YMCA Regional Youth Conference 2014

Last Updated (Tuesday, 07 October 2014 20:46)

The APAY Youth Conference is an annual program of the Youth Participation and Leadership Development Committee of APAY. This is a platform where young people together share their own YMCA youth empowerment activities and learn new experiences from other national movement youth empowerment actions. This year theme of the youth conference was “Youth Engagement for Sustainable Development”. At the conference the participants dwelt on YMCA volunteerism and build new generation of leaders for sustainability of the YMCA and community. Global Citizenship Education was one of the priority areas for training of the young people and developed as a unique platform to prepare the youth to become effective leaders and change-makers in their respective communities. This one of the tools to help equip the youth for progressive leadership development, making them committed youth leaders and ready to actively participate and take greater responsibilities in promoting common consciousness and understand about global realities.

The APAY Youth Conference was held 25-30 August 2014 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Sixty Two youths from various countries of our region, like Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Myanmar, Mongolia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Cambodia took part in the Regional Youth Conference 2014, this was hosted by Cambodia YMCA.

The Deputy General Director of ministry of education, youth and sports of Cambodia, Mr. Chek Lim, was the guest of honor and talked about current youth development of Cambodia. Cambodia Government mainly focuses youth education and development providing more facilities to schools and universities for higher education. He hoped that the YMCA Regional Youth Conference shall integrate the Cambodian youths to build good relations with other youths of our region.

Mr. Max Ediger, was the key resource person. He presentation was about hope and change, though sharing his years of experience and all the lessons he has learned in life. He then enumerated the lessons we could learn from the face, on the topics of sustainable development, transformation, volunteering, struggle, focus, vision, patience, comfort-zone and courage.

After his sharing, the delegates were divided into groups and shared with each other the issues and struggles their respective countries are currently facing.

Youth Development officer APAY, Mr. Roger Peiris shared APAY youth empowerment program which are leading by Youth participation and leadership development committee. Participants shared their national and local youth empowerment presentations.

Dr. Sok Toch rector of Khemarak University addressed about Cambodian Independence, Democracy, Conflict with Cambodian and Vietnam Community, Cultural evaluation, Conflict with China and Russia, and the difficulties and the development of Cambodia.

The Exposure visited the Toul Sleng Museum, which was known as S-21 and Killing Fields during the 1975-1979. The Cambodian YMCA staff, together with the local participants, explained to the history of Khmer Rouge. They elaborated how the intellectuals and wealthy people were tortured and killed during that time, while touring everyone around the same buildings where the gruesome acts were conducted. It was apparent in the air that the participants were overwhelmed by the unbelievable atrocities that happened during the Khmer Rouge reign.

The participants visited the slums Bor Brok community in Phnom Penh, Cambodia YMCA project area where participants witnessed the plight of the poor people in Cambodia. Participants divided 10 different groups; each group interviewed many families, Elderly people, children living in the neighborhood and got to know them. Cambodia YMCA youth volunteers explained Cambodia YMCA service projects and how they engagement with Bor Brok community. The participant met families who are beneficiaries of Cambodia YMCA’s home stay program. The young people got to know a lot about the living conditions of Phnom Penh residents and also about Cambodia YMCA’s projects and activities, while getting a look around the area.

The participants shared thoughts and feelings about the exposure trip. They showed different ways Dramas, Live show, News , Presentation etc.

Mr. Bunthok Deth, General Secretary of Cambodia YMCA gave a speech highlighting the youth volunteers’ roles and responsibilities regarding local and national issues. He stressed the importance of being persistent and determined. The youth should be prepared to become the strongest foundation of a country. An analogy of this is that youth are similar to the foundation of a house, and a house represents a country. There needs to be a good foundation in order to build a strong house with a good quality. This applies to the relationship between the youth and a country.

Mr. Max Ediger shared about systematic analysis and lateral thinking, which are helpful strategies in life. He conducted puzzles and games to waken the minds of the participants and encourage them to think differently and more progressively.

He gave every group a big piece of white paper and asked them to make a drawing showing one issue that they saw in the poor community and the ways of solving it. The participants unleashed their creativity in order to share with each other their thoughts, feelings, and opinions.

Open flow discussion asked inquiry what is your respond through YMCA those issues? Young people willing to help YMCA though community work. They are committed to give their volunteer support. They requested YMCA make plan more integrate young people for community empowerment work.

Every national movement shared their national action plans related youth empowerment. Bangladesh: Promoting camping, Philippines: Promoting Human resources through local events, Cambodia: National youth gathering ,Thailand: One night camp (invite beneficiaries to attend), Sri Lanka: Re activate Youth Club , Hong Kong: No internet facilities in Restaurant (build human relationship), Myanmar: Workshop promote volunteerism, Vietnam: Education for youth, Japan: Study tour/ educate why Japan people needs to be happy.