BUENOS AIRES COMMITMENT FOR ACTION

Introduction

Thirty two participants, representing around eighty countries of the South which are members of the Africa Alliance of YMCAs, the Asia Alliance of YMCAs, the European Alliance of YMCAs, the Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of YMCAs and the Middle East Committee of YMCAs, met under the above mentioned theme. The meeting also had the participation of two staff members of the World Alliance of YMCAs including its Secretary General, which provided much encouragement in the deliberations. This meeting was held in the context of the serious threat posed to the dignity,
wellbeing and security of the vast numbers of peoples in the South by Globalisation, in order to forge solidarity for action towards building transborder and transcontinental peoples?alliances.

The participants recognise that the current imposed globalisation process has a serious and profound impact over the countries of the South. Some specific consequences include a dramatic growth in poverty, unemployment, violence, marginalisation and the exclusion of hundreds of millions of people from all forms of mainstream economic, cultural and social activity. At the same time, globalisation is destroying peoples?br> cultures and the diversely rich creations of God. The way it is presently moving globalisation poses a serious threat to the integrity of creation. Thus, we affirm that the YMCA Mission obliges us in one voice to denounce it and act.

This North instigated and neo-liberal globalisation process is shaped to serve the interests of the multinational corporations that rule over the international financial, trading and economic system. In its development, it also forces the establishment of a Global Culture a monoculture based on consumerism of the North. The sinister aim of this monoculturalisation is the creation of a
Global Factory, a Global Mall and a Global Financial Market with benefits unevenly accruing to the North. In the South, the advance of Globalisation results in a fast and ruthless accumulation of wealth by a few at the cost of impoverishing large majorities of peoples.

In the framework of the globalisation process, External Debt is anoutstanding tool for domination that has been unlimitedly used against the Nations of the South. Due to the huge transfer of capital from the Southern to the Northern countries, nations of the South now have the right to consider themselves as Creditors to the North rather than its debtors.

It is in this unfolding scenario that the YMCA must make its voice heard by denouncing injustices and announcing that a different and fair world is possible and -furthermore- that it is Gods Plan for humanity as is shown in Jesus Christs teachings. This is the mandate for the YMCA denouncing,
announcing and acting- in being a witness of the Reign of God here on earth.

Action Plan

The following areas were agreed upon for action:

I. Leadership Development

II. Advocacy, Inter Movement Cooperation and Mission

III. Self Reliance and Financial Development

I. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Objective

To promote awareness within our movements and build solidarity among the movements in the South to develop programs and implement actions in response to the effects of Globalisation on our people, particularly the youth.

Activities

At National Level:

a. To include Globalisation as part of the training curriculum of National Movements.

b. To collect and disseminate data / information on the economic, political and
social effects of Globalisation

c. To plan processes and devise programs that will address the effects of globalisation in collaboration with ongoing civil society processes.

At Area level:

a. Each Area Regional Organisation to facilitate the implementation of the above stated activities.

b. Include globalisation as a major component in the Area level training programs

c. To network with other Regional NGOs and Peoples organisations that are addressing the issue of globalisation for effective action.

d. To continue dialogue and information flow between and amongst the Area organisations on the above issues.

e. To share collective positions and concerns on the effects of globalisation on our people with YMCA's in the North to enable them to engage in solidarity action.

Specific Actions at Area level

i. To promote inter area participation of staff / volunteers in their respective training programs.

ii. To facilitate exchange programs with YMCAs which are significantly engaged in programs that address globalisation.

iii. Produce and disseminate essential educational material on globalisation to realise the objective stated above.

iv. Area Secretaries to exchange their respective calendars of annual activities with a view to planning for and implementing of the above actions

II. ADVOCACY, INTER MOVEMENT COOPERATION AND MISSION

ADVOCACY:

Objective

To strengthen the involvement of the YMCAs of the South as part of the civil society in a transforming process of society.

Activities

To share and exchange experiences on advocacy programs by,

i. Creating a joint news letter to facilitate networking among YMCAs in the South.

ii. Creating a South-South website.

iii. Area-wise organising fora /workshops for the exchange of experiences on YMCA responses to issues such as Human rights, Gender, Migrant workers, External debt including Jubilee South, Jubilee 2000 etc., to initiate joint actions.

INTER MOVEMENT CO OPERATION:

Objective

To identify and develop the South YMCAs?strengths through solidarity networks in relation to advocacy, self-reliance, leadership development, financial development and capacity building.

Activities

i. To develop a directory of expertise within the YMCAs of the South in order to achieve the objectives.

ii. To initiate bi-lateral and multi-lateral relationships and partnerships between and among National movements in the South.

MISSION

Objective

To understand and express the mission of the YMCA within the context of South-South realities.
Activity
The mission of the YMCA should be reflected in all the activities and programs developed by the South.

III. SELF RELIANCE AND FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT

SELF RELIANCE

Objective
To empower YMCAs of the South and reduce their external dependence by generating own resources.

Activities

i. Technical exchange (of expertise) on income generating programs and activities.

ii. Create a Database to facilitate sharing of information on successful experiences and models .

iii. To mobilise part of the IMSS funds towards income generating programs, projects.

FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Objective

To develop strategies for the establishment of a sound financial base.

Activities

i. Share information on potential Local and International Donors.

ii. Design, implement and exchange training programmes on fund raising activities.

iii. Create a South-South Development Fund through contribution from its members and other sources.

IV . FOLLOW-UP

i. The World Alliance is requested to support, facilitate and encourage the dissemination and implementation of the South-South initiatives recommended in this report and to consider these at its next Executive Committee meeting for adoption as part of the World YMCA agenda.

ii. The Areas to determine the time frame, responsibilities and specific assignments to facilitate the implementation of the actions recommended.

iii. The Areas to have a follow up on this Dialogue in 2001 to evaluate progress made and to plan future directions. Africa Area to host the next meeting at a venue to be determined.

iv. The Areas to ensure that the report of this meeting be compiled, produced and disseminated to all National Movements of the world and to other related organisations as soon as practicable.

V . RECOMMENDATION ON CARIBBEAN SEAT AT THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF WORLD ALLIANCE

The meeting urges the World Alliance to make appropriate constitutional amendments to ensure the Caribbean sub-region representative added to the LACC quota of representatives at the World Alliance Executive Committee in the spirit of the 1998 World Council resolution.

Conclusion

The participants at this meeting feel that this has been an extremely timely event, in that they have been able to meaningfully deliberate together on the plight of peoples suffering under the yoke of globalisation. It vastly increased their understanding of the realities and enhanced their conviction on the need for collective action. In these challenging and enormously difficult tasks, the YMCAs of the South call for the whole-hearted support and co-operation of the YMCAs of the North as co-workers in Christ to transform unjust structures and policies. In this spirit, the YMCAs of the South commit themselves to move forward in solidarity.

Adopted and approved in Buenos Aires, Argentina, December 11, 1999