Makati YMCA Concludes Golden Anniversary with Thanksgiving for the CARE Programs

Last Updated (Tuesday, 06 December 2022 13:45)

The Makati YMCA in the Philippines, organized in 1971, culminated their Golden Anniversary last November 19, 2022 through a thanksgiving mass and a hybrid program highlighting the beneficiaries of its CARE programs.

CARE which stands for Community Action for Resilience and Empowerment is comprised of extensive programs on Scholarship and Distance Learning Assistance, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Training, and Environment action initiatives.

Education

↑ Distance Learning Assistance Program supported 150 students giving Wi-Fi kits with monthly internet load and monthly cash allowance.  This year, the Makati YMCA in its Scholarship Program, continues to support 50 students, who are also provided with weekly leadership formation programs, Bible Study and volunteer opportunities for community service as part of their development.
↑ Gabay Aral is a Free Basic Literacy Program held during weekends for 30 sessions, where volun teers from around the community, coaches the 10 years old and below indigent schoolc hildren who are deficient from the basics of reading, writing and counting . Two groups from two different schools are being tutored; one on Saturdays and one on Sundays.

Entrepreneurship

↑ Tulong sa Kabuhayan and Tulong Puhunan are two livelihood assistance program that provides seed capital loans and grants to young micro entrepreneurs and give them financial literacy training and offer savings scheme program . The project was launched by the founder of Makati YMCA, JN Morales Sr., in the 80’s and was revived in 2020 in response to the effects of the pandemic to the livelihood of the people in the communities.
↑  YEP: Makati’s Next Gen Entrepreneurs is an extensive training program for youth to become business startup founders. Starting from business ideation workshops, business model canvass, trainings on product development, marketing, business laws, financial management and mentoring up to pitching their businesses to angel investors for seed equity and grants!

Environment

↑ KalaKalikasan is a Youth Led Solutions Initiative that turns plastic waste into functional materials like pillows which are sold to support a livelihood. The program also promotes low carbon lifestyle among the community.
↑ The Makati YMCA has completely converted to LED lights and Inverter appliances to reduce carbon emission. It also installed a 57kWp Solar PV System last January 2022, which became its major source of energy during the day.

The YMCA of Makati Officers expressed their gratitude to God for the many blessings of leaders and staff, who have efficiently managed and maintained its programs and modest membership facilities that housed a 25 room hotel, fitness gym and a Basketball Court; and most especially, for the blessings of members, partners and volunteers, who have immensely contributed and sustained the youth and community development programs of the Association over the past 50 years.

The Board of Trustees also thanked the continuous support of Asia Pacific Alliance of YMCA’s (APAY), represented by General Secretary Nam Boo Won and Executive Secretary Cristina Miranda-Lastima who were both virtually present during the occasion.

Prepared by:
Ma. Magda R. Gana, General Secretary, YMCA of Makati, Inc.