“IT IS OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY”: Herlene Yu, MYMCA’s first youth ambassador for Youth Mental Wellness “I want to share that it is okay not to be okay. We all struggle with life challenges at some point in life. The most important thing is to realize that you are not alone and you can talk to your friends or family. Do not let yourself go down the slippery slope of depression. It is not a small matter and it will not go away on its own” Herelene shared earnestly. Read more |
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Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health – YMCA India The observance of International Youth Day (IYD) was virtually organised by the YMCA National Organizing Committee of Youth Empowerment, Gender and Sports & Physical Recreation under the aegis of the NCY of India on 12 August 2021 on ZOOM. IYD provides an opportunity for recognizing and promoting youth as positive agents of change, as well as key actors relevant to the attainment of sustainable peace and development in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Read more |
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APAY Solution Team on the Future of Work Six (6) Solution Teams on the Future of Work representing national movements of Cambodia, Japan, Philippines and Singapore completed their first pitch prototype call last 27 August 2021. The online meet up showcased the creative and innovative ideas of young people on how to address the issue of unemployment. Read more |
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Youth of Jeshore YMCA’s Response to COVID-19 pandemic Currently, the global pandemic is causing a significant impact in Bangladesh compared to the last year 2020. The morbidity and mortality rate of the Covid 19 virus is much higher this time around the country for its nature of quick spreading that impacts the citizens' daily lives. During this dire situation, Jeshore YMCA has undertaken a range of measures to serve the local community. Read more |
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Workshop on the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights by ICF ICF organized a virtual workshop on the theme “Uncovering the Plight of Indigenous People’s Rights and Access to Health Care during the COVID Pandemic.” The workshop took place on August 23-27, 2021 from 7:00 to 9:00 in the evening, Hong Kong time. Around 60 young people joined the workshop as regular participants. Some young people joined from Cambodia, Indonesia, Timor Leste, Myanmar, Mongolia, and Nepal, but the bigger delegations came from the Philippines and Bangladesh. Read more |
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29th Asia Pacific Biennial Area Convention of YMI The 29th Asia Pacific biennial Area Convention of Y’s Men International was successfully held in Tainan, Taiwan, on the 14th of August 2021, in a hybrid form due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the first time for the ASP Area to hold the Area Convention in a hybrid form attended more than 500 participants, including those watched on YouTube. Read more |
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Manila YMCA advanced its leap towards being carbon neutral through its “Greener Y Manila Project” in partnership with APAY and their Green Fund Project. The project aims to reduce the local YMCA’s contribution to carbon emissions by shifting to renewable energy in sustaining the daily operations of its building from being 100% reliant to municipally supplied power. Read more |
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YMCA Global Conversations :Afghanistan On Monday 30 August 2021 – a fortnight after the Taliban took Kabul, and as violence continued across the country – some 200 people from across the global YMCA Movement came together online to discuss the situation in Afghanistan and the region, and begin to chart how the YMCA should respond. Read more |
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Sir George Williams Library & Computer Training Centre- The YMCA Kaligram, Bangladesh established a Library and Computer Training Centre dedicated to Sir George Williams, the founder of the YMCA. This aim of the Centre is to bridge the gap between the underprivileged young people in the community for a brighter future. Read more |
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| ECUMENICAL NEWS | |
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Participants in a meeting of members and partners of the Ecumenical Forum for Peace, Reunification & Cooperation on the Korean Peninsula (EFK), held online on 25 August, emphasized the need to continue to work together for peace on the Korean Peninsula even amid COVID-19 and challenging political circumstances. General Secretary Nam Boo Won represents the APAY at the EFK. Read more |
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COMING SOON! |
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For details please click here |
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World YMCA issued a video to mark the start of the countdown to the 20th YMCA World Council on 3-9 July 2022 – a hybrid event which will be held part in person in Aarhus, Denmark, and part online. The video featured the logo chosen for the event to illustrate the theme ‘Ignite’. Read more World YMCA launched the Vision 2030 Consultation with the National Movements. Watch the introductory video here |
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| OBITUARY | |
Tribute to Late Katsumi Jinbo 1965 – 2021
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Tribute to Late Tha Sein 1937 ̴ 2021
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APAY Green Fund Supports ‘Greener Y Manila Project’
A Year from Now: 20th YMCA World Council, Denmark 3-9 July 2022Dear friends and colleagues,
We wish to bring you warm greetings of the New Year from APAY. We hope you have started 2021, with a fresh mind, healthy body and renewed spirit amid unabating pandemic in our region and beyond.
Though we continue to face multiple challenges – both personally and professionally, we will not lose hope that is promised by our God. We are called to stand firm on God’s promises and envision courageously “the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.” (Heb 11:1) It is still uncertain what the ‘new normal’ would be ahead of us? Nevertheless, we are called to continue to read and reflect on the signs of our time and be awakened by the ‘wake-up call’ posed by the pandemic! In this regard, we would like to introduce you a Prayer in the form of a Poem written by a theologian titled: “At the edge of a New Normal”.
Our “normal ways” are reassuring to us:
It is our normal way to slot people for wealth and poverty;
It is our normal way to classify people as “us” and “other”;
It is our normal way to prefer males to the other gender;
It is our normal way to distinguish heteros and the “other.”
