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APAY Regional Workshop on Social Economy
Last Updated (Wednesday, 11 September 2013 16:51)
26 June to 1 July, 2013
Seoul, Korea
Introduction
Social Economy is considered as an alternative economic system when the market economy has totally failed to bring economic emancipation for the people in modern days. The outcome from the Bretton Wood Institutions formed in the last century after the WW2 never brought good news for the mass people of the countries of the South. The market economy dwelt on the values of profitability only, made the world divided between the rich and the poor and the gap ever widening. The recent economic recessions in US and Europe lead to untold suffering of the people and the bailout procedures only helped the financial institutions earn more while leaving the vast majority of the mass people in deprivation.
In such a situation there is a need for an alternative way to nurture the economy, based the values of cooperation, mutual respect, social entrepreneurship and social welfare. The social economy, is termed as ‘third sector’ and ‘non-profit sector’, refers to the various organizations between the state and the market, fulfilling both economic and social welfare objectives. The organizations include associations, traditional co-operatives, social co-operatives, charities, foundations and other types of organizations. These organizations usually do not distribute the profit but invests those again for cumulative effects of their missions. Volunteerism is the key human resource of social economy. The decision making bodies of these organizations are generally comprised of volunteers. Historically it has been observed that when people are economically depressed, they unite in solidarity and form social enterprises for their mutual benefit. Such enterprises prevail both in the South as well in the North too.
Advance Training of Trainers in Gender Mainstreaming 2013
Last Updated (Friday, 29 March 2013 14:11)
Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs
Gender Equity Committee
Advance Training of Trainers in Gender Mainstreaming
3-10 June 2013, Bangkok Christian Guest House
Bangkok, Thailand
I. Introduction:
According to the Asia-Pacific Human Development Report in 2010, “in every country across the region, pervasive gender inequality remains a barrier to progress, justice and social stability and hinders the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Discrimination and neglect are threatening women’s every survival where women suffer from the lowest rates of political representation, employment and property ownership and their lack of participation is also depressing economic growth”. Various issues and categories of physical, domestic, sexual violence, harassment, discrimination, rights denial, subjugation and dehumanizing treatment are still common realities for many girls and women of our time.
After long years of attempts and efforts to advance our responses and achieve positive change in gender mainstreaming towards social change through the YMCA work, we realize that we are still far from reaching those goals. We seemed to have taken only minimal initiatives and responses in integrating the process into the overall work of the movement. The interests shown by leaders in this area of work along with the attention given by the policy and decision makers in the movement appear to be on the low side.
As has been written, shared and discussed in some platforms, “gender equality is the goal of gender mainstreaming. Mainstreaming requires integration of gender equality concerns into every aspect of the development process, including the functioning of institutions of governance” of an organization. It is a powerful tool for social change because it takes into account and responds to the intersections of power, wealth, knowledge, capabilities and rights in creating and sustaining gender inequality. (Jim Chalmers) It is sad to note, however, that after 25 long years or more of having this issue-based APAY thrust, the YMCAs have gained not much experience that can be sharedas part of their strategic and specific action plans. Though we recognize the leadership initiatives in the YMCA strategic goals, we know that, in practice, we do not have effective strategies to achieve institutional and social change in our respective movements.
Therefore, as it is not simply an issue within a sector as expressed during the Committee meeting, but more of an overarching issue of human experience,we need to address some key issues within and among us to be able to devise effective strategies that are workable and implementable in our respective contexts. As it has been asked: if policy/program formulation is the key challenge, what is the specific institutional factor that hinders change? What is our experience in changing the environment, beliefs, norms, organizations, attitudes and actions which shape gender mainstreaming processes?Is structural change the first concern or is it our own personal conversion?
As recommended by the Gender Equity Committee of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs an advanced training of trainers will again be conducted to further train and enable YMCA staff and volunteersto effectively implement awareness raising program in respective YMCAs/communities, raise consciousness on gender issues and concerns, sensitize members and volunteers in local/national movements and further develop trainers at the respective YMCAs. This will hopefully move forward gender mainstreaming in the different YMCAs and communities towards social change.It is therefore recommended that volunteers and staff leaders in the decision making be involved in this process.
