From Challenging Pathways to Inspirational Stories: YMCA Vocational and Soft Skills Programme

Aligned with the YMCA Vision 2030's pillar of meaningful work, the YMCA Vocational and Soft Skills Programme (VaSSP) serves as a pivotal conduit for youth empowerment. VaSSP engages out-of-school youth and youth-at-risk, fostering their social development and facilitating pathways to gainful employment and independent living. Youth participants get to choose a vocational track to specialise in, such as early childhood education and digital marketing. They are also equipped with essential skills for job readiness, encompassing effective communication, conflict management and resume writing.

Since its inception, YMCA VaSSP has transformed the lives of over 890 young individuals, offering them a tangible pathway towards a brighter future. Approximately 75% of programme graduates have successfully transitioned into further education or employment within 5 years, underscoring the profound impact of this programme in realising the vision of meaningful work outlined by the YMCA Vision 2030 framework.

Joachim is a distinguished alumnus of the YMCA VaSSP. Uninterested in academic pursuits, he made an early exit from school at the age of 14, finding his way to the world of culinary arts through the YMCA VaSSP. Determined to refine his craft upon his graduation from YMCA VaSSP, Joachim ventured into the culinary scene by joining a restaurant, where he not only honed his skills as a chef but also delved into the intricate world of fine dining. This hands-on experience fuelled his passion for the culinary arts, leading him to pursue a Diploma in Culinary Arts at SHATEC.

Joachim's professional odyssey took a significant turn when he became part of the culinary team at a restaurant in Swissotel. However, his culinary pursuits briefly paused when he enlisted in National Service, a compulsory military training programme for men in Singapore. Undeterred by the interruption, Joachim resumed his culinary journey with renewed zeal after completing his National Service commitment. Returning to the prestigious Swissotel establishment, he seamlessly picked up where he left off, bringing a wealth of experience and dedication to the culinary world.

Eager to broaden his culinary horizons, Joachim sought opportunities in Michelin-starred restaurants, where he gained valuable insights and refined his expertise. With his knowledge of French, Japanese and Italian cuisine, he skilfully integrates these influences into his culinary creations, adding a distinctive touch to his repertoire.

Presently, Joachim is carving his niche in the culinary landscape by establishing himself as a private/personal chef. Eschewing the conventional path, he brings his culinary mastery directly to clients, curating bespoke dining experiences that reflect his commitment to quality and individual taste preferences. Joachim’s culinary journey is a testament to the power of passion and resilience. With a keen appreciation for French and Italian cuisines, he artfully crafts each dish, showcasing a distinctive palate that sets him apart in the world of culinary arts.

From left to right: Simon, Ambassador for YMCA x NBCB Gastronomic Fiesta, Joachim, guest chef for YMCA x NBCB Gastronomic Fiesta and Tommy, owner of NBCB

In March 2024, YMCA of Singapore launched an awareness and micro-fundraising campaign titled Inclusivity Through the HeART of Food: YMCA x NBCB Gastronomic Fiesta, in support of youth-at-risk, youth with special needs and underprivileged children from YMCA Education Services. This campaign is in collaboration with Nothing But Cheeseburgers (NBCB), a thriving F&B venture in Singapore.  YMCA of Singapore has invited Joachim to come on board as the guest chef for the YMCA x NBCB Gastronomic Fiesta, where he is proud to introduce his selection of signature burgers exclusively at NBCB. Through his experiences in his culinary journey, his interactions with YMCA’s youth with special needs and children, Joachim gained the inspiration to create a delectable menu for a good cause, where funds raised will support YMCA’s youth programmes.

In support of this campaign, Joachim, alongside Singaporean social media influencer and youth advocate Simon Khung (@simonboyyyyyyy on Instagram and TikTok) and NBCB chef owner Tommy (@tommynbcb on Instagram), are coming together to share their incredible transformative stories. Be inspired by their journeys from adversity to achievement on YMCA’s social media channels (@ymca.singapore on Facebook and Instagram).

Marketing & Corporate Communications Team

YMCA of Singapore

Workshop on cybersecurity by YMCA Pakistan

The virtual world can sometimes prove to be a trap for young people, often targeted by malicious elements with nefarious designs. There is a need to be aware of such elements and blackmailers.

The Lahore YMCA, keeping up with the tradition of staying abreast of the latest developments, held a training workshop for young people to equip them with skills regarding cyber security. The workshop called 'Cyber Friday' was held at the YMCA Hall on Friday, attracting a large number of students from different institutions. The one-day workshop was also attended by leaders in different fields.

The workshop trained the participants on how to avoid being exploited on social media and explained to them tools for ensuring cyber security. The workshop practically trained the participants on how to safeguard themselves from issues related to cyber security.

