|
Newsletter of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs No. 40 / March 2005 This Issue of Headlines focuses on the recently held Executive Committee and Related Committees of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs, the follow-up recovery and reconstruction work in the most affected countries affected by the 26 December 2004 Tsunami, and the 150 th Anniversary of the World Alliance and Adoption of the Paris Basis.
Two months after the devastating Asian tsunami of 26 December2004, 56 representatives from 11 National YMCA Movements from across the region, the YMCA of USA and Y-CARE International, United Kingdom, met on 2 March 2005 for a specially convened session on YMCA responses to the Asian Tsunami. Together with Dr. Bart Shaha, Secretary General of the World Alliance of YMCAs, and the Executive Staff of the Asia and Pacific Alliance, the YMCA leaders reviewed YMCA responses taken during the emergency relief period and plans for the mid-term and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction period. There were presentations from Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka. The emergency relief efforts undertaken by the Thai Alliance of YMCAs with internally raised resources were also recognised. A further plenary session on 3 March during the Executive Committee Meeting provided the opportunity for partners to deliberate with leaders from Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia on their long-term proposals for the recovery of livelihoods of the affected and the rebuilding of their communities. Smaller partners' meetings were held in the following two evenings, late into the night. The needs were carefully deliberated upon and commitments in principle were made not only for financial support in the rebuilding efforts, but also for building the capacity of the YMCAs in affected areas with the ultimate of these YMCAs emerging from the aftermath of the tsunami stronger and more socially relevant to their communities. The YMCAs' responses will include the recovery of livelihoods through various processes and programmes (such as micro-financing for self-employment, training for alternative employment, etc.), educational support for children, psycho-social trauma healing, support for recovery and rebuilding of homes. The movements in the affected countries presented their short to long-term plans as well as their emergency relief efforts undertaken. Further discussions at the plenary and in partners' groups brought agreement on guidelines, principles, working relationships and processes to carry out these responses. Partners Coordination Groups composed of interested YMCAs to accompany the three affected in the development and implementation of the comprehensive plan of action were formed. As agreed, the groups are open to any movement that is willing to be involved based on the Terms of Reference drawn up for this purpose. The World Alliance and Asia and Pacific Alliance will invite other interested Movements and confirm lead partners soon. The comprehensive plans are expected be firmed up in March and details should be finalised in April including financial requirements. Movements called for effective and timely response, as a community-based Christian movement supporting people to re-build their self-determination and re-establish their self-reliance, and giving priority to the long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction work. The representatives present at the meetings were evidence of the solidarity that had been expressed in e-mail messages and financial contributions received from around the world in response to a collaborative response effort of the World Alliance and Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs the day the tsunami hit. The spirit was one of caring. The global movement was united in one great expression of compassion. Our gratitude and appreciation all those who made special efforts to be present at these meetings to share their support and resources in solidarity with the most affected countries in the region.
The Executive Committee and Related Meetings of the Alliance was held from 3-5 March 2005 at the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong, attended by 96 leaders and representatives from 19 YMCA movements from around the region. Presidents' Address : Rev. Samuel D. Stephens, President of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs, in his Opening Address recalled how the YMCAs in the most affected countries and around the world responded to the tsunami crisis with a sense of urgency and overwhelming compassion and generosity. The President raised some important concerns for the gathered regional YMCA family. He reminded the leaders of the challenge for the region to be more self-reliant and for increased inter-movement activity, exchanges for learning and sharing and multi-lateral partnerships to maximise the benefits of limited resources available. He called for greater efforts in strengthening the movement - building and strengthening capacity, developing an engaged leadership and membership with a clear sense of mission. He also reiterated the urgency to build greater social relevance through engagement in rebuilding lives and communities with justice and peace. He encouraged leaders, especially young emerging leaders to participate in the 150 th Anniversary of the World Alliance and the adoption of the Paris Basis