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TOWARDS
A STRONG AND RESPONSIBLE CIVIL SOCIETY
- Statement of
the Consultation -
Regional
Consultation on Civil Society Building
23-28 September 2000, Seoul, Korea
We,
twenty-six (26) YMCA participants from 9 countries met together
for Regional Consultation on Civil Society Building in Seoul, Korea
on 23-28 September 2000. The aim of the Consultation was to reach
a common understanding on the concept and relevance of Civil Society
in our local, national and regional contexts, and to search for
the YMCA's roles and tasks in building and strengthening Civil Society
amidst the current process of globalisation. Through Keynote Presentation,
Case Studies and National Reports and in-depth discussions among
the participants, we have reached a common understanding on the
concept and contextual relevance of Civil Society and Civil Society
Movements (or programmes). We commit ourselves to fostering Civil
Society as we understand building Civil Society is integral part
of our Mission towards the Reign of God characterised by Justice,
Love and Peace.
What is Civil Society in our context
We understand that "Civil Society" means non-government
and non-profit social space where people freely and voluntarily
interact, care for each other as well as organise themselves not
only to protect their rights, but also to seek their collective
aspirations to be realised. In other words, Civil Society is a public
sphere where people's spontaneous actions are determined, and people's
collective opinions are formulated and expressed towards realising
common good in a participatory and democratic manner vis-?vis the
State and Market.
Faced
with intensifying process of globalisation, which in many instances
brings about race-to-the-bottom, thus social disintegration and
polarisation at local, national, regional and global levels, environmental
degradation and decrease of sustainability, etc., we feel the need
for the YMCA's involvement in fostering civil society within their
own contexts, developing a balance between the state, market and
civil society. We also affirm that as an Ecumenical organisation
working for justice, peace and sustainability of human community,
the YMCA is called to face the challenges in engaging itself in
the building/strengthening of civil society, going beyond its inherited
concepts and ideas of traditional programmes.
In
this regard, we need to broaden the conceptual framework of civil
society to be reflective of diverse social contexts in our region:
ranging from the process-oriented participatory development and
community organising aiming at people's holistic empowerment, to
advocacy-type of work and policy-level processes to tackle crucial
issues such as human rights, environment and development, gender,
religious and ethnic conflict, consumerism and culture, corruption
and transparency, bio-technology, etc. Therefore, the strategy and
applicable methodology in building civil society need to be developed
by the respective YMCAs concerned, through in-depth research and
critical analysis of societal situations and needs.
Our Vision and Calling
The Vision of the Reign of God characterized by justice, peace and
love becomes a reality in our midst only when God's own people embrace
it as their way of life and assume full responsibility in building,
protecting and sustaining the Vision. This Vision can be translated
into fully blossomed, healthy Civil Society where people's abundant
life is ensured in harmony with entire creation, and where justice,
equity, peace and caring spirit prevail.
Our
present social realities show that we, as God's people, are remiss
in our sacred responsibility of fulfilling the Reign of God. To
some extent, its realization is not only threatened, but almost
abandoned by many in exchange of some seemingly more attractive
material world. As a community of faith, we acknowledge our weaknesses
and irresponsible stewardship, and wish to commit ourselves to concrete
actions in reforming the injustices and inequities existing in our
communities and societies.
Inspired
by the Biblical Vision of New Heaven and New Earth, we re-affirm
the spirit and imperatives of the "Challenge 21" together
with "Mission Statement of the Asia Alliance of YMCAs",
particularly:
"The YMCA seeks to share the Christian ideal of building a
human community of justice with love, peace and reconciliation for
the fullness of life for all creation."
We also affirm that the following imperatives are in connection
with and the realm of Civil Society Building and "Each YMCA
is therefore called to focus on certain challenges which will be
prioritised according to it own context":
" Empowering all, especially young people and women to take
increased responsibilities and assume leadership at all levels
and working towards an equitable society.
" Advocating for and promoting the rights of women and upholding
the rights of children.
