Curriculum for Asia and Pacific YMCA Advanced Studies
(Revised September 2000)

CONTENTS

Introduction
Objective
Specific Purposes
Components of Training

Part I: Orientation (5 days)
Part II: Study of Globalisation and Civil Society (9 days)
Part III: Contemporary Theological Perspectives (4 days)
Part IV: Study of the YMCA (7 days)
Part V: Planning and Writing Contextual Programme Response (4 days)

Introduction

The focus of the Asia and Pacific YMCA Advanced Studies is on "Movement Building". Aware of the fact that various training programmes are available for the institutional training needs of YMCA professionals, the Advanced Studies puts emphasis on the formation of YMCA professional leaders for movemental growth of the YMCA. Attempt is made to discover roles and responsibilities of the YMCA as a people's movement committed to working for justice and peace, according to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, in the present context of our world, our region and our respective countries/localities.

The main components of the Advanced Studies are :

" Study of Globalisation and Civil Society

" Study of Contemporary Theological Perspectives

" Study of the YMCA Movement, and

" Planning and Writing of Contextual Programme Response.

Much time is spent on understanding the global socio-political and economic process (globalisation) and its implications at the regional and national levels. In-depth study is also made of Social Movements in an effort to envision new alternatives and relevant responses. Thus, current values, principles and strategies of alternative social movements, including present trends and goals of the Civil Society movements are studied.

In order to assist participants in understanding the YMCA Movement and in interpreting the Mission of the YMCA in terms of prevailing situations, the theological basis of the YMCA is presented after a thorough study of Contemporary Theological Perspectives, particularly in the diverse cultural realities of our region. Effort is made to explore ways and means of strengthening the movemental dimension of the YMCA and how it can actively participate in building sustainable community and fostering civil society. Study is thus made of the history of the YMCA, its search for identity in our region, its structure, its practices in resource generation and management and also of "Information Technology" and the YMCA movement.

Finally, based on the entire studies, each participant is asked to plan creatively relevant YMCA responses according to her/his own contexts. Participants are asked to write their Contextual Programme Response (Work-Plan) which they could implement upon return to their YMCAs. These are shared by participants at plenary sessions, so that the entire group is able to express their views to make the Plans realistic and in keeping with the learnings and thrust of the Advanced Studies.

Objective

The Advanced Studies programme aims to form YMCA professional staff, able to critically analyse ongoing social processes and, based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, become involved in relevant actions to fulfill the Mission of the YMCA.

Specific Purposes

1. To encourage participants to reflect critically on their own experiences as related to the social realities in their communities, areas of service, work-situations, and countries.

2. To provide opportunities for participants to build relationships and enhance solidarity with colleagues from different YMCAs in the region and beyond.

3. To enable participants to understand current Christian thinking including Ecumenical thought today.

4. To form YMCA professional leaders with a deep perspective of the Mission of the YMCA and to search for appropriate and innovative YMCA responses especially relating to people's search for justice and life being sensitive to the economic, political, and socio-cultural situations of communities/societies where the YMCA functions.

Criteria/Qualification of Candidates

a. Participants should be attitudinally inclined to the thrust of Advanced Studies.

b. Participants should be committed to the mission of the YMCA and should have working experience in community-oriented programmes.

c. Participants should have completed YMCA Secretaries Training at national level or should have undergone any equivalent leadership training. It is taken for granted that basic qualification to enter National Training Institute should be university graduates.

d. Participants should have at least three-years' successful working
experience in the YMCA and/or other Ecumenical organisations.

Preparations Before the Course

The Asia and Pacific YMCA Advanced Studies is a demanding programme. It is participatory in nature. The success of the programme depends on active involvement of all participants.

Here are some of the things participants need to do before attending the course :

1. Select some good reading materials for you to understand your people, your country, your cultures, etc.

2. Study some of the main resource materials in order to update yourself on current situations in your country (social, political, economic, religious, etc.).

3. Acquaint yourself with the history of your YMCA (Local YMCA and National YMCA). What were some of the major thrusts of the YMCA in your country in terms of programmes in response to social needs? Try to identify and understand these in the political and social conditions of the times.

4. Study the ongoing YMCA programmes and activities in your locality and nation. What is the direction and thrust of your YMCA now?

5. Prepare for yourself a reflection about your "Life-Moments". By "Life-Moments" we mean situations you experienced in your life in relation to your local and national socio-political realities and your work. You may look at it both subjectively and objectively. In Part I of the Programme you will have an opportunity of sharing your "Life-moments" with other participants.

