It’s Time: Igniting the Youth for Impact, 5th National Youth Assembly of the YMCA of the Philippines

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Last Updated (Tuesday, 06 December 2022 12:25)

The YMCA of the Philippines held its 5th National Youth Assembly (NYA) with a theme It’s Time: Igniting the Youth for Impact at the Manila Downtown YMCA Auditorium last November 11, 2022. This assembly was well attended by 28 in-person attendees, and 25 registered virtual attendees representing 13 local YMCAs. 

This assembly aims to empower the youth by equipping them with the necessary knowledge on key issues that the youth are currently facing, and these are:

  1. What is an Empowered YMCA Youth
  2. Physical and Mental Health in the COVID-19 Pandemic
  3. Sustainability and Climate Change
  4. Education Access and Quality
  5. Creating Social Impact

After talking about these key issues, participants are gathered in small groups to share their thoughts and insights on these key issues and how these affect them in real life. During the small group discussions, these are the following themes that surfaced to be common among all small groups:

  1. Rooted in our Ys – always remembering our Ys or our reason for being with and staying with the YMCA
  2. Taking space – standing ground that as the youth, we are equal members of the Young Men’s Christian Association and that this organization is an organization to the youth, for the youth, and by the youth
  3. Community trailblazers – as youth, we must take the lead in creating sustainable solutions for the issues that we are experiencing today. In our own ways, we have the capability to effect the changes that we want to see.


↑ During Sessions

Coming from these small group discussions, participants crafted a mission statement that will be the anchor and focus of the YMCA youth for next year and in the years to come. The consolidated Youth Mission Statement of the 5th National Youth Assembly is as follows:

“We, the empowered young leaders of the YMCA of the Philippines, able to speak up and take space, to create sustainable solutions and value creation for a just and equitable world to the youth, for the youth, and by the youth.” 

As an action plan, we shall be reviving the YMCA of the Philippines Youth Network (YPYN) which shall

  • be composed of youth representatives from different regions and to be headed by the Youth Committee Chairperson
  • serve as an avenue for young leaders from different regions of the Philippines to connect and exchange ideas
  • have at least one representative in the working committees in all projects related to the youth

The YPYN shall conduct a consultation among local youth representatives on the projects that they want to conduct by the first quarter of 2023.



↑ NYA in Person Attendees↑ Presentation of NYA Report

Mr. Hero Go, current Youth Committee Chairperson of the YMCA of the Philippines, presented the report on the National Youth Assembly during the National Council Meeting and it was received by the council with commendation. We would like to thank Manila Downtown YMCA for hosting this assembly, to the young and vibrant volunteers of Manila Downtown YMCA for making this possible, and to all the participants for making this a success.


Prepared by: 5th NYA Working Committee