" Fostering dialogue and partnership between people of different
faiths and ideologies and recognising the cultural identities
of people and promoting cultural renewal.
" Committing to work in solidarity with the poor, dispossessed,
uprooted people and oppressed racial, religious and ethnic minorities.
" Seeking to be mediators and reconcilers in situations of
conflict and working for meaningful participation and advancement
of people for their own self-determination.
" Defending God's creation against all that would destroy
it and preserving and protecting the earth's resources for coming
generations.
We also take note of the specific imperative clearly stated in the
"Mission Statement of Asia Alliance of YMCAs", that is,
participate actively in the building of Civil Societies.
We,
therefore, commit ourselves to respond to Jesus' call of proclaiming,
teaching and healing His people and entire creation by actively
partaking in the building/strengthening of civil society within
our own contexts. Particularly, in response to the aspirations of
our people and society, it is imperative for the YMCA movement to
involve itself in building s strong Civil Society to counter the
devastating impacts of globalisation, in order to fulfill its mission
more relevantly and meaningfully. We accept the task of creating
critical balance between the State, Market and Civil Society as
integral part of our mission towards a truly humane and sustainable
society. Therefore, we hereby resolve to put this Vision into concrete
actions in response to His calling, here and now.
Our Context
The Asia-Pacific region is considered as the world's center of not
only trade and commerce, but also of rich heritage and civilization.
It is very unique and complex - home of the smallest nation and
the biggest country and population. One third of the world population
live in this region. People live in multifarious, multi-cultural
and multi-religious social settings. Most of the countries in the
region, except the few, were either colonized at one time or another
for decades to centuries. The main reason why the colonial powers
converged in this region is not only because of its mystic and beauty,
but mostly because of its vast and rich natural resources.
Early
colonization and so-called "neo-colonization" continued
to prevail in the region with extreme outcome, i.e. some countries
lavishing with material grandeur while many other countries lingering
in poverty and under-development. While the highly developed countries
in the region such us Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan
and Singapore enjoy the fruits of development, so to speak, even
being disturbed by the excess of material development and "consumerism",
the third world countries in the region continue to struggle from
the bondage of poverty. The economies of these countries which are
agriculture-based and export-dependent, continued to be threatened
by the effects of environmental destruction, over-logging, over-fishing,
and over-consumption, not to mention of the impending impact of
integration into global market system such as entry to World Trade
Organization. Almost all of these countries are burdened with huge
foreign debts from IMF, WB, ADB, etc., which are incurred or borrowed
in the name of development.
In
spite of the tremendous development initiatives undertaken, majority
of the countries or huge number of its population in the region
continued to live in a state of extreme poverty, a state of "brutal
inequality" as described recently by a UNDP representative.
People have nowhere to seek refuge either in government or the business
sector to counter the negative impact of globalization, e.g. destruction
of environment, and exploitation of its nature resources on which
they depended their livelihoods for centuries.
Yet
still, the region is rich with people - people who are created in
the image of God, and people who can be empowered to chart their
own destiny for the common good of all. So is with its vast natural
and cultural richness and diversity, despite accelerating destruction
and erosion in the name of development and globalisation, which
have long been nurtured by the people in their creative response
to numerous challenges along the history - both from nature and
human.
In
the context of the contemporary process of globalisation, civil
society building could be an answer to the people's long struggle
with poverty and dehumanization towards a more humane and just society.
Civil Society Movement in the region, even though not blossomed
yet, will continue to grow through people's participation towards
common cause in responding the aspirations of our times.
Our Commitment
In front of new challenges and tasks, we reflect our YMCAs in humbleness.
We appreciate a variety of our strength that the YMCA has gained
throughout its history, such as positive public image and credibility,
its character as membership-based organisation with wide constituency
and rich human resources, external and internal network, its historical
nature of Ecumenism and secularism, its partnership between professionalism
and voluntarism, etc.