Components of Training

[Part - I : Orientation (5 days)]

" Introduction to Campus and City

" Overview of Components of Advanced Studies

" Expectations of Participants

" Responsibilities of Group

" Sharing of "Life-Moments" (2 days)

Orientation

Most of the participants of this Advanced Studies Program would not have known each other before. The coming together of YMCA professional staff from different countries in the region and other parts of the world, offers an excellent opportunity of establishing close friendship with each other and of creating strong solidarity links as colleagues working for the same mission of the YMCA.

The venue of the Advanced Studies is the YMCA Wu Kai Sha Youth Village in Hong Kong. It is a beautiful camp site, equipped with modern facilities. Being about 30 kilometers outside the bustling Hong Kong city, the Wu Kai Sha environment is ideal for study and reflection.

The Advanced Studies journey begins with an Overview of the different components of the programme. Each part of the programme is described and their links explained. Thereafter, participants are asked to express freely their Expectations. The Facilitators, then, explain the various responsibilities the group needs to undertake during the month-long programme.

The sharing of "Life-Moments", i.e. situations experienced in relation to the local and national socio-political realities and work engagement of the participants is of immense importance. This is because in the past, Situation Analysis was often done mainly by concentrating on the socio-political frame-work. Recent trends show that we need to address the issues and problems of society in a more wholistic way, while giving due emphasis on socio-political analysis. We also believe that the process of sharing of "Life-Moments" will generate a deep consciousness and concern for each other, each other's peoples, and each other's YMCAs. Thus, the process would naturally lead to the beginning of analysis of the current global order and national trends, starting at the personal level.

During this period, it is important to engage in a process of "de-learning" or "unlearning" so that one could look introspectively at the "mindsets" that one may have grown up with. The primary aim of this first part of the programme is to assist participants in widening their horizon, so that they can begin the journey of exploration into the social processes with an open and objective mind.

[Part II : Study of Globalisation and Civil Society (9 days)]

" Study of Globalisation (3 days)

" Study of Civil Society (4 days)

" Exposure to Social Movements in Hong Kong (1 day)

" Summation of Globalisation and Civil Society (1 day)

Study of Globalisation and Civil Society

This study will provide an overview and analysis of global political-economic trends, the process of globalisation currently taking place, and their impact on people, particularly in the Asia and the South Pacific. Focus will be given specifically to the consequences of globalisation on life, relationships of peoples and to community-building. Concrete examples will be studied on processes that are able to transform life and society by participating in social movements. In this connection, the theory and practice of social movements will be presented and the idea of civil society as it applies to the YMCA, will be examined. Case studies of some outstanding YMCA participation in Civil Society Movements will also be made. During this period, various workshops will be conducted on specific issues such as Human Rights, Gender and Development, Conflict Transformation, Youth Concerns, etc.

Globalisation : Main Topics

1. Overview of Globalisation

2. Analytical Framework of globalisation

o Historical development of Capitalism

o Capitalism vs. Market Economy

o Investments and Financial Flows

3. Effects/Impact of Globalisation

o Agriculture and Food Security

o Urbanisation and Industrialisation

o Environment and Development: Sustainability

o Globalisation and Culture, Ethics and Religion

4. Study on globalisation-related institutions

o Transnational Corporations (TNCs)

o Bretton Woods Institutions: World Bank, IMF, etc.

o World Trade Organisations, OECD, EU, APEC, ASEAN, ASEM,
NAFTA, etc.

o UN and related International Organisations

5. Alternative Concerns and Case Studies

o Alternative economic paradigm and practices

o "Geo-politics" and Asian Studies : Regional security and regional balance

o Case Studies on Social Movements seeking economic alternatives

Civil Society : Main Topics

1. The Vision of Alternative Society

A. Principles and Values of Alternative Society

" grassroots participatory democracy

" decentralization and local autonomy

" social justice

" ecological sustainability

" global solidarity

B. Strategies of Alternative Social Movements

" non-violence

" micro-mobilization context

" strengthening the voluntary sector

" construction of networks (network power)

2. Theoretical Foundation of Social Movements
What are social movements?

A. The life cycle of social movements

B. Social movements and their environments

C. An evaluation of social movements

3. Civil Society Movements

A.Old Social Movement" and "New Social Movement"