Director, Lahore YMCA Haroon Rehmat was the chief guest on the occasion, and he, along with Emanuel Sarfraz, the General Secretary of YMCA gave certificates to the participants at the conclusion of the workshop. "YMCA will continue to hold such programs for the welfare of communities, and hopefully people benefiting from them will be able to safeguard themselves in challenging times," Rehmat said.

By Emanuel Sarfraz, General Secretary of YMCA Pakistan

Japanese and Ukrainian youth shared experiences through a photo exhibition and talk, promoting cultural exchange and understanding.

Last Updated (Friday, 12 January 2024 16:52)

I am Mizuki Sakachi from the Yokohama YMCA and I am also a member of the Change Agent cohort 5.0 from Japan. I got involved in the YMCA when I was a university student and I have been working in the Yokohama YMCA for about 8 years now. This time I got the opportunity to work with Ukrainian youth refugees so I would like to share my experience.

We held a photo exhibition and talk event "We love Yokohama as well as my hometown" on November 11, 2023. This event is a collaborative project among Yokohama City, Yokohama International Friendship Association, Yokohama City University, and Yokohama YMCA, aimed to facilitate friendship between youths from Ukraine and local Yokohama youths, encouraging them to explore each other's positive aspects. This collaborative project was started because Ms. Soheila, the president of the world YMCA visited Yokohama in June and met the mayor of Yokohama city. During her Courtesy call to Yokohama she emphasized Youth empowerment. So we decided to start this project. My role in this project was as the program coordinator, as a youth staff member of the YMCA. I planned the meeting, and an in-person gathering, and created the webpage for this event, designed the poster and invitation format, and translated the subtitles of Ukrainian youths' speech, presentation and interview video. I was also a facilitator of each gathering and event. I learned a lot from this project and this was a great opportunity for me to think about “Just world” and “Youth empowerment”.

The preparation period for this event was approximately two months. Initially, a kickoff meeting was held on September 9th at Yokohama Central YMCA, where youths met face-to-face and online to discuss their interests and preferences.

Subsequently, on October 8th, a photo session took place. Ukrainian and Yokohama youths were divided into small groups and explored different districts of Yokohama. Before the exploration, a guest speaker session was conducted at the Yokohama Central YMCA. Ms. Katsuta, a member of the Yokohama YMCA English School, shared her experiences working as an elementary school teacher in Yokohama and explained her experiences during the East Japan Great Earthquake. Following that, Mr. Mishima from Yokohama City spoke about the history, development, and current initiatives in Yokohama. Afterwards, 16 youth participants were given disposable cameras and explored different places in Yokohama city.

On October 21st, an online meeting was held where volunteer members introduced their hometowns. Following the meeting, our members were requested to prepare photos and accompanying texts to introduce their hometowns at the photo exhibition.

On October 27th and 30th, Kateryna, a Ukrainian staff member at Yokohama YMCA, conducted interviews with Ukrainian youths. The interviews were conducted at Yokohama Park, Yokohama Central YMCA, and also online. Liliia who is also an Ukrainian staff member edited the video and translated it into English.

On November 1st, a press release for the event was issued by Yokohama City. We started off the PR through SNS. And the poster illustration used for publicity was created by a student member of Yokohama City University.

The exhibition at the venue included photos of Odessa, Ukraine since Odessa is a sister town with Yokohama city. And posters with photos and explanations of Ukrainian youth's hometowns followed, Yokohama youth's hometowns, and instant camera photos from the exploration of Yokohama.

Visitors engaged in lively conversations with youths, asking questions about their hometowns in a friendly atmosphere. Following that, Kateryna and Liliia from Ukraine delivered speeches in Ukrainian, sharing their experiences of coming to Japan and living in Yokohama, and discussing their future plans. Afterwards, we watched the interview video of Ukrainian youths together.

After the speech session, we had a small gathering involving tasting Ukrainian bread, Piroshki. This provided an excellent opportunity for youths to build friendships. 

In conclusion, I had never talked with a Ukrainian before, and I hadn't really thought about what kind of country Ukraine is, what language they speak, or what kind of people live there. Being in Japan, it's easy to be insensitive to what's happening in Ukraine. However, making friends from Ukraine has made me feel more connected to the situation. Yet, I  communicate with Ukrainian youths in English, it's a second or third language for both of us. I am not sure how much we truly grasp each other's intentions. Through this project, I got to know their hometowns. Their beautiful cities and nature which look totally different from Japan. It makes me want to visit Ukraine someday. I believe encounters and experiences during the critical time of their youth can change their entire life. I hope that the years they spend in Japan bring positive influences to their lives and peace will come to Ukraine very soon.

 By Mizuki Sakachi, Yokohama YMCA, Japan