On
the other hand, we acknowledge that we have our own weaknesses in
light of readiness towards fulfilling its Mission in Civil Society
building. We also acknowledge that there sometimes exist rigid structure
and bureaucratism in our organization. Also, the YMCA sometimes
does not represent the aspirations of our people, and tends to be
aligned with status-quo. There is also self-criticism that much
of our programmes focus on symptoms, not on root causes of the societal
problems. Often times, we are also caught up by our own trap by
indulging in our own businesses to make ends meet. There still exists
lack of youth and women's participation in our YMCA governance.
Admitting
all these facts, we wrestled with each other to come up with plans
in order to put into specific actions what we have shared and learnt
in this Consultation. The following are the National Action Plans
drawn up by participants:
[AUSTRALIAN
YMCA]
Objective
To
ensure that YMCA activities in Australia maintain a balance between
body, mind and spirit.
Action
Plan:
1. Develop a National Strategic Plan with balance between body,
mind and spirit.
(use external experts as one third with staff and volunteers).
2. Raise awareness throughout YMCA of Civil Society issues and
encourage local Associations action plans.
3. Strengthen our membership and volunteers base (2001 is the
Year of the Volunteer).
4. Recruit and train Lay and Professional leaders committed to
Civil Society programs.
5. Increase partnerships within the Asia/Pacific Region - especially
East Timor where Civil Society development is crucial to their
future.
6. Engage more actively with Australian NGOs especially those
involved in youth issues.
[BANGLADESH
YMCA]
People's
Mediation Center
1. To help people with legal aid and technical expertise for redressing
their grievances to government and market sectors.
2. To act as intermediary or arbitrator to resolve conflicts amongst
the people (beneficiaries) and other parties if possible.
3. To seek assistance of legal professionals on voluntary basis
to resolve issues with the judiciary.
4. To voice out grievances of the people on their behalf.
5. To provide counselling service for land dispute resolution.
6. To set a centre at the local YMCAs as a People's mediation
centre, by rewritten appeals and helping them to solve the problems,
with legal aid.
7. To work as arbitrators in case of a dispute amongst them.
8. Make the people more conscious about their rights.
9. To increase the awareness and equip them to handle situations
on the land.
10. To resolve conflict situations.
[INDIAN
YMCA]
Title:
People's Empowerment - Civil Society Building Programme
Objectives:
1. Give clarity to local YMCAs with regard to 3 phases of service:
a. Charity
b. Community development (project)
c. People's empowerment and Civil Society building process
2.
To form a network of YMCAs involved in Civil Society building process
and other NGOs.
3. Motivate more YMCAs to take up Civil Society building process.
4. Programme Proposals
a. National Consultation of YMCAs in 2001.
b. Bring out publications propagating the message of Civil Society
building process.
Expected
Outcome:
1. Form 30 YMCA groups involved in Civil Society building process.
2. Identify and take up one or two issues related to people at
local/National level.
[JAPAN
YMCA]
Main
Focus of Action: Youth Leadership Training
1. The training will be focused on awareness building about Civil
Society and having more volunteers/professional workers for building
Civil Society.
2. More than 200 leaders participated in the training programmes
which Tokyo YMCA have conducted. But, it will be mainly to get
skills for camping, or other outdoor programmes. We have lots
of strategies to develop youth leadership for camping and others.
3. We will be able to arrange and build a new strategy to develop
the leadership for building Civil Society. For example, we teach
children in camps how to divide daily wastes, bottles, cans and
other things. If we can teach children 'why we should do that,
systematically, or whole system of recycling, it will build up
the level of awareness. Likewise, we need leaders who can talk
about Civil Society and some training programmes as one session
of camp leaders training programme.
4. The leaders who completed this training can continue to participate
in some movement for building Civil Society, after they graduate
from college and start to come to YMCA as camp leaders.
