APAY Honour Society Holds First In-Person Gathering in Sejong city, Korea
Last Updated (Wednesday, 18 December 2024 17:24)
On Saturday, October 12, 2024, the first in-person gathering of the APAY Honour Society(AHS) was successfully held in Sejong city, South Korea. This landmark gathering was generously hosted by Sejong YMCA and Mr. Lee Dong-Kyu, one of the AHS members and the founding President of the Sejong YMCA. 33 people including AHS members, their spouse, and Sejong YMCA staff attended. This gathering was especially significant as it was the first time for AHS members to meet face-to-face, following two previous online meetings.
Establishment and Mission of APAY Honour Society
APAY Honour Society(AHS) was formed with a clear and important mission: to support the successful settlement and sustainable operation of APAY Headquarters located on Jeju island in South Korea. Through a combination of financial support and advisory role, AHS is committed to ensuring that APAY headquarters becomes a thriving center for youth engagement, climate justice work, gender justice and ecumenical collaboration across the Asia Pacific region.
A major milestone for AHS came earlier this year, during the Executive Committee Meeting(ECM) in April 2024, when the Society signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) with APAY to formalize a partnership aimed at enhancing APAY’s impact and operational capacity. This collaboration solidified the commitment of AHS members, who include esteemed YMCA and ecumenical leaders and other prominent figures in Korean society, to ensure the success of APAY’s mission. The AHS membership is comprised of 25 prominent leaders with Dr. Ahn Jae-Woong, Chair of Trustees of the NCY-Korea, as the convener of AHS.
Highlights of the Gathering
Mr. Nam Boo Won, General Secretary of APAY, shared the updates on APAY’s activities throughout 2024 with Quadrennial Program Plan (QPP), which started the spark for meaningful discussions about specific roles members would play in supporting APAY’s mission and work. With Dr. Ahn Jae-Woong’s convening, the members were actively engaged in sharing proposals and ideas on how best their expertise and resources could be utilized.
The opportunity to finally meet in person after virtual gathering enabled active introduction and fellowship among the AHS members. The joining of 3 new members was celebrated during the gathering with the bestowment of the plaque. The members also participated in an excursion afterwards to the Presidential Archives of South Korea.
The meeting concluded with a sincere expression of gratitude for AHS’s ongoing support and prayers for the work of APAY as well as for the generous hosting of Sejong YMCA. Their dedication and commitment are invaluable in ensuring that APAY remains a beacon of hope for young people in the Asia Pacific region. The continued partnership with AHS is expected to be a cornerstone for APAY’s new headquarters’ successful and sustainable operation in serving its 24 affiliated national movements.
Written by Yura Rhee, Secretary for Youth Empowerment and Admin, APAY
