YMCA's

Committee on Youth Participation and Leadership Development

Terms of Reference

The Youth Forum 2005 in Mumbai , India declared , “There is nothing more critical to the survival of the YMCA for another 150 years, than the involvement and empowerment of youth at all levels of our Movement.” The 1st Youth Assembly Youth in 2006, and the Youth Caucus 2008 reiterated these sentiments.

The YMCA Movements in the region recognize the importance of the potential and participation of young people in leadership in the development and strengthening of the movement to fulfill its Mission . The past Quadrennial Programme Plan (QPP) emphasized and encouraged National Movements to build a strong youth membership and leadership at the Local, National and Regional levels.

However, there is generally a lack of formal space and representation within the YMCAs for youth to be actively involved in determining how to address youth concerns in particular and for overall engagement in YMCA, in general. Given the present reality in many movements, there is a need for a change of mindsets of YMCA leaders and the Youth Constituency, to be open to one another. The YMCA has to be more inclusive, especially to young people's participation and leadership in the development of the YMCA and the society.

PROGRAMME PLANS – 2008-2011