[KOREA
YMCA]
Title:
Citizen-initiated policy formation to regulate widespread "love
hotel" construction
Rationale:
In
most of the satellite towns surrounding metro Seoul, there is a
rapid outspread of so-called "love hotels" emanating from
dominant materialistic and consumptive lifestyle. This trend was
resulted from the immoral collusion between market forces seeking
profit only and local governments seeking revenue sources at the
expense of people's quality of life, particularly of our children
and youth. The key issue regarding the building "love hotel"
is who in a community has the right to make this decision. We must
not give away our right to the collusion between unregulated market
forces and unaccountable local government. Citizens must take the
initiatives in creating and maintaining livable communities. It
is a struggle between Civil Society and unbridled market force and
unaccountable local government co-opted by capital.
Action
Plans:
1. Increase public awareness and public consensus of the issue
2. Use every possible network for common resistance
3. Develop alternative policy together with like-minded NGOs and
experts to present unregulated spread of "love-hotels"
4. Change the related laws with citizen initiatives
Expected outcome:
Amidst globalisation, we need to protect our quality of life against
profit-centered activities by increasingly empowered market forces.
We may also make use of this issue in strengthening community spirit
based on the aspirations of community people.
[MYNMAR
YMCA]
The
role of YMCA in the building of Civil Society is important. In Southeast
context, the following issues need be taken into account for implementation
in accordance with the national context.
a. Environment issues
b. Human resource development issues
c. Poverty alleviation and Illiteracy
Objectives
To
assist the local regions in creating appropriate mechanism to facilitate
the involvement of NGOs and private sector in H.R.D.
Activities
a. Holding workshops/seminars - to enlist the co-operation of
NGOs with private sector in support of H.R.D.
b. Establishment of local workshop groups. Local business firms
and NGOs would be invited to participate. Each participating firm
and NGO would undertake sponsorship and implement appropriate
H.R.D. programs for development programs for rural communities
and the disadvantaged.
Expected Impact
NGO
and private sector involvement in H.R.D. would increase. Now skills
development opportunities would then become available for rural
communities and disadvantaged social groups.
[PHILIPPINE
YMCA]
Programme
Title: People's Empowerment and Action for Caring the Environment
(PEACE)
Duration
of Plan:
3 Years
Background
and Rationale:
The
Philippines is one of the countries in the Asia-Pacific Region that
has a long history of colonialization both from Spain for a long-time,
from the British shortly, and from the United States of America
for more that 20 years. As a result of this colonialization, the
country suffered suppressions and lost of its rich cultural heritage
- - even original writings, in favor of a new life which are western
outlook and mentality. However, democracy was introduced as a way
of life and government.
As
it struggled for development, the Philippines incurred a huge foreign
debts to about US$52 billion. Hardly can be seen the impact of the
foreign loan, since it continued to crawl on poverty and by the
impact of environmental degradation, globalization and high consumption.
After
the People's Power in 1986, NGOs, People's Organizations and Civil
Society Movements mushroomed throughout the countries manifesting
that the people are starting to rise up against the orchestrated
exploitation of neo-colonial powers in the name of development.
For
almost 25 years, the YMCA of the Philippines was pacing slow basking
from its rich pioneering years and glory but losing contact to the
social realities surrounding it comfortably working in the background
away from the madding cry of the civil society. Hence, this program
plan.
DESCRIPTION,
OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES:
The
PEACE Program is a 3-year development engagement of the YMCA of
the Philippines designed to advocate for the National and Local
YMCAs to get actively involved in civil society movements as well
as in social development programs with specific focus on caring
the environment.
By
the end of 3 years, the program will endeavor to achieve the following
specific objectives:
1. To formulate and implement a National Action Plan which will
engage the YMCA of the Philippines and its Local YMCAs on programs
that will address some priority environmental issues and concerns;
2. To create awareness among local YMCAs on Civil Society Building
as a basic means and rallying point for advocacy;
3. To capacitate YMCA Leaders (Staff and Lay) for Civil Society
engagement;
4. To identify priority issues by which Local YMCAs can address
as basis for civil society building;
5. To establish the social infrastructure for coalition building
and networking with other NGOs with environmental concerns.
