2008 annual report
World Alliance of
YMCAs
Published by: World Alliance of YMCAs 12 Clos Belmont 1208 Geneva Switzerland Tel: (+41-22) 849 51 00 Fax: (+41-22) 849 51 10 E-mail: office@ymca.int Website: www.ymca.int Š World Alliance of YMCAs, Geneva, August 2009 Printed in Switzerland Designed by Mondofragilis Layout by John Ainsworth
World Alliance of YMCAs Annual Report 2008 Contents Preface Our Work 1. Advocacy on Youth Issues 2. Responding to Disaster 3. Strengthening YMCAs to serve Youth and Communities 4. Connecting the Global YMCA Movement 5. Resource Mobilisation: Towards a Culture of Giving Looking Ahead Our Partners Our Leadership Our Finances
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Working for social justice for all youth, regardless of religion, race, gender or culture, the YMCA is a global ecumenical Movement with 45 million members in 124 countries worldwide. Founded in 1844, the YMCA is the oldest and largest Movement for youth in the world. The World Alliance of YMCAs is based in Geneva, Switzerland. Its work in the areas of advocacy, global programming, capacity building, communications, and emergency response, supports and strengthens National and Local YMCAs to better serve youth and communities.
Glossary AAY APAY EAA GOP LACA NGO PLHIV UN UNICEF UNAIDS YMCA YWCA
Africa Alliance of YMCAs Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance Global Operating Plan Latin America and Caribbean Alliance of YMCAs Non-governmental organisation People living with HIV United Nations The United Nations Children’s Fund The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS Young Men’s Christian Association Young Women’s Christian Association
Preface YMCAs Empowering Youth and Communities Worldwide In today’s economic climate, YMCA programmes to empower young people and their communities through education and skills development, community and livelihood programmes, HIV prevention, and promotion of civic engagement for example, have become more critical than ever. To support this life-saving work, throughout 2008 the World Alliance of YMCAs intensified efforts to strengthen the capacity of National and Local YMCAs worldwide, and strategised on how to mobilise additional resources for the Movement. Inspired by our contemporary mission statement as expressed in “Challenge 21” to “building a human community of justice with love, peace and reconciliation for the fullness of life for all creation”, this year we strengthened our advocacy efforts for the human rights of the most vulnerable in our communities, especially children and young people. We participated actively in various international and regional fora and worked to empower those directly affected to be effective advocates of their own issues. It was exciting to see the dynamic participation of YMCA youth at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico this year, and at a transformational leadership training event in Thailand. Our work to promote the rights of children and young people and address other global issues such as climate change and the food crisis, was strengthened through our partnerships with international ecumenical and non-governmental organisations, UN agencies, alliances of youth organisations, and donor agencies. To confront today’s global challenges, there is need for a comprehensive transformation not only of systems and structures but also of leadership and our conceptions of it. How can the YMCA respond meaningfully to the call to build a more humane global village if not through a new kind of leadership aimed at transforming society? It is with this in mind that during the past year the World Alliance of YMCAs encouraged YMCAs to critically analyse their own systems of governance and leadership, and consider what is needed from future YMCA leaders. We plan to continue this critical work in 2009, ensuring that these questions are addressed in YMCA leadership training and development programmes throughout the Movement. With active presence in 124 countries, in 12,000 communities, with over 45 million members, the worldwide YMCA Movement has great potential to transform the lives of young people and their communities, and is already making a significant impact, thanks to the personal commitment and hard work of its volunteers, staff and members. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who have supported the YMCA this year and look forward to our continued and meaningful collaboration.
Martin Meißner
Dr. Bartholomew Shaha
President
Secretary General
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Chapter 1
Our Work 1. Advocacy on Youth Issues YMCAs are brilliant advocates for change. They work tirelessly, and successfully, to uphold the rights of the most marginalised groups including young people in conflict with the law, migrants, the unemployed and street children. The results are transforming lives. The World Alliance of YMCAs supports these efforts in several ways: 1) It runs a transformational leadership programme to offer knowledge and practical skills for young leaders to act as agents of change in their communities and within the YMCA Movement; 2) It speaks out on behalf of the Movement on issues relevant to young people; 3) It organises training and hands-on advocacy work at meetings of UN bodies and major international conferences.
