Greetings to you all.

I am Jo Ye-eun, President of the National Council of University YMCAs of Korea.

Thank you for inviting me to the morning devotion on this second day of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs’ Executive Committee meeting.

Reflecting on your desire to hear the voices of Korean YMCA youth during this meeting, I was reminded of a particular scripture: John 17:21 – “That they all may be one.”

As you know well, this biblical verse symbolizes and represents the Global YMCA Movement adopted by the World YMCA long ago. The core of this verse can be summed up in one word: UNITY.

Today, we live in a world of countless connections. However, true "faith" and "trust" are gradually disappearing. If so, who will be the subjects to rebuild this faith?

Today, I would like to speak about the name ‘Uni YMCA’—not merely as an abbreviation, but as a message created by young people.

* U - Unity: Though we come from diverse backgrounds, we become one through shared values. The moment different people gather toward a single direction marks our beginning.

* N - Network: This connection does not stop at simple relationships. It expands into sustainable cooperation. Through our last General Assembly, six new University Ys joined our federation, and currently, 13 University YMCAs are working together. This is not just a number; it is the expansion of a connection built on mutual trust.

* I - Impact: The connections we build ultimately create change in society. We do not remain within our own circles; we step out into the world.

* Y - Youth: Just as George Williams and his friends did 182 years ago, we are not objects to be protected, but subjects who create change.

* M - Movement: We do not stop. Small actions gather to create a unified one flow.

* C - Connect: We connect people to people, and the world to values. As these

connections accumulate, they expand into greater solidarity.

* A - Action: We prove ourselves through actions, not just words. I believe that what changes the world is not a massive system, but the small actions of youth who trust each other and are connected to one another. And we have already begun that change.

Ultimately, Uni YMCA is creating continuous movement and change based on the connection of young people. Let me share a practical example of how this change is taking place.

In particular, the National Council of University YMCAs in Korea is preparing a Peace Pilgrimage this coming May.

The Peace Pilgrimage is an initiative where we visit places in our society that call for peace, and reflect on the role young people must take in building a more peaceful world.

This year, the pilgrimage will also serve as a time to remember the significance of the May 18 Democratic Movement in Korea,

Through this journey, we hope to deepen our understanding of trust, solidarity, and our shared responsibility in shaping a better society.

The University YMCA moves through every moment—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—as youth create change for themselves. This year, under the slogan “From Connection to Solidarity, From Solidarity to Change,” we aim to create a community that binds us even more firmly together.

Within this movement, Uni YMCA is not just an organization; it is a living network of youth moving toward the world for betterment. We are not just connected. We are creating change.

I ask for your unwavering support for Youth Empowerment so that University YMCAs across all 24 member countries of APAY, as well as in Korea, can keep their faith in God and the world, remain connected, and build a common vision for transformation.

The world is currently in a whirlwind of violence and war. In places like Lebanon, Iran, Palestine, and Ukraine, countless innocent lives are being lost. In this era of violence, injustice and chaos, I ask for your support and solidarity so that many "George Williamses" (who founded the London YMCA at age 23) can embark on a collective journey of self-transformation and world transformation toward a “New Heaven and New Earth” filled with God’s justice, peace, and love.

Thank you very much.