Youth Empowerment
Asian Pacific Islander Leadership Network (APILN) paid a visit to YMCA Korea and APAY office in Jeju in construction
Last Updated (Friday, 31 March 2023 12:08)
From 16th to 21st March 2023, eight members of the Asian Pacific Islander Leadership Network (APILN) International Leadership Institute (ILI), led by Trang T Hill, a staff of International Group, YUSA, paid a visit to the NCY-Korea and the APAY Jeju office that is under construction in the campsite of the NCY-Korea. The APILN is a network of YMCA professional staff in the U.S.A. whose family background traces back to Asia and the Pacific islands.
After settling in Seoul, the group first visited the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) area guided by NSG Kim Kyung Min and International Secretary Daeun Yang. They first visited the memorial tower of the Baengmagoji battlefield, where the bloodiest fight took place during the Korean war. They learned about the tragedy of the Korean war, where Korean people fought fiercely, killing each other. Then they visited Cheolwon, the Korean Labor Party Headquarters, one of the remainders of the Korean War, constructed by North Korea before the War. Thereafter the group went to a village inside of DMZ. To go inside the DMZ area, they needed to report their personal information ahead of time and checked by South Korean soldiers. They visited the Geumgansan Mountain Electric Railroad Bridge that once operated connecting the South and the North but disconnected after the division. They also visited Border Peace School to have an on-the-ground experience about the tragic history and reality of the divided Korean Peninsula as a result of the ideological conflict and ensuing Korean War in the 1950s. The visit to DMZ was an eye-opening experience for the group as US citizens whose national influence reached far on the Korean peninsula from then up to date.
Next day, they also visited the Japan Embassy where Korea-Japan Reconciliation and Peace Platform’s 19th Peace Action took place. The Korea-Japan Reconciliation and Peace Platform consists of about 2,000 civil and religious organizations in Korea and Japan and has done the 19th Peace Action together to protect the Article 9 of the Japanese constitution, which declares not to attack other countries and have a war for Japan. The group came to understand the deep scar and wounds during the Japanese colonial rule still deeply situated in the minds of the Korean people. Every group member participated in 19th Peace Action with their own pickets made by themselves. The picture of their action and messages were sent to the Japanese civil societies.
On March 20, the group flew to Jeju Island to visit the APAY Jeju office that is under construction since last October. Nam Boo-Won, General Secretary of the APAY, shared his new vision of inviting and training young people from all over the YMCAs to become “Climate Defenders” and “Peace Builders” once the Jeju office building is completed alongside Global Peace and Ecology Center (GPEC).
GPEC is also for international youth to discuss life, ecology, and peace building strengthening international solidarity in an era of climate crisis. The Korea YMCA is committed to develop this center for youth to enable them to discuss and imagine the world where nature and people live in harmony. The GPEC plans include an international campground for youth to build network and solidarity for youth climate-activists. It will operate various global exchange programs on life, peace, and community. The funds for the center are also raised by the YMCA of the USA in cooperation with the Korea YMCA and APAY.
The group also visited various historical places in Jeju learning about the history and culture of Jeju. They especially were interested in Hae-nyeo, a unique job of Jeju, refers to the Jeju women who earn their living by diving into the sea to get clam, sea cucumber, sea urchin and many other sea animals from the bottom of the strait. These women have been doing this job for the past 1700 years and are considered an aberration in a typically male-dominated Korean society. These women established diving to be an exclusively female occupation. Hae-nyeo represents the strength and resiliency of women in difficult situation and the group got inspired by the story of them.
Then they visited Jeju YMCA to observe its various programs and facility. The main program of Jeju YMCA is the YMCA kindergarten where children are raised with a principle of integration of mind, body and spirit. The head of the kindergarten explained that the programs are focused on playing and nature, so the children can develop their physical and emotional competency naturally and build a sense of harmony with nature by experiencing nature in daily bases. The children sang a song for the group to welcome them too which made the group happy. The last day dinner was hosted by Jeju YMCA where President Kim Jong-duk and General Secretary Song Kyu-Jin were present. That night, the group had a special and final debrief session with GS Nam boo-won, where every group member shared their experiences and reflections in Korea and ask questions to GS Nam in terms of YMCA movement in Asia and the Pacific area.
On their departure, all the members with Korea YMCA hosts agreed to develop further collaboration and partnership on common agendas and program areas such as youth empowerment and global citizenship education.
By Daeun Yang, International Secretary, NCY-Korea
It’s Time: Igniting the Youth for Impact, 5th National Youth Assembly of the YMCA of the Philippines
Last Updated (Tuesday, 06 December 2022 12:25)
The YMCA of the Philippines held its 5th National Youth Assembly (NYA) with a theme It’s Time: Igniting the Youth for Impact at the Manila Downtown YMCA Auditorium last November 11, 2022. This assembly was well attended by 28 in-person attendees, and 25 registered virtual attendees representing 13 local YMCAs.
