Asia Pacific Alliance of YMCAs Youth Forum
7 - 9 March 2004 Singapore
"Young People, Together towards a Transformed World"

"Be the change you want to see in the world"

- Mahatma Gandhi

 

Introduction

Five years on from the Manila Youth Forum - ¡¥One in Spirit, One in Action', more than eighty young leaders from Asia Pacific YMCAs gathered in Singapore under the common goal of ¡¥Young People, Together towards a Transformed World'. The three day intensive forum provided the opportunity for young people in the YMCA to recognize their role in social transformation, to study together the issues and youth concerns of today and to search for meaningful YMCA responses. Throughout a series of workshops, lectures, sub-regional meetings and discussions, delegates worked towards enhancing their capacity as both leaders and agents of change within the YMCA movement. By the sharing of the issues and challenges that face National and Local YMCA Associations the young leaders gained a greater understanding of not only the work being undertaken by the YMCA but also the problems confronting the movement. Together the youth delegation resolved not only be ¡¥the leaders of tomorrow' but to be ¡¥ the leaders of today ', to adopt the core values of the YMCA into their life and to be resolute in meeting the mandate of Challenge 21. In the coming years we the youth, commit ourselves to this cause and call YMCA movements to action in addressing the concerns of Asia Pacific Region. Let us not burden the youth of tomorrow with the problems of today. Let us act as one to overcome the issues that face us and let us act now!

Identified Issues and Concerns

As in the previous YMCA youth forums the youth identified the prevailing issues of concern affecting young people within the Asia Pacific region. Issues of HIV/AIDS, youth unemployment and education are once again listed alongside a long list of issues that have been continually identified, from youth forum to youth forum. This highlights not only the prominence of these issues in the world today but also the need to reaffirm the YMCA's actions to tackle such issues:

  • Peace Building and Reconciliation
  • Economic Injustice
  • Youth Unemployment and Education
  • HIV/AIDS

The Youth in the YMCA Context

The integration and development of young people at all levels of the movement
The YMCA must continue to include youth within its structures, continue to deliver power to the youth in a meaningful manner and provide training and resources for youth so that they may reach their potential.

Continuous communications and dissemination of information
With the ever increasing participation and importance of youth involvement within the YMCA it is important that they remain aware of the policies and programs of the YMCA's on a Local, National and Regional level.

Network and partnership building within and between YMCAs of our region
Globalisation has given us the ability to bind time and space. It is therefore imperative that the YMCA takes advantage of this and promote partnerships and relationship between its members in the region so that we can grow together.

Retention of youth and young adults in the movement

Youth must be catered for in the YMCA as they grow old and are no longer classified as youth. Programs must be created throughout the region to maintain a purposeful contribution from these members so that the YMCA doesn't lose its young leaders and members.

Call to Action

To address the concerns of the young people in Asia and Pacific, we strongly propose that the General Assembly endorses the following recommendations.

  • That at least one third youth participation in all committees and programmes of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of the YMCA's (1999 Manila Youth Recommendation).

  • Urging National and Local Movements to ensure the participation of the youth committee members at the Executive committee meeting of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of the YMCA's (1999 Manila Youth Recommendation).

  • That focus should be given on mobilising and building youth leadership when establishing new YMCA's (1999 Manila Youth Recommendation).
  • The provision of resources and tools to young people to assist them in working on local programmes to combat the prevailing issues of their region, by establishing a cyber based resource bank.
  • The enhancement of youth participation in all levels of decision making and execution of programmes to integrate and train young people in their roles.
  • That a review of the Youth Committee's works and mandate be undertaken in line with the deliberations and inputs of young people at the regional level
  • That there be a substantial youth participation in the selection process for appointment of the Youth Committee.
  • That the Youth Committee develops online materials and resources to enhance skills and program knowledge of the YMCA youth community and to also communicate on a regular basis with the youth.
  • The encouragement towards youth volunteer development and recruitment/training programs in local and national levels to ensure youth leadership in the YMCA.
  • The promotion of youth programs within the region through bilateral/multilateral co-operations.

Conclusion

John R. Mott, one of the great YMCA leaders and a Nobel Peace Laureate, emphasized that "strengthened leadership is essential and imperative if the constructive forces of the world are to be ushered into a triumphant stage". We the youth have the leadership capabilities, we are aware of the forces present in today's world, we are ready to become the agents of change within the movement and be responsible members of the civil society. Let us act now in solidarity so that we may be agents of a transformed world that we envision.