Building a Just and Participatory Civil Society

Generally, civil society is an inclusive process open to everyone to participate. At the same time, individuals have a responsibility to both self and to community.

The conceptual framework of civil society comes from an understanding of the three-fold nature of a society, namely, State, Market, and Civil Society. Civil society may be understood clearly in relation to the concept and function of State or political arena and Market or economic arena. Each area has its own functional logic, that is, power in the case of State, profit in Market, common good or values in the case of Civil Society. There can exist civil societies at local, national, regional and global levels.

Mobility within the three sectors of society is an important consideration. Markets are very mobile. Globalisation has substantially increased mobilisation, and the fracturing of markets and civil society. The information technology advances have substantially increased mobilisation.

A civil society includes:

Human Values Money

Compassion Respect

Responsibility (self) Inclusiveness

Knowledge Sharing Citizens (individual, group, networks)

Mobility Freedom of movement, religion, speech, etc.

Sustainability Caring for neighbours

Independence

In further reflecting on civil society, there should be more analysis on how civil society responds to economic activity. Also, civil society means different things to different people and to different cultures and countries. Further, civil society is constantly changing so the YMCAs need to be flexible in their approaches towards contributing within this framework.

One of the 12 imperatives in the Mission Statement of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs clearly states, "Participate actively in the Building of civil societies". One may raise questions as to how the YMCA mission relates to the work of building civil society. Challenge 21 , the contemporary expression of YMCA mission adopted at the 14 th World Council of YMCAs in 1998, points to various aspects of strengthening civil society:

• Empowering all

• Advocating for and promoting the people's rights

• Fostering dialogue and partnership

• Committing to work in solidarity with the poor

• Seeking to be mediators and reconcilers

• Defending God's creation

The YMCA can play three major roles in civil society: advocacy, service delivery and empowerment through education, awareness building and support . All of these functions can best be carried out through a process of solidarity. Solidarity can be achieved through support, accountability and knowledge.

Moreover, the YMCAs can contribute towards building a Just and Participatory Civil Society through the following:

• APAY as a Resource Base . The Alliance could encourage National Councils and local Associations to document successful programmes as well as conceptual understanding of civil society. These ideas and stories may be collated for dissemination and sharing with the National and local YMCAs through various communication channels particularly utilising internet-based communication structures.

• Acting locally. Local YMCAs are encouraged to seek out and adopt successful programmes from other YMCAs. Exchanges for learning, sharing, and acting together may be revitalised.

• YMCA as a CSO leader. All Associations, Councils and Alliances may assess existing structures, systems and processes on the basis that all YMCAs must be a microcosm of the civil society they wish to participate in. YMCAs may likewise provide public education programmes promoting civil society values.

• Focus on Youth. Emphasis on youth empowerment and support for youth's readiness to take up lead role in strengthening civil society should be affirmed.

• Renewed Partnerships and Cooperation. Promote synergies in governance, resources and knowledge between APAY, National Councils and local YMCAs. Constructive and strategic actions towards creating and maintaining networks and cooperation with NGOs, government and business sector should be sustained.

This space provides insights on civil society and hopefully would stimulate leaders to reflect further on the building a just and participatory civil society. This also shares case stories by different YMCAs in our region, contributing to the building/strengthening of civil societies within their own socio-historical contexts.

As a scholar put it relevantly, the rise of civil society has for the first time become a global phenomenon. It is no longer confined to a few economically advanced and privileged countries. The idea that even the poor have rights and can exercise them in various ways is now being spread to all corners of the world.

We would like to warmly invite you to a journey of the YMCA works on building just and participatory civil society.

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