This assembly aims to empower the youth by equipping them with the necessary knowledge on key issues that the youth are currently facing, and these are:
- What is an Empowered YMCA Youth
- Physical and Mental Health in the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Sustainability and Climate Change
- Education Access and Quality
- Creating Social Impact
After talking about these key issues, participants are gathered in small groups to share their thoughts and insights on these key issues and how these affect them in real life. During the small group discussions, these are the following themes that surfaced to be common among all small groups:
- Rooted in our Ys – always remembering our Ys or our reason for being with and staying with the YMCA
- Taking space – standing ground that as the youth, we are equal members of the Young Men’s Christian Association and that this organization is an organization to the youth, for the youth, and by the youth
- Community trailblazers – as youth, we must take the lead in creating sustainable solutions for the issues that we are experiencing today. In our own ways, we have the capability to effect the changes that we want to see.
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| ↑ During Sessions | |
Last Updated (Monday, 03 October 2022 12:21)
YMCA of the Philippines conducts Youth and Staff Developmental Programs
By Francis Topia (Program Assistant and IT Staff)
The YMCA of the Philippines recently concluded two of its major developmental programs for this year. One of which is the first ever Digital and Media Literacy Workshop conducted by the National Office. This was attended by 10 local YMCA delegations from YMCA Pangasinan, Manila, Quezon City, Los Baños, San Pablo, Albay, Nueva Caceres Camarines Sur, Leyte, Cagayan de Oro, and YMCA Davao with a total of 42 registered young participants and was carried out virtually via Zoom last August 19, 26 and September 2 (Friday) from 2pm to 5pm. 
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Inaugural Day for National Sports Festival – 2022 ‘Sports for All’
Last Updated (Thursday, 01 September 2022 11:26)
The National Sports Festival 2022 ‘Inaugural Day’ ceremony was held on Friday, August 26, 2022 at 5:00 pm where all national leaders and dignitaries from respective places were invited to grace the occasion. The event took place on the spacious lawns of National YMCA Headquarters, New Delhi, and was attended by New Delhi YMCA Staff & Players, YMCA Multi-Sports Complex, Faridabad, Staff and Players and all National Headquarters Staff, New Delhi. FIT India Movement (An Initiative of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India) is the official partner of National Sports Festival from August 2022 to January 2023.
The Ceremony started with Opening Prayer by Mr. M. Satyaratan, Secretary, Finance & Administration, NCYI. Participants were welcomed by Mr. Bertram Devadas, National General Secretary, NCYI. Mr. Gaurav Kalyan, Vice-President, NCYI and Chairman, Youth Empowerment, Gender, Sports / Physical Recreation, addressed the gathering. Justice Jacob Benjamin Koshy (Retd.), President, NCYI graced the occasion while inaugurating the Ceremony as Chief Guest, and addressed the gathering; he advised everyone to participate in the field of sports and also told many benefits of doing sports activities. The dignitaries as Guests-of-Honor, Mr. M.S.Varughese, Executive Director, Sports Authority of India; Mr. Rupesh K. Pandey, Chief Executive Officer, Youth Hostels Association of India and Mr. Sunny Joshua, President, Delhi Athletic Association, brought Greetings representing their respective organizations. Justice J. B. Koshy, honoured the guests with shawl and mementos, followed by a friendly volleyball match played between New Delhi YMCA Vs YMCA Multi-Sports Complex, Faridabad. Vote of Thanks was offered by Mr. Koshy Alexander Vaidyan, Secretary, Youth Empowerment, Gender, Sports / Physical Recreation, followed by Closing Prayer by Mr. David Samuel, Secretary, Properties & Projects and then National Anthem sung by all the participants.
Read more: Inaugural Day for National Sports Festival – 2022 ‘Sports for All’
Special worship was held in YMCA Jeju International Youth Centre (IYC), where the APAY new office is being built
Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 August 2022 12:28)
“Once More, YMCA Movement” was the theme for the annual summer retreat of the Association of YMCA Secretaries (AOS) of the Korea YMCA was held in Jeju Youth Training Centre. 95 AOS members participated in the retreat from 25-27 August 2022. On the second day, special worship was organized in YMCA Jeju International Youth Centre (IYC) in the middle of Halla mountain, seeking God’s special blessing in constructing the APAY new office. GS Nam Boo Won of APAY, along with NSG Kim Kyung Min of Korea YMCA, was invited to the worship to briefly explain the office move and the plan of operation of the APAY office in the coming future.
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| ↑GS Nam giving welcome remarks in the worship | ↑Opening Ceremony of the AOS summer retreat |
The IYC is a youth campsite of Korea YMCA on Jeju Island, where the new HQ of the APAY will be in the near future. The construction of the HQ building started after a tedious process of getting formal permission for the construction from the Jeju local government. The construction is expected to be completed at the end of December 2022, so the APAY office will start its operation in the Jeju HQ in January 2023.
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