B.The contemporary revival of civil society

C.Conceptual clarification of civil society with relation to the State and Market

D.Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) as main actors of civil society

E.Goals and strategies of civil society movements

4. Culture and Cultural Approach to Civil Society Movement
. What is Culture

A. Culture and Civil Society: Cultural Identity and Diversity

B. Cultural Approach to Civil Society Movement: Targeting Cultural Transformation

5. Some Cases of Civil Society Movements
. YMCA

A. Other Ecumenical Organisations and CSOs

[Part - III : Contemporary Theological Perspectives (4 days)]

Study of Contemporary Theological Perspectives
The purpose of this section is to help the participants evolve a Theological basis for their involvement in the Mission of YMCA. Biblical faith interacting with contemporary challenges should provide a framework for this. Our commitment to serve all God's people and God's creation in their struggle for new life, is the starting point for our Theological reflection. To discern God's presence in the socio-political and religio-cultural realities of our time especially people's search for justice and life, is the core of our faith and spirituality. Theological reflection is not a detached academic exercise, but an commited engagement of faith with the realities surrounding us.

Main Topics

1. Why Theology? And Doing Theology

o The purpose and direction of theological reflection

o Faith and Action : Commitment as the first act of theology

o Theology providing perspectives and visions for life and all its relationships

o Theology empowering people

2. The Use and Misuse of Scripture

o Who wrote the Bible ?

o 'Shalom' of the Old Testament

o Reign (Kingdom) of God in the New Testament

3. Who is Christ for us today: Contextual Theological Trends

o Historical Review of major Theological Thinking

o Christ, the liberator and life-giver

o The face of Christ in the face of the poor

o The Cross and solidarity

o Gospel and Culture

o Contextual Theologies: Minjung Theology, Dalit Theology, Feminist Theology, Eco-Theology, Indigenous Theology, Life Theology, etc.

4. Who is Christ for us today: Contextual Theological Trends

o Critique of dominant patterns of mission

o Responding to other faiths

o Participation in God's mission through the struggle for justice and solidarity with the suffering

5. Towards new Spirituality and Commitment

[Part IV : Study of the YMCA (7 days)]

" YMCA Mission: In the 21st Century (2 days)

" YMCA as a Movement in Community Building (2 days)

" YMCA Resource Generation and Management (1 day)

" Information Technology and YMCA Movement (2 day)

Study of the YMCA

Because of its diversity the YMCA movement cannot be studied in any one given way. Therefore the study of the YMCA would take an interactive approach. An opportunity will be given for participants to express and understand the mission of the YMCA in contemporary terms and to share mission experiences to enrich each other's understanding of the YMCA. Efforts will be made to explore on how to strengthen the movemental dimension of the YMCA, and how it can actively participate in building community. Time will be devoted for the study of history of the YMCA, search for identity in our region, structure of the YMCA, YMCA resource generation and management, and YMCA movement and Information Technology (I. T.).

Main Topics:

1. YMCA Mission in Context

a. Historical Overview

" The Beginnings

" The First World Conference - The Paris Basis

" Interpretation of the Paris Basis - the Kampala Principles

" Thematic Study of Asia/World YMCA History : Themes and issues of Asia and Pacific Alliance General Assemblies and World Council Meetings

" The Ongoing trends in Mission Review : "Statement of Mission" of the Asia and Pacific Alliance and "Challenge 21" of the World Alliance

b. YMCA Structures

" Membership Concept

" YMCA Governance Structures

" Lay and Professional Partnership

" National, Area and World Alliance Structures and Relationships

c. YMCA Movement in the New Millennium

" Search for Renewed Vision of the YMCA in Asia and the South Pacific

" "Statement of Mission" of the Asia and Pacific Alliance and

Challenge 21"

" Future Directions and Thrusts : YMCA as an Instrument towards fulfilling Reign of God

2. YMCA as a Movement in Community Building

. Introduction : Review of elements of current Social Movements

a. YMCA as a Social Service Organisation or Social Movement

" Evaluation of present YMCA movement from the viewpoint of social movement

" Role of YMCA as a social movement in social transformation

b. Case Studies of YMCA Participation in Civil Society and sustainable Community-building

" In-depth study and analysis of how YMCAs can relate with and foster various types of people's organisations, such as Worker's Unions, Consumer Associations, Student's Associations, Human Rights Advocacy and Action Groups, Environmental groups, Women's groups, etc.