Developing Young Leaders Transformational Leadership Programme From the 18th to 28th January 2008,
30 young YMCA
leaders from 23 countries came to Thailand for a Transformational Youth Leadership Programme. Organised by the World Alliance of YMCAs, the programme aimed to celebrate the leadership of young people, raise awareness about global issues that impact local realities, and empower them as agents of change in their own communities and in the world. Young leaders lived with Thai host families and were introduced to the diverse programmes run by YMCA Chiang Mai including a street children programme, a fair trade project, and a women’s empowerment programme.
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Young leaders also had the opportunity to participate in thematic
“A week has passed since I returned home from the YMCA
workshops on issues such as ecological debt and climate change,
Transformational Youth Leadership Programme in Thailand. Those
gender justice, HIV/AIDS, and youth at risk. Skills building workshops
closest to me know I have changed. I have reached a tipping point
were also offered on advocacy and the UN human rights system,
in my ambivalence to globalisation. I feel like I can no longer turn a
global youth work, and transformational leadership.
blind eye to the “small things” but must stand up for those in need, speak up for those who have no voice and scrutinise every decision
On the final day the group identified future priorities including the
I make to be sure it is done with my brothers and sisters from every
need to educate YMCA constituencies on global issues, dialogue with
country in mind.”
decision-makers, and ensure youth participation and representation in governance structures.
Troy O’Leary, Youth Delegate, YMCA San Francisco, USA
YMCA IN FOCUS … European Youth Festival 2008 From 3-9th August, YMCA Europe organised an international youth event in Prague, bringing together 7,500 young people from all over the world. Under the theme “Real Life” young people were invited to share experiences, challenges, new ideas and resources. “Festival-goers
left Prague with an increased awareness and understanding of global issues including HIV/AIDS, conflict, poverty and youth justice. Many of the workshops, stage performances, seminars and late night debates were designed to help young people reflect on their place in the world, explore the links between their lives and the lives of young people from other countries and cultures, and to think about what they can do as individuals to make a difference.”
Ian Luck, YMCA Europe
YMCA IN FOCUS … Advanced Studies Programme 2008 Every year the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs (APAY) runs an Advanced Studies programme, providing training and support for the development of transformational YMCA leaders. This annual programme that began in 1982 has trained hundreds of trainers for community empowerment not only from Asia and Pacific but also Africa and Latin America. In 2008 13 participants from 10 National Movements successfully graduated from the programme. The programme is run by highly trained resource persons; participants explored new challenges in globalised societies and analysed these issues from a theological perspective, and in relation to the YMCA’s contemporary mission. They also had the opportunity to learn from the experiences and good practices of other community / civil society organisatins, and the chance to interact with key YMCA leaders such as Dr. Park Jai Chang, President of APAY and Dr. Bart Shaha, Secretary General of the World Alliance of YMCAs.
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Fighting for a World Without AIDS
International AIDS Conference 2008
Today, YMCAs in over 30 countries implement programmes
From 3-8 August 2008, the World Alliance of YMCAs participated
and activities aimed at stopping the spread of the HIV/AIDS
in the International AIDS Conference (IAC) held in Mexico. The
pandemic. In 2008, The World Alliance of YMCAs continued to be
conference brought together more than 22,000 participants,
an active advocate for the rights of people living with HIV (PLHIV).
including PLHIV, activists, medical experts and politicians.
The World Alliance is committed to working for the prevention of HIV/ AIDS, countering stigma and discrimination against PLHIV, fighting
The World Alliance of YMCAs was represented by 15 delegates
gender inequality, and ensuring care for orphans and children who
from across the Movement. The YMCA’s core message for the
are vulnerable as a result of HIV and AIDS.
conference was: ‘Youth Volunteerism and Leadership on HIV/AIDS – Empowerment, Responsibility, and Solidarity’, with the slogan ‘You can Stop AIDS.’ The YMCA shared its unique experience working with communities around the world through: • A Workshop on Gender Justice, HIV Prevention and the Role of Men • A Workshop on Communicating HIV Prevention to Young People • Distribution of YMCA postcards and brochures on HIV and AIDS • YMCA space at the Global Village • Meeting with key partners to explore further collaboration including UNAIDS A Campaign entitled ‘YMCA 2015 – a World Without AIDS,’ was also launched at the conference. To symbolise commitment to this goal, the YMCA invited conference participants to put their thumbprints on a large mural of an AIDS ribbon. Over 1,000 people, including the media, religious leaders, sex workers, PLHIV and representatives from other organisations, participated in this exercise.
