This issue of Headlines focuses on key matters deliberated during the recently held Executive Committee and Related Committees of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs.

The leaders of the National Council of YMCAs of Korea and Jeju YMCA, in a gracious expression of solidarity announced through representative Dr. Park Jai Chang, also a Vice President of APAY, that the Korea YMCA and Jeju YMCA were withdrawing their bid to host the 17 th General Assembly, in favour of Sri Lanka. They hoped that this move would further strengthen and encourage the Sri Lankan YMCA as it channels efforts into the post-tsunami recovery, rebuilding and reconstruction work. This magnanimous gesture was greeted with silence and then spontaneous applause.

We express our thanks and appreciation to the leaders of both the Korean YMCA and Jeju YMCA for the solidarity with the Sri Lankan YMCA.

Our congratulations to the Sri Lankan YMCA, the host for the next Assembly in 2007!

I met with the Assembly core planning team formed by the Sri Lanka YMCA recently during the tsunami Partners Coordinating Group meeting in Colombo. Mr. Eraj Wijesinghe, a Vice President of APAY and a former President of the Sri Lanka YMCA is leading the team. The tentative dates proposed for the Assembly to be held in Colombo are 7-11 September 2007.

The Executive Committee and Related Meetings of the Alliance held from 3-5 March 2005 at the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong, was attended by 96 leaders and representatives from 19 YMCA movements from around the region. We would like to share here the plans and processes adopted by the Executive Committee to achieve the quadrennial focus and thrust, 2005-2007:

2.1 Focus: Contemporary Mission and Social Relevance

• A Mission and Membership Roundtable to focus on nurturing our Christian identity and clarifying our Mission in the context of our society, and heritage of the YMCA concepts of Membership and Mission for transformation of society.

• The theme for the 150 th Anniversary of World Alliance of YMCAs and Adoption of Paris Basis launched in Paris on 19 March 2005 is Celebrating, Envisioning and Building Peace With Justice. Movements in the region are encouraged to participate in the global Celebration event on 16-22 August in Mumbai, India, and to be involved as a region in the envisioning process of the YMCA.

• Movements are further encouraged to celebrate the founding of the World Alliance and adoption of the Paris Basis by organising events during the "150 days of Events Around the World" leading up to the Mumbai Celebration. These could include studies of the YMCA's heritage and Mission, and sharing significant impacts of the YMCA's work within the community, the nation, and world-wide.

• The 17 th General Assembly of APAY - 2007 expected to bring together more than 300 YMCA leaders from YMCAs in the region to Sri Lanka, will focus on identified contextual issues amidst the rapidly changing socio-cultural and geo-political environment in the region and globally.

• A Planning and Writing Workshop will be held to develop the theme, programme content, the processes and workbook for the General Assembly.

• A Workshop on Contemporary Mission - Faith and Worship will be held to study and formulate contemporary, participatory and creative liturgies reflective of our region's varied and diverse cultures through biblical reflections to express the contemporary mission of the YMCA (previous Quadrennial Programme Plan's proposal for Participatory Bible Study) .

2.2 Building Community and a Culture of Peace

• A Regional Workshop on Poverty Alleviation to strengthen the leadership of national and local YMCAs involved in poverty alleviation programmes, focussing on participatory development processes.

• A Training Workshop on Building Community to enhance community based development processes to raise understanding among the participants on rebuilding community to create better living environments that ensure harmony between people and nature, respecting culture and religions and space for transformation of lifestyles.

• Peace-building Programmes to encourage YMCAs located in conflicts zones and other YMCAs to become peace builders through holistic and integrated approaches of peace building. These could include programmes that empower vulnerable groups such as children, youth and women, and promote greater participation in building civil society such as E-Peace Consultation, Youth Peace Camps, Training in Peacemaking for Teachers, Conflict Transformation, Youth Peace Movements, environmental conservation and protection, and expansion of poverty alleviation.

• The existing Network of YMCAs Working with Migrant Workers should be expanded with emphasis for active participation of YMCAs in receiving countries. It is recommended that YMCAs in the sending and receiving countries of migrant workers consider organising "a migrant service centre" to provide migrants workers necessary assistance and protection from exploitation.

• For greater engagement in Interfaith Cooperation Programmes , Local and National movements are encouraged to initiate networking and partnerships with other faith-based organisations, especially those working in interfaith peace building.

• strong> The APAY will join the CCA, Hong Kong Christian Council and Association of Christian Institute for Social Concern in Asia to organise a conference on " Striving for Economic Justice and Social Sustainability" on 9-10 December 2005 as a Response to the WTO Conference to be held in Hong Kong in December.