in Mumbai, India where the YMCA is a movement actively engaged with the life and issues of the people and with the community in seeking justpeace. This would be a time to remember God's faithfulness and to envision the YMCA's Mission for the future. Annual Report 2004: The General Secretary's Report highlighted the thrust and programme direction for the quadrennium demonstrated in programmes of the past year under the banner of "Spirituality of Transformation for Justpeace¡¨. These included the 16 th General Assembly, Youth Forum, Leaders' Quadrennial Roundtable and Leadership for Movement Building through the 22 nd Advanced Studies Programme. The first Leaders' Quadrennial Roundtable was a participatory effort for regional input in the development of a Quadrennial Programme Plan reflective of the new thrust and the movements' concerns. Movements had also been supportive of the Mission in Action Programme, a multi-lateral initiative that supported 9 action programmes from 6 countries. Another initiative was the joint Interfaith Cooperation Programme with the Christian Conference of Asia and supported by the German Church Development Service (EED) with Peace as the focus for dialogue and cooperation. The Report also briefly touched on the response to disasters including the December 26 Asian tsunami in which comprehensive planning of YMCA responses had been discussed during the Meeting. World Alliance Matters: The meeting also welcomed Dr. Bart Shaha, Secretary General of the World Alliance of YMCAs who shared the Vision and Thrust of the World Alliance of YMCAs. He encouraged Movements to actively participate in the 150 th Anniversary Celebration by holding special events, and especially to participate at the global celebration in Mumbai, India on 16-22 August 2005. Ecumenical and YMCA Partners: Dr. Ahn Jae Woong, General Secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia, and Dr. David Kwang Sun-suh (former President, World Alliance of YMCAs) currently Executive Director of the Asian Christian Higher Education Institute brought greetings. Mr. Chris Roles, Chief Executive of Y-CARE International, United Kingdom, and Ms. Boon Chin Tan, Sr. Associate Director from the International Group, YMCA USA also brought greetings Daily Reflections: The daily devotions and reflections were focused on Peace and Reconciliation. Dr. Ninan Koshy, expounded on the topics of conversion for peace, peacemaking and reconciliation in the daily devotion. Dr. Koshy, a former Executive for International Affairs at the World Council of Churches and author of several books, made a key presentation on "Ecumenism - the Way Forward¡¨. This presentation was to promote greater discussion and understanding of the Challenge 21 that affirms that the YMCA is a "lay, Christian, Ecumenical¡¨ movement.
Two volumes of "A History of the Ecumenical Movement in Asia¡¨ were officially released at the opening day of the APAY Executive Committee and Related Meetings on 3 March 2005. Dr. Ahn Jae Woong, General Secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia, who coordinated the Project gave a brief of the Project prior to presenting copies of the books with Dr. Ninan Koshy, the Author/Editor to Rev. Samuel D. Stephens, our President In the first volume, Dr. Ninan Koshy, has written from an Asian perspective, weaving together the varied histories of the Christian Conference of Asia, the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs and the World Student Christian Federation Asia-Pacific region, highlighting common themes and concerns. The second volume, edited by Dr. Koshy, is a collection of essays written by a team of distinguished Asian and Pacific ecumenical leaders, providing invaluable insights on major themes that have enriched the life of the ecumenical movement in Asia. It includes an essay on the YMCA by Dr. Bart Shaha, Secretary General of the World Alliance. Copies of the books are available at the APAY Secretariat.
A focus presentation titled "Ecumenism - the Way Forward¡¨, was arranged during the Executive Committee Meeting for the YMCA leaders to reflect on the YMCA's ecumenical role in Asia and Pacific. In his presentation, Dr. Ninan Koshy opined that the way forward for the YMCA "is in upholding and strengthening the character of the ecumenical movement to be at the cutting edge between the church and the world, always exposed to and involved¡¨ in society. Dr. Koshy elaborated on the pioneering ecumenical role of the YMCA and being a Christian Witness in its active participation in Asian realities. He highlighted new ecumenical challenges that he felt the YMCA needed to be address as these have implications on the YMCA's mission. These include the market society created by globalisation, leading to more injustice, inequality and poverty; division and fragmentation within societies. There is a rise in militarisation in the context of the War on Terror in Asia along with nuclear proliferation. He added that the ¡¥theology of the Empire' raises fundamental questions and religion has become a major factor in politics nationally and internationally, and interfaith relations have assumed a new importance. He asserted that the main response to these challenges lies in "articulating and transmitting a transforming voice of Christian hope that is loyal to our traditions, rooted in the dynamic of Jesus event and disposed in the needs of the lost, the least and the last¡¨.