Read more: Advance Training of Trainers in Gender Mainstreaming 2013
Green Ambassadors Training 2013
Last Updated (Thursday, 31 July 2014 20:14)
APAY 2nd Green Ambassadors Training
The Green Ambassadors Training, second of its kind was organized by the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs and took place in Wu KwaiSha Youth Village, Hong Kong during 8 – 14 May 2013. Eleven participants representing YMCA Movements of Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Macau, Pakistan, Taiwan and Thailand participated at the Training Program. The APAY Green Team Members facilitated the Training Program.
Rev. Simon Chan, Assistant General Secretary, Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong led the Opening Devotion on the inaugural day. Mr. Yau ChungWan, President of the APAY, Mr. Karl Lau, General Secretary of the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong and Honorary General Secretary of the Council of YMCAs of Hong Kong and Mr. Kohei Yamada, General Secretary, APAY were present at the inaugural session of the Training Program and encouraged the participants to be more involved in green activities in their respective YMCAs.
GATN Program Managers Training 2013
Last Updated (Friday, 29 March 2013 13:59)
GATN Program Managers Training
Pangasinan, Philippines
17 – 22, April 2013
Introduction
Alternative Tourism is a process, which promotes a fair share or just form of traveling activities between members of different communities, in order to achieve mutual understanding, solidarity and equality. It is a form of tourism that has minimum negative impacts on the physical and sociocultural environment in destination areas and the local community is substantially benefitted from the tourism program.
Soon after the hosting the YMCA International Forum on Alternative Tourism in Cambodia in November, 2011, the APAY GATN Task Force actively got engaged in promoting the GATN amongst our YMCAs in our region. A planning workshop of APAY GATN was held during August 31st – September 2nd, 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand. The GATN Plan of Action for the next three years was finalized at the workshop. It was decided to develop and certify a total of 50 alternative tourism sites in the next three years in our region, enhance human resource skills, provide necessary trainings to the Managers who are managing the alternative tourism sites.During the year 2012, a total of 10 Alternative Tourism Site based on CHANGE principles were formed in various parts of our region. These Alternative Tourism sites comprise educational tours, cultural and nature tours, pilgrimage tours and embrace civil movement for building global solidarity and volunteerism. Our endeavor continues for establishing more alternative tourism sites in the YMCAs of our region. All these sites are now hosted in our new website www.ymcatourism.org
As a follow up of the GATN 3 Years Strategic Plan, the first Training Workshop for the Alternative Tourism Sites’Program Managers shall be held during 17 – 22, April 2013 at Pangasinan, Philippines. (inclusive of days of arrival and departure in Manila). The YMCA of Philippines and the YMCA of Pangasinan, Philippines are the co-host of the training program.
APAY Change Agents Training 8th-10th March 2013, 2013
Last Updated (Tuesday, 17 December 2013 13:54)
January 11, 2013
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Greetings!
In preparation for the upcoming Executive Committee Meeting and related meetings on 5-8 March 2013 and the succeeding Youth Representatives Training, we would like to invite ‘Youth Reps’ who were unable to join the youth gathering and orientation held in Sri Lanka in August 2012. To make this training/orientation more interactive and participatory, we are also inviting some of the Youth Reps who have joined the gathering and orientation in Sri Lanka to share their local/national good practice model and other experiences.
The names below are to be invited to attend the Youth Meeting and Training.
In this regard, we invite them to come and participate in the ECM Youth Training. They should arrive in Hong Kong on March 7 and leave late afternoon or evening of March 10. They will be billeted at Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village at Shatin.
Attached is the program schedule for your reference.
Thank you again for your continued support and favourable response.
Very truly yours,
Kohei Yamada
General Secretary
Asia & Pacific Alliance of YMCAs
 Youth Reps orientation & training | (Filesize: 42.8 KB) |
| Youth Reps Training-Schedule | (Filesize: 9.1 KB) |
| Youth Reps Registration Form | (Filesize: 45.2 KB) |
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