2.3 Gender Equity

• The results of a Gender Equity Survey conducted in 2004 showed that some local YMCAs are still not accepting women as full members. Such Movements are urged to make the necessary constitutional changes to empower women as full members for greater involvement in the YMCA. Various resolutions in recent APAY General Assemblies and regional level deliberations have called for such a transformational change within our own movement.

• The key step forward for Gender Equity is Leadership Capacity Building for Women based on the missional role of women in the YMCA and society. Movements are urged to integrate national processes for capacity building for leadership in the Movement and in doing gender-based programmes through:

  • Gender-based Leaders' Exchanges,
  • E-Forum/Communities of Practice/Gender-based Resource Development
  • Ecumenical Networking and Partnership on common gender concerns
  • Gender-based Mission in Action Programmes
  • Women's Caucus at the 17 th General Assembly

2.4 Youth Participation and Leadership Development

Youth Participation and Leadership Development in YMCA is a high priority in the region. However, a Survey on the status of youth in the YMCA showed that much more needs to be done at local and national levels. A three-phase process towards substantial participation of youth in the YMCAs is proposed to encourage a higher level of involvement and commitment from the Local and National Movements. The process involves YMCAs at the local and national levels:

•  Developing at local/national levels, a strong base group
(e.g. Uni/College Y, Interest/issue-oriented groups, etc.)

•  Establishing at local/national levels, a formal space/structure
(e.g. Youth Committee, Council, Conference, etc.)

•  Ensuring strong youth participation and representation
in regional programmes, committees /council.

The following processes and programmes are proposed to further develop youth participation and leadership at all levels:

•  Youth Exchange Programmes to provide practical exposure and working experience for young people in dealing with the issues prioritised by the 2004 Youth Forum.

•  Young Professional Programme to expose young leaders on regional perspectives and issues through internship at the Alliance Secretariat.

•  Materials and resources for youth leadership development such as training manuals, tool kits on engaging in issues prioritised by the 2004 Youth Forum.

•  Youth Mission in Action Programmes (MAP) to mobilise youth to engage in action programnmes on issues.

•  As a member of the Ecumenical Asia Pacific Students and Youth Network (EASYNet) to promote youth involvement in ecumenism at all levels.

Some main youth events proposed:

•  A Regional Forum on YMCA's Heritage and Visioning for the Future , on 15-16 August 2005 in Mumbai prior to the global 150 th Anniversary Celebration of the World Alliance.

•  The APAY Youth Assembly 2006 will bring youths together to deliberate on issues for integration into the 17 th General Assembly.

•International Youth Disaster Response Work Camps in natural disaster-affected countries: Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand. These will also focus on related youth priority issues in the country – peace building, education, poverty, HIV-AIDs.

2.5 Movement Strengthening

• With our focus on movement strengthening, a region-wide Institutional Diagnosis, covering the defined characteristics of a strong movement – Mission Clarity, Institutional Viability, and Social Relevance, will be carried out to assess the "state of the movements" in the region. Movements in particular need for capacity building and development will be then be supported to do so.
• The Korean, Japanese and Australian Movements together with the APAY will support the development of the YMCA in East Timor . The Japanese YMCA has seconded Mr. Hideki Ishibashi to the APAY for this purpose for three years from April 2005. We thank the Japan and Korea for pledges of financial support towards this multi-lateral effort.
• Regional Deliberation on "Leadership for Mission and Movement Strengthening" to review volunteer leadership development and the overall professional YMCA training needs and the curriculum for basic, intermediate and advanced programmes.
• In view of the number of natural disasters in the region over the past few years, a Disaster Preparedness, Response and Recovery Workshop to develop and increase the capacities of YMCAs to mobilise communities in disaster preparedness, response and recovery planning as a means of poverty alleviation.

The status of the GATF:

Investments : A total of US$937,820 was invested in guaranteed bonds between two to five years with 100% return of principal upon maturity. The total interest received in 2004 was US$30,307 (US$4,924 in 2003). Interest income amounting to US$34,673 will be due in 2005.

Disbursements of Funds: There had been no disbursements of interest accrued totalling during the year 2004. With the interest receivable in 2005, the total funds available for disbursements in 2006 would be approx. US$60,000, after deduction of expenses.

Fundraising in 2005

Various measures suggested to raise a further US$200,000 by 2007, include appeals to corporate bodies in Hong Kong, YMCAs celebrating key anniversaries to consider making special contributions, etc. One of the fundraising options to be studied is the engagement of a professional fund-raiser.

The 23rd Advanced Studies Programme for senior YMCA secretaries with a minimum of 3 years service will be held from 23 October to 26 November 2005 at the YMCA Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village, Hong Kong. The Registration Fee is US$200 and the Course Fee is US$1,500.

National Movements are invited to submit applications of suitably qualified candidates for selection to the APAY by 15 June 2005.

The 7 MAP programmes and 2 special projects in 2004, are progressing well and are into the final quarter of their implementation. (A composite Report will be featured in the next issue of Asia Pacific YMCA.) We share for general information below, five short listed proposals for your consideration of support from July 2005- June 2006. Invitations to support a programme of your choice at an amount to be decided by your movement will be sent out by mid-April after further work on some of the plans with the proponent YMCAs.

MISSION IN ACTION PROGRAMMES, July 2005-June 2006

In connection with the 150 th Anniversary Celebration in Mumbai, we expect more than 70 young leaders from the Asia and Pacific region to gather in Mumbai on 15-16 August for a 2-day Forum to deliberate on the heritage of the YMCA and to envision their roles in YMCA in the future. Participation Fee is US$100 + Registration Fee US$20.

The main components of the Forum will include: theme presentations on Our YMCA Heritage: The Paris Basis, Challenge 21, and Ecumenical Understanding, national and regional reports and reflections, workshops on youth issues, cultural space and action strategies for strengthening youth leadership with ecumenical vision .

(Details will be available soon from the National Council Secretariats, from our Webpage, www.asiapacificymca.prg or Youth Net.)

During the recently held Executive Committee Meeting in March, Partners' Coordinating Groups (PCG) were formed to accompany and support the YMCAs in India and Sri Lanka in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the rebuilding and rehabilitation plans. The PCG for Sri Lanka met on 7-9 April in Colombo. Chris Roles, Chief Executive, Y-Care International, United Kingdom, gave leadership to this PCG. Group partners attending the meeting included the YMCAs of Australia, Japan, Norway, Singapore, Sri Lanka, USA and Y-CARE. The World Alliance was represented by Executive Secretary, Emile Stricker. Mr. Lakshan Dias, Executive Secretary, and Mr. Yip Kok Choong, General Secretary attended as representatives of the Asia and Pacific Alliance.

The PCG Meeting adopted the mid-term and long-term rebuilding and rehabilitation plans by Sri Lanka YMCA. All the members of the PCG and local YMCAs present signed a Partnership Agreement to express commitment to the support of the Comprehensive Sri Lanka YMCA Tsunami Response Programme Plan. The implementation of some of the mid-term programmes has already started and others will begin from April 2005.

After attending the 12 th General Assembly of the Christian Conference of Asia, Rev. Samuel D. Stephens, our President and the General Secretary visited Phnom Penh from 3-5 April 2005. The purpose was to meet with the "organising committee" and leaders of the Students' Christian Mission (SCM) to explore further ways to activate the YMCA there. The main outcomes are the strengthening of the committee by the inclusion of three young leaders (from the SCM) and commitment from the members of the committee present to formulate plans for the activation of the YMCA.

On 30 March, I attended funeral service of the late Dr. Boonrem Singhanetr, a former Vice President and very active leader of the then Asia Alliance of YMCAs. He was President of the Chiangmai YMCA until he passed away on 25 December 2004. It was a time of remembrance of the values and virtues of a leader dedicated to the service of God in and through the YMCA, and to serving the community. He stood for, and defended justice and peace. He not only emphasised the need for the development of people and community, but also made it happen through his leadership in the Chiangmai YMCA. He healed in the hospital as a doctor. He healed and built caring communities as a socially conscious leader, because he loved and he cared. We give thanks to God for his life.

When this was a prison, nobody learned.
When this was a school, nobody died.
When this became a tourist attraction, nobody cared.
Maybe you do.

We were both instantly drawn to these words. How profound. How true. How challenging ~ in our world today, filled with suffering, misery brought upon humankind by fellow humankind. As long as we got what we wanted, it did not matter. It did not matter if someone died somewhere as a result of a bomb placed at an airport lounge or a super-store…… In the midst of all that is ugly, that causes suffering and pain, that demeans, we are called to care, to heal and to bring wholeness into lives of people, to help rebuild lives.

The floods that covered almost 3/4s of Bangladesh in August 2004, the typhoons that devastated parts of Quezon Province, Philippines in October/November 2004, the December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, the most recent earthquakes and destruction in Nias Island and Padang in Indonesia, and other disasters, call for us as the YMCA to be the community that is caring, healing and rebuilding.

The Lord bless us and keep us ... and teach us to love and care, to heal and build.

Yip Kok Choong
General Secretary

QUICK LINKS

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