APAY Gender Equity Committee (GEC) Meeting held via Zoom

Last Updated (Wednesday, 18 November 2020 15:54)

APAY Gender Equity Committee (GEC) Meeting held via Zoom

- Dr. Meerha Hahn elected as Chair –

The GE Committee meeting was held virtually on November 4, at 3 PM HKT. The members, including invitees and APAY staff, attended the meeting.

The main agenda of the meeting was to elect the new Chairperson for the GEC, for the current quadrennium (2020-2023), and discuss the upcoming gender justice programs and activities.

The election of the Chair was postponed due to the COVID19 pandemic and the possibility of a face to face meeting is grim in the present situation, that led us to organize this virtual meeting. We are happy to inform that the members elected Dr Meerha Hahn as the new chairperson of the GEC for the next quadrennium to lead the GEC and advance the work of the gender justice programs in the Asia and Pacific region through the APAY.

The members are thankful to Ms Nagako Okado, the former Chairperson, for her excellent work with passion and commitment towards gender justice for the past four years. The members appreciated Ms Cristina Miranda, who was the staff in charge of the gender justice program for her hard works to implement all the proposed programs and recommendations of the GEC in the Asia and Pacific region.

The members also discussed the immediate upcoming gender justice programs and planned to meet again to develop the gender justice program strategy for the next quadrennium.

Read more: APAY Gender Equity Committee (GEC) Meeting held via Zoom

Travel the YMCA Way - GATN campaign at the YLSS

Last Updated (Wednesday, 18 November 2020 15:54)

The Youth-Led Solution Summit is an initiative of the World YMCA, in collaboration with YMCA of the USA and the YMCA of San Francisco, the United Nations, academia and external partners to empower young people and drive social innovation to advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The vison of the Summits is to amplify youth solutions that positively impact local and global sustainability, the development of just and equitable communities, and the well-being of all people.

The first in the series of Summits, held virtually from 12-23 October 2020, focused on Climate Action. More than 700 young leaders between the ages of 15-35 from over 30 countries in six continents joined this event via online workshops, keynotes, interactive virtual engagement and solutions showcase event throughout the two weeks, and commitment to advance the environmental action to reduce climate change. Young people from APAY provided two workshops in YLSS, one is Carbon Footprint Calculation, and the other one is GATN (Global Alternative Tourism Network).

A lot of the YMCA youth empowerment programs involve travel, e.g. workshops, youth exchange, conferences, workcamps, etc. However, traveling by air has very high carbon footprint, making up 70% of the total carbon footprint of each trip. We need to mitigate for our carbon footprint, through our behavior and activities that we engage in at the destination. The YLSS workshop was a good opportunity for us to promote the mission of GATN to teach our young people to travel responsibly and sustainably. “Traveling the YMCA way”… that should be our new travel lifestyle, even into our daily life.

In GATN workshop, Taichung YMCA showcased how their young people traveled responsibly and sustainably. Traveling Taichung YMCA's way is through the International Service Trips and over 800 young people from Taiwan join this program every year. It's a life changing experience for these young people and they will remember it for the rest of their lives. They will be traveling responsibly and sustainably for the rest of their lives, including their consumption habits, their respect and actions to protect the environment.

The proposal from the Taichung Solutions team to combat climate change is to change the whole paradigm of travel and tourism. Traveling the YMCA way is to live a responsible and sustainable lifestyle.

Read more: Travel the YMCA Way - GATN campaign at the YLSS

Youth-Led Solutions Initiative on Climate Change

Last Updated (Wednesday, 18 November 2020 15:52)

One hundred twenty-five young people represented the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs to the recently concluded Youth-Led Solution Initiative (YLSI) on Climate Change organized by World YMCA, in collaboration with YMCA of USA and the YMCA of San Francisco. The YMCA also partnered with the United Nations to celebrate the signing of the UN Charter. The virtual events took place from 12-23 October 2020 with two live events that featured key leaders from the YMCAs, UN and various individuals and organizations working to address climate change.

