Committee on Mission and Responses

Terms of Reference

The YMCA Mission is enunciated in the Paris Basis. It has been re-interpreted contextually in the Challenge 21. The mission of the YMCA will never be static and it beckons us constantly on our roots as a Christian organisation, seeking the relevance within the context of our time.

The Mandate of the 18th General Assembly of the APAY that met with the theme “Breaking Barriers, Transforming Lives” impels the YMCA movements in APAY to not only identify the barriers in the diverse contexts of the region that deny peoples human dignity but to begin a journey to transform these injustices into justice through living out the values of Christian faith.

Responding to these barriers of injustice requires transformation of both the individual members and the YMCA itself. This will enable us to effectively work toward transforming the larger community and society with our unique mission of empowering young people for breaking barriers and transforming communities.

There are several barriers that exists in our societies .The barriers of injustice that inhibit people, the barriers of hunger and other manifestations of poverty, the barriers of conflicts and other forms of violence; the barriers of Ecological challenges, issues related to tourism, discriminations and other expressions of inequality; barriers related to ethnic and religious intolerance and disrespectful ways of relating to those who are different. In order to address these challenges the YMCAs needs to be empowered to gain confidence to step outside of their comfort zones to take the risks that are required of Christians committed to being God’s servants in building the Reign of God in this world.

The Committee will focus on:

1. Increased efforts to strengthen spirituality and Christian values in our work;
2. Promote leadership orientation/development programmes on YMCA mission for volunteer and professional leaders;
3. Strengthen rights-based approach to programming that promotes human rights, including the rights of migrant workers, internally displaced peoples, indigenous peoples, and other pressing concerns and issues impacting on the poor, the marginalized and socially disadvantaged;
4. Nurture the concept of Global Citizenship and strategies as a means to break barriers and transform lives;
5. Strengthen ecumenical understanding and relations and network with partner organisations and other NGOs for contextual strategic actions on common issues;
6. Promotion and engagement in interfaith dialogue and cooperation for peace building;
7. Promote the creation of alternative tourism throughout the region and facilitate the establishment of a global alternative tourism network;
8. Work toward achieving climate justice and promote awareness and advocacy on environmental issues in the community as good stewards of God’s Creation;
9. Development of strategies to address issues of ageing populations;
10. Develop and promote the concept of Social Economy and build capacities of the YMCAs for action responses at grass root level.