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Related Activities on HIV/AIDS ...
UN High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS YMCA Caribbean Regional Coordinator for HIV/AIDS, Mr. Gleeson
Ecumenical Pre-Conference at International AIDS Conference (IAC) 2008
Job, represented the World Alliance of YMCAs at this meeting in New
The World Alliance of YMCAs worked closely with the Ecumenical Ad-
funding and greater accountability to reach the goal of providing
vocacy Alliance as part of a small planning team to organise the
universal access to HIV prevention, and treatment.
York, 10 – 11 June. The meeting highlighted the need for increased
2-day ecumenical pre-conference before IAC 2008.
Celebrating World AIDS Day
Building Compassionate and Caring Communities: YMCAs Strengthening the Response to HIV and AIDS
On 1st December, World AIDS Day 2008, the World Alliance of YMCAs
A publication detailing the HIV/AIDS work of 13 National YMCA Move-
joined other international and faith-based organizations in Geneva,
ments was produced. The report highlights the achievements made
Switzerland, in the celebrations and in raising a global voice for
in capacity building and youth leadership development, gender sen-
concerted action on HIV/AIDS.
sitisation, media work, mainstreaming prevention as well as working with people living with HIV and orphaned and vulnerable children.
Popularising the Code of Good Practice for NGOs In order to raise the standard of programme work on HIV/AIDS, the World Alliance, with the help of the Code Secretariat popularised the
NGO Code of Good Practice for NGOs Responding to HIV / AIDS 1, as well as the self-assessment tools on: prevention, HIV and emergen-
The Code outlines and builds a wider commitment to principles and practices, informed by evidence, that underscore successful NGO responses to HIV. It identifies a series of areas that are key to HIV programming and articulates fundamental principles that should be applied to HIV programmes in each of these areas.
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cies, and meaningful involvement of people living with HIV.
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Campaigning on the Global Food Crisis YMCAs around the world are taking action to promote and protect the right to food through diverse and innovative programmes. The World Alliance of YMCAs is supporting these community-based actions with international awareness raising and advocacy on the global food crisis.
International Conference on Global Food Challenge From 24th – 26th November 2008, the World Alliance of YMCAs co-
In December, World Alliance representative to the Ecumenical Advo-
convened a conference on the global food crisis. The conference
cacy Alliance (EAA)2, Dr. José Pablo Prado Córdova of YMCA Guate-
brought together over
100 participants from national and
mala, was selected to join the strategy group for EAA’s global ecu-
international non-governmental organisations, farmers, women and
menical campaign on food, of which he is the Vice Chair. Campaign
fisherfolk Movements, as well as UN and government bodies. Confe-
activities include: collection and development of resources, including
rence participants shared case studies from around the world and
theological reflection and worship materials on the right to food and
expressed the urgency for a rights-based approach that addresses
on just consumption; coordination of common advocacy at national
the needs of the most vulnerable.
and international levels; and partnering with others to develop a human rights toolkit on the right to food.
YMCA IN FOCUS…YMCA Liberia supports farming families Yepeka Following the long period of civil unrest and massive displacement in Liberia, many communities faced unemployment, poor education, health and housing facilities. In response to the desperate situation, YMCA Liberia launched a swamp rice production programme that provided tools, seeds and training to farmers. A major component of the programme was the grouping of farmers into “farming families” to achieve larger productions and enhance solidarity in the community. This initiative has been so successful that today, in addition to rice, the farming families also produce corn, cassava, eddoes, yams and other local foods.