The youth representing APAY comprises of 13 local and national ‘Solutions Teams’ from 10 national movements namely, Australia, Cambodia, India, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Mongolia, Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand. Each team has been engaged with series of discussion on issues related to climate crisis and exploration of youth-led solutions. The regional office facilitated series of online discussions and learnings over a couple of months to prepare our youth group to the launching of YLSI. To culminate the learning experience, APAY organized a virtual regional dialogue that included a keynote presentation on climate crisis and green new deal by Sze Pang Cheung, Executive Director, Greenpeace East Asia; and the sharing of concept papers on climate change solutions plan. Each solutions team developed the project proposals for submission to the global planning team of YLSI for possible seed fund grant.

↑  APAY YLS Team at the regional conversation

The APAY also facilitated online workshops on subject matters taught during APAY Green Ambassadors Training and GATN Manager’s Training. These workshops included input on Carbon Footprint Calculation by APAY Green Team Member Colin Lambie and Global Alternative Tourism by Taichung YMCA and GATN APAY. APAY was also represented by Hemant Yauthai, a Green Ambassador Alumni and a young volunteer at Sao Hin YMCA, Chiangmai during the youth dialogue session. APAY also took part in the YLSI program plan and design through its youth representatives to the YLSI Global Planning Committee namely Magda Gana, YMCA of Makati, Philippines and Jeannie Chen, YMCA Taichung, Taiwan.

The two-week virtual gathering that was joined by around 600 young people from around the globe included online workshops, roundtables, keynote, interactive virtual engagement and solutions showcase. The event was designed with the vision to amplify youth solutions that positively impact local and global sustainability, the development of just and equitable communities, and the well-being of the people.

~ Maria Cristina Miranda, Executive Secretary for Programs

Green Ambassadors Training (Virtual)

Last Updated (Wednesday, 18 November 2020 15:51)

6-12 October 2020; 3:00-6:00 pm HKT

One of the intervention programs of Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs in its continued efforts to combat climate change is its annual conduct of the Green Ambassadors Training. Due however to the current COVID19 situation, the training was held virtually last 6-12 October 2020 at 3-6pm (HKT). Around 70 young staff and volunteers from the YMCA movements in China, Hong Kong, India, Myanmar, Mongolia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand participated the said training that was aimed to educate YMCA staff, leaders, volunteers, youth and communities to bring about behavioral changes in order to reduce carbon footprints and to advocate for eco-justice. The training that was moderated by the APAY Green Team included the following areas of learning as part of the continued commitment to strengthen Green Movement towards a carbon neutral YMCA by 2030: Climate Crisis, Policy and Advocacy on Climate Justice: A keynote presentation by Sze Pang Cheung, Executive Director, Greenpeace East Asia Carbon Emission and Carbon Footprint Calculation and YMCA towards becoming Carbon Neutral by 2030: an input presentation and workshop by Colin Lambie, APAY Green team Member and YMI Green Team Sustainable Development Goals on Climate Change: an input presentation by Lee Man Key, APAY Green Team Member and Coordinating Secretary (Kowloon District 1), Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong Action Planning led by Narupacha Muang-in, APAY Green Team Member and Head of Climate Change Education Program at Sao Hin YMCA The training also included case studies related to YMCA good practices on climate change action. Three YMCAs presented their case studies and the impact it created to their communities. The following case studies were presented: Green YMCA and Green Community: YMCA of Makati, YMCA Philippines; Presented by Magda Gana, Program Secretary, YMCA of Makati, Green Ambassador Batch 2018 Sao Hin YMCA Educational Center; Presented by Narupacha Muang-in, Head of Climate Change Education Program at Sao Hin YMCA Environmental Conservation; Presented by Saw Tun Lu, Manager, Sustainable Livelihood and Community Development Project, Myanmar YMCA Equally important session included the participants sharing of their national environment and climate change situation; and the current actions done in their respective countries and/or YMCAs. The participants also presented their action plan/project that is intended to be directly implemented in their respective YMCAs or communities.

↑  Green Ambassadors Training 2020 Participants with their commitment to take action on Climate Change Through the designed learning sessions, APAY is confident that the participants, referred to as Green Ambassadors, will continue the work in encouraging their respective YMCAs and communities to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions; forming and/or strengthening Green Team in local YMCAs levels; increasing its engagement in environmentally friendly practices in local YMCAs and communities by integrating environmental issues into YMCA programs; creating more Green YMCAs and Green Communities; expanding Green YMCA and Green Organization Network; conducting carbon audit; and developing green action plan towards becoming a carbon neutral YMCA by 2030. ~ Maria Cristina Miranda, Executive Secretary for Programs