" Case Study on Programme Planning, Implementation and Evaluation (Project Writing)

3. YMCA Resource Generation and Management

o Concept of "Movement Management": Management Culture of YMCA, Capacity Building, Strategic Planning: Concept and Methods, Risk Management, Disaster Management, etc.

o Financial Management:

o Fund-raising

o How to expand supporters of the YMCA movement

o History of Inter-Movement Cooperation : Implications of Baguio Consultation (1974)

4. Information Technology (I. T.) and YMCA Movement: Communication and Networking

o What is Information Technology: its current status and implication to YMCA

o How to maximise the effects/effectiveness of YMCA programmes and management

o Case Studies on I. T.-based cyber space social movements

[Part V : Planning and Writing Contextual Programme Response (4 days)]

" Presentation and Discussion of Programme Response (3 days)

" Submission of Programme Response, Graduation Ceremony (1 day)

Planning and Writing Contextual Programme Response

Participants will engage in the planning and writing of their programme response which reflects their understanding of the overall thrust of the Advanced Studies and their plan of work which they can implement upon return to their YMCAs. The programme response is expected to be creative in nature and based on participant's own context and the needs of the community where he/she serves.

Presentation and Discussion of Programme Response in Plenary

Participants will present their written Programme Responses at Plenary Sessions, to be attended by all participants and Asia Alliance staff. The idea is to share and receive feedback on each Programme Response with a view to making it realistic and in keeping with the thrust of the Advanced Studies.

Finalisation and Submission of Programme Response

Participants will finalise their Programme Response based on the comments and suggestions made at the Plenary Sessions and submit the same to The Alliance..

Other Information

Worship

Worship and Bible Study will be held daily during the Advanced Studies. These will be organized by the participants themselves in a creative way, using songs, hymns, poems, inspirational writings, etc. from different cultures. There will be workshops on Worship and participatory Bible Study to assist participants in organising these programmes.

Resource Person

Selected persons widely recognised for their outstanding contributions in the various components of the Advanced Studies will be invited to serve as Resource Persons.

Classes

Regular classes will be held throughout the programme. There will be seminars and workgroup sessions on specific topics. Participants will have scope to meet the resource persons individually to clarify concepts and issues, and relate the study to his/her own social situations.

Procedure for Application

Applications are to be made on prescribed Forms available at the respective National YMCA office. Applicants are to write a paper (about 2,000 words in English, single line spaced) reflecting his/her concept of the YMCA, its Mission, the areas of changes he/she sees necessary in strengthening the movemental dimension of the YMCAs, and the role of a professional YMCA Secretary.

Only those Applications endorsed by the National Council of YMCAs of the Applicant, will be considered. Completed Application Forms and Subsidies Request Forms, together with the required paper and copies of certificates, etc. should reach The Alliance office in Hong Kong by the end of June.

Selection of Participants

The final selection of participants will be made by The Alliance. The names of selected participants will be informed to the National Movements by the end of July.

Course Fees/Expenses

The expenses for each participant may be calculated in this way:

a. Registration Fees: US$200.

b. Course Fee (This includes cost for meals and lodging for the entire period of the course, 35 days): US$1,200.

c. Travel Cost to Hong Kong and return to home country.

Subsidies

Subsidies covering partial/full costs for Course Fees and/or Travel Costs can be considered for participants of those National Movements that require financial support. All participants are required to pay the Registration Fees.

National Movements seeking Scholarship for their participants are to complete the Subsidies Request Form and send it along with the Application Form of the participant. The amount of Scholarship granted shall be informed to the respective National Movements by the end of August.

Residence

Participants will stay at the YMCA Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village, Hong Kong. They will reside in shared rooms (three to four participants in one large room). Room arrangements will be made by The Alliance.

Visa Application

According to Hong Kong government's recommendation, participants' visa will be applied by The Alliance. Therefore, applicants should submit the following for visa purpose:

" 2 photos

" A copy of candidate's passport (showing personal details and expiry date, etc.)

" A document showing his/her working experience in the YMCA and, if any, in other organisations with supporting Certificates

Certificate

A certificate specifying the number of hours studied under each component of the programme will be awarded to successful participants.

Programme Schedule

National YMCA Basic Leadership Formation: Curriculum for Professional Staff
(Revised September 2000)
Components for Lay Leaders (Policy-making Volunteers) Seminars/Workshops(As of September 2000)