2
EAA is an international network of 100 churches and church-related organisations committed to campaigning together on common concerns
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Striving for Global Citizenship for All In a rapidly globalising world where challenges such as migration, climate change, and HIV/AIDS transcend national boundaries and increasingly restrict the full development of young people, we are called to find new responses. At the last World Council of YMCAs (Durban, 2006), the world YMCA Movement adopted a resolution declaring that “it is time for the YMCA to be awakened collectively towards a ‘global consciousness’… and to nurture global citizens…
the strengths, weaknesses and barriers to using this concept as a credible response to emerging global problems. Please see the corresponding chapter of this report for further details.
interconnected by common humanity and global responsibility.”
“Together, [the YMCA] can inspire a sense of global citizenship, of common cause among youth leaders. As global citizens working together within our own countries we will have a better chance of finding lasting solutions to violence, ignorance and poverty.”
In 2008, the World Alliance of YMCAs intensified planning efforts for the next World Council of YMCAs due to take place in Hong Kong, July 2010. It will focus on the theme of global citizenship, exploring
Amir Dossal, UN Fund for International Partnerships, speaking at the 150th Anniversary of the World Alliance of YMCAs in Bombay YMCA, India
YMCA IN FOCUS… Forum on Global Citizenship, Tokyo In October 2008, the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs held an international forum on global citizenship. Participants agreed to work together to intensify the promotion of global citizenship programmes in National YMCA Movements, develop a training manual on global citizenship and identify and disseminate good practices on global citizenship. This work will be developed in 2009 and showcased at the next World Council of YMCAs. For more information on the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs please visit: www.asiapacificymca.org
YMCA IN FOCUS…Africa Alliance of YMCAs: From Subject to Citizen In 2008, the Africa Alliance of YMCAs began development of a new programme - “From Subject to Citizen” that is aimed at building the civic competence of young people in Africa. A subject is a young person with limited rights and a citizen is a youth who is a partner in national development, according to young people who recently took part in a YMCA survey on civic competence in Kenya, Liberia and Zimbabwe. This survey was designed to assess the magnitude of the impact of conflict in these three countries, the implications for civic engagement among young people, and the opportunities for conflict prevention. Key findings from Liberia for example were that young women are less empowered than young men, and the administrators of justice at national level are generally unavailable for influence by young people. For more information on this programme and the Africa Alliance of YMCAs please visit: www.africaymca.org
YMCA IN FOCUS…Mano a Mano sin Fronteras, Canada, Mexico, and USA Mano a Mano sin Fronteras or Hand to Hand without Borders is a trilateral Youth Leadership Summit run by the YMCAs of Canada, the USA and Mexico. Since 1991, more than 450 youth from North, Central and South America, and Spain have participated in this programme. Mano a Mano focuses on global issues impacting youth and their communities and emphasizes service learning, civic engagement and community development.
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Calling for Youth Justice
Youth Justice at the UN
In June 2008, the World Alliance of YMCAs and Y Care International3
The World Alliance of YMCAs has special consultative status with the
adopted a joint international advocacy strategy on youth justice is-
UN Economic and Social Council, allowing it to participate in key UN
sues. The strategy is aimed at building the capacity of YMCA young
forums and intervene through written and oral statements. In 2008
people and their National YMCA Movements tto advocate on youth
the World Alliance was active in these forums, particularly the UN Hu-
justice at an international level. The strategy targets six YMCA par-
man Rights Council, and invested significant resources to build strong
tners in Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, Honduras, the UK and Ire-
networks and partnerships with other leading child rights and youth
land, already involved in Y Care International’s Youth Justice in Action
organisations at this level. Together with Y Care International, the
Campaign. “The entire campaign is geared towards improving, pro-
World Alliance of YMCAs has planned a training programme for six
tecting the welfare of, and maximising the potential of young people
young people on how to effectively advocate on youth justice issues
who come into conflict with the law,” said Christian Martyn Kamara,
at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, to be held in March 2009.
National General Secretary, YMCA Sierra Leone.
3
Y Care International is the relief and development agency for the YMCA in the UK and Ireland which works in partnership with young people worldwide through
the YMCA movement to help them enrich their lives and to build a more just world, free from poverty
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Empowering Young People to Address Climate Change Training Manual on Climate Change In collaboration with UNICEF and the Alliance of