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.

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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.

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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY REGIONAL VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM

Last Updated (Saturday, 03 April 2021 12:16)

Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world

The Gender Equity Committee of the APAY organized a regional Symposium on Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in COVID-19 world to commemorate and celebrate together the international women’s day on 8th March. World YMCA President Patricia Pelton, Dr Aruna Gnanadasan, Convener of the Indian Christian Women’s Movement, General Secretary Nam Boo Won were the speakers on various topics. President Chen chin-Seng, Secretary-General Carlos Sanvee shared solidarity greetings in journeying together in achieving an equal world! Dr Hahn Meerha, Chair of the GEC, gave the welcome greetings, and Ms Sunita Suna, executive secretary for programs and responsible for Gender Justice Program in APAY, delivered the symposium's introductory remarks. Ms Siu Law, Mr Asher Leo, and Ms Cecilia Lou moderated the symposium. Around 45 members joined the Symposium from Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan.

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APAY’S PARALLEL EVENT DURING THE UN CSW65

Last Updated (Saturday, 03 April 2021 12:09)

Towards a Safe, Just and Inclusive World: Women’s Participation in Decision Making

This year the United Nations Commission on Status of Women (UN CSW 65) organized virtually, from March 15-26, 2021, which is an opportunity for many of us to participate online. Thanks to the World YMCA leadership for coordinating the regions and bringing a delegation from different parts of the world to join the Virtual UN CSW 65 this year. Eleven members from APAY, mainly the Gender Equity Committee (GEC) members, attended the UN CSW 65. The UN CSW 65 invited us to initiate discourse and dialogue on an overarching theme “Women's full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.”

Perhaps this is the first time the Gender Equity Committee of the Asia & Pacific Alliance of YMCAs (APAY) organized a CSW Parallel Event during the UN CSW65 on March 25, from 13:00-15:00 GMT. The Parallel Event theme: “Towards a Safe, Just and Inclusive World: Women’s Participation in Decision Making” to advocate for a safe, just and inclusive world in solidarity with women worldwide. Around 45 participants attended from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America.

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