerment, social economy and care for environment. Finally, this engagement is a chance to strengthen our commitment to become institutionally viable by giving importance to good governance structures with in-built accountability systems that are transparent to all stakeholders involved.
The region shall remain firm in its goal of delivering efficient, effective and appropriate disaster responses that adheres to the humanitarian principles of saving lives, alleviating suffering and maintaining human dignity.
Disaster Relief Work by YMCA of Timor Leste
Last Updated (Wednesday, 21 July 2021 18:51)
Disaster Relief Work by YMCA of Timor Leste
Republica Democratica de Timor Leste, or East Timor, has a long history involving struggles for freedom for four hundred and seventy-four years.
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to colonize Timor Leste in 1515 and maintained their control until 1975.
YMCA Savar organized regular support for an education program for the victims of the Rana Plaza tragedy
Last Updated (Wednesday, 24 March 2021 15:40)
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| Savar YMCA’s President Mr. Tapan Thomas Rozario hand over the souvenir to the beneficiaries | |
Rana Plaza Stipend: Savar Young Men’s Christian Association is a universal volunteerism movement organization. So we give particular importance to Man & Woman and ensure to join Youth participants in our Society and try to established humanitarian society according to our Christian ideals with love, justice, and peace.
We know Rana Plaza Tragedy that happened on 24 April 2013, the Rana Plaza building's collapse in Savar, Dhaka. This housed five garment factories and killed at least 1,132 people, and injured more than 2500 people.
So we Savar YMCA took the immediate initiative to help some families who lost their parents or earners with Y's Men Club Dhaka Central's support. Then we collect data about ten needy families, and we start to financial support from 4 October 2013 and still now. We support ten Children for their study purpose because, after the tragedy, they couldn't continue their school. So we thought if they continue their study one day, they will overcome their present situations. We decided to give them a minimal 1000 (one thousand) taka per month per children's. Every six months, we arrange a Stipend program to get their money together 6.000 (six thousand) taka because they come from different parts of Bangladesh and remote areas. We place this program after six months for their favorableness. We give them Eid gifts also.
Their families are so happy to get this support, and children’s are continuing their study nicely. Many of them are studying in college now and doing well. We Savar YMCA will always stand beside them.
The name of the beneficiary Children’s are below:
1. Razia Sultana
2. Mehidi Hasan
3. Sabbir Rahman
4. Rimi Salma Akter
5. Badal Hossin Bellal
6. Roni Hossin
7. Riya Akter
8. Sumiya Akter
9. Bristi Akter
10. Md. Tarek
Prepared by- Ronel Francis Costa, General Secretary, Savar YMCA.
Metropolitan YMCA Singapore’s FIRST Ever Virtual Flag Day (2021)
Last Updated (Wednesday, 03 March 2021 11:53)
In the midst of the pandemic, Metropolitan YMCA Singapore sought to raise funds through a creative approach. We held our first Virtual Flag Day on 6th of February 2021. All activities on the actual day were live streamed on MYMCA’s YouTube Channel. The event was hosted by emcee Jeremy who very kindly lent his talent and time.
Participants registered to Run-For-A-Cause where they can select from a variety of options. They can run and bike (Duathlon) for a distance of 50.5km - bike for 40km or run for 7.5km. For people who have just picked up running, there is also an option of 3km run available. A page on Giving.SG was set up for participants to rally for support and donations for their campaign. This campaign is valid until 28th of February 2021.
The actual Flag Day started as early as 4am at MYMCA’s headquarters at 60 Stevens Road. Staffs arrived earlier to welcome our collaborators - Tribal Triathlon Singapore - who are also members of our TRIBAL@MYMCA, and participants for the Duathlon and Run-For-A-Cause events. A strong week of canvassing from both these dedicated athletes and their supporters saw a total of $28K raised for the beneficiaries.
Read more: Metropolitan YMCA Singapore’s FIRST Ever Virtual Flag Day (2021)
Albay YMCA helped communities recover from Typhoons
Last Updated (Monday, 25 January 2021 19:34)
In the Philippines, the Bicol region was triple hit by successive typhoons, Quinta, Rolly and Ulysses, in the last quarter of 2020 amidst Covid-19. Based on the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council data, the typhoons’ damage to agriculture and infrastructure in the country was around ₱35 billion whilst 125 persons killed, 458 injured and 29 missing. Tens of thousands of people were also internally displaced, temporarily staying in designated evacuation centres and makeshift shelters due to massive flooding and deluge of boulders from Mayon Volcano.
To facilitate early recovery actions, the Albay YMCA launched a fundraising campaign dubbed Bangon Bicol (Rise Bicol) on November 4, 2020, and received a total cash donation of ₱283,593.49 (USD 5,671.89), most of which were from World Alliance of YMCAs (WAY). In-kind donations were also received, such as rice, used clothing, noodles and canned goods.
The rollout of donations to disaster-affected communities commenced on November 22, 2020, two weeks after damage assessment and needs analysis. It was found that nearly half of the communities visited have already received shelter kits from the government and that the underlying hurdle was food security. Thus, Albay YMCA concentrated on the provision of food packs. Further, priority communities were determined based on typhoons’ damages, rate of displacement and poverty incidence.
The association coordinated with local government units prior to activity to ensure that the assistance will be delivered to minimise the risk of Covid-19 for disaster-affected people. So far, six successful food packs distribution has been carried out wherein the majority of direct beneficiaries were mothers, children and farmers from far-flung villages that were severely lashed by the abovementioned typhoons.
“On behalf of the beneficiaries in Albay province, we sincerely thank the donors especially our friends from local YMCAs in the Philippines, Asia-Pacific Islander Leadership Network (APILN) and World Alliance of YMCAs led by Secretary General Carlos Sanvee. Words cannot express our heartfelt gratitude for them for the continued trust, support and humanitarian assistance even in this difficult time of pandemic” said General Secretary Ianne Christine J. Aquino.
As of December 30, 2020, the Albay YMCA was able to provide food packs to 620 families or 1,863 individuals.
#BangonBicol
By YMCA of Albay
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