To achieve the foregoing objectives, the following components/approaches/strategies
will be implemented:
1. National Consultation and Planning Workshop on Environment
Issues. A gathering of Key Leaders from at least 20 Local YMCAs
for consultation, awareness building, action planning, issues
identification and sharing.
2. Capability Building. A series of capability building/training
activities will be undertaken in order to capacitate staff and
YMCA Lay Leaders on the basic rudiments of civil society building
and advocacy works.
3. Project Development and Resource Mobilization. Each Local YMCA
will be guided/advised on the conceptualization of project, development
of proposal and in sourcing out of funds to finance the initial
engagement.
4. Education and Advocacy Campaign. An integrated education and
advocacy on environmental issues through print, video and internet
will be initiated and sustained by the YMCA of the Philippines
through the Local YMCAs.
Expected Outputs:
1. National Action Plan
2. Trained YMCA Staff for Civil Society Building
3. Pilot Project for Civil Society Building take-off
4. Integrated Advocacy Campaign
[SRI LANKA YMCA]
Brief
description of the Programme Process
" National Consultation on Civil Society building/empowering
people and local level awareness programmes at all YMCAs about
Civil Society building and the methods of implementation
" Bring out publications on Civil Society building.
" Create awareness among YMCA membership about burning issues
in he country.
" Network with other NGOs at local/national and international
level.
" Get the people involved through existing structures such
as Human Rights Centre, Peace Centres and Poverty Alleviation
Programs which should be carried out with people participation.
" Form legal aid centre in certain YMCAs.
" Peace / H.R. Centres to be spread out to all YMCAs so that
awareness building could be done and more consideration to be
given to the system of using youth/people and act with the people
wherever necessary.
" National consultation with regard to society building and
local level awareness programs
" Concentrate on creating awareness about the issues among
the membership and the public with help of others.
" This should be done involving people of other faiths and
the community to create awareness or in other words to get the
community to be involved in the process.
" Peace committee/human rights centres. Groups must not be
restricted to YMCA members but inclusive of the whole community
represented.
" Poverty alleviation programmes based on community organising
method.
" Exposure for local/national level leaders involved in Civil
Society building at local/international (sub regional level).
[THAILAND
YMCA]
Title:
Civil Society Building and Strengthening at Local Levels in Thailand
Specific Objectives:
" People-centred development.
" To create peaceful and just society.
" To protect the precious natural resources.
Brief Description of the Programmes
" Awareness raising
" Knowledge and skill development
" Natural resources management
" Co-operation and networking
" Policies and laws
Programmes
1. Environmental Educational Programme: aims at schools, administrators,
teachers and students.
2. Natural Resource Preservation Programme: by using innovative
multi-religious and multi-cultural approach
3. Sustainable Agriculture Programme
4. Energy Sourcing Programme
o Environmental talks
o Friendly lifestyles for sensible use of non renewable energy
resources
Results/Impact
1. Common concerns for public good will be raised and focussed
on try the people themselves.
2. It's the people's wisdom to make social change and resolve
their own problems.
3. All sectors of the society work together and learn together.
Follow-up Actions at different levels (particularly for non-participants
in the Consultation):
At the close of the Consultation, we felt strongly that the outcome
and new thrust arising from this Consultation must be shared with
those YMCA leaders and constituencies who were not able to join
us. To this end, we propose the following steps to be taken at different
levels:
1. To organise similar Consultation/Workshop/Seminar on Civil
Society Building at National and Sub-regional levels whenever
and wherever deemed necessary
2. To publish the report booklet of the Consultation so as to
be used as a relevant reference material for those who are concerned
with civil society issues and programmes
3. To organise appropriate exchange programmes for YMCA programme
practitioners who are/will be involved in civil society work
4. To share resources and reference materials with National/Local
YMCAs through Asia Alliance Website and e-mail communications
5. To create, broaden and strengthen networks among the YMCAs
as well as like-minded Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) engaged
in civil society work for information sharing, exchange of ideas
and experiences, and collective action when need arises
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