Major discussions during the Executive Committee concentrated on the Programme Plans for the Quadrennium 2005-2007. Committees worked on the proposed programmes for implementation. National Movements are urged to integrate them into their national/local processes so that there is region-wide focus on the main focus areas:
In Paris, 150 years ago, the first international meeting of the World Alliance was held. The ¡¥Paris Basis' was adopted on 22 August 1855 as a vision of young leaders to unite young people towards God's reign of love, peace and justice. The 150 th Anniversary Celebration with the theme "Celebrating, Envisioning And Building Peace With Justice," (Psalm 146) was launched in Paris on 19 March 2005 with a multicultural Thanksgiving Worship in the Redemption Cathedral, Paris. The Reflection on the theme was by Rev. Caesar Molebatsi, President of the World Alliance of YMCAs. This was followed by the 150 th Anniversary exhibition and centenary video presentation, a performance on Young People and the World-wide YMCA. Simultaneous workshops on refugees, migrants and the YMCA's role in disaster preparedness and response were well attended. These were held in the YMCA of Paris, The highlight of the dinner cruise along the River Seine was the presentation of tokens to more than 160 Founding Members of the World YMCA Fellowship - n initiative to raise in the immediate future US$3 million to fund the Global Operating Plan. Since 1855, the YMCA has moved from this first international meeting in Paris to 125 countries, many of which are in developing nations. The 150 th Anniversary will culminate in India from 16-22 August 2005. India symbolises YMCA's pioneering role in its ecumenical focus, working in a predominately multi-cultural context with a rich spiritual heritage.
The World Alliance and Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs thank the following YMCAs for their generous response to our Joint Appeal (as per WA update, 14 January): Argentina - Australia - Bangladesh - Belgium - Canada - Chinese YMCA, Hong Kong - Denmark - Ecuador - Finland - France - Germany - Honduras - India- Japan - Korea - Malaysia - Malta - Metropolitan YMCA of Singapore - New Zealand - Nepal - Netherlands - Norway (YW-YMCA, Scouts & Guides) - Peru - Spain - Sweden - St. Gall Church, Switzerland - Switzerland - Taipei - Taiwan- Thai Alliance of YMCAs - Uni-Y, Hong Kong - USA - YMCA of Hong Kong - YMCA Greater Toronto - Canada - YMCA of Singapore - Y-CARE International UK - Asia Area Y's Men International
The Force of Nature, the name of a recent concert held in Malaysia to raise funds for tsunami reconstruction aptly depicts the outpouring of worldwide expressions of compassion and care following the tsunami. The Force of Nature - the "tsunami of love an compassion, the combined force of human nature to connect, to show compassion and care for those devastated by those great walls of water that destroyed all but the lives, the spirit and the hope of those who survived. As we have witnessed and learnt, people are rebuilding, communities are reorganising strengthened by the knowledge the world was with them. They look toward the future with their deep spirituality, strong traditional cultures, resilience and strong wills, characteristic of our peoples. Out of the darkness, there is hope. There is always a dawn following the night. This has been a collective trauma. Together, with the survivors we feel the pain and the loss. Together, with the community we will rebuild. Recover. Heal. The review of the YMCA responses to the tsunami in the most affected countries was a major focus for our recent Executive Committee Meeting and Related Meetings, and rightly so. The Meetings carefully reviewed the programmatic thrusts and made proposals to achieve the set goals of the quadrennium. These will be elaborated in the final Programme Plan that will be issued soon. The year will also be a time for us to renew our commitment to the founding philosophy and heritage of the YMCA as expressed in the Paris Basis adopted in 1855 at the first international gathering of YMCAs from around the world. The Challenge 21 , the contemporary expression of this philosophy and its imperatives will be a guide to our envisioning process for the YMCA Mission in the future. It will be a year of review and renewal. It will be a year when we will strengthen our movements. At the end of the Holy Week, we are called to walk and experience the last moments of Christ's Mission on earth, the moments when he showed us what it is to love, and love. We need to humbly take on the mind of Christ and submit to His lordship and leadership and to be transformed for the work ahead of us - to extend the reign of God's love, to bring justice and peace to all. May God bless this great Movement, its leaders and members as we move forward bearing the marks of Christ Jesus who died and rose again for us all. A blessed and renewing Easter to all........The Lord bless and keep us all...... Yip Kok Choong, General Secretary
VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.asiapacificymca.org
|
|
QUICK LINKS |
|
Leaders' Roundtable: Achieving Spirituality of Transformation New Officers Unanimously Elected On our way to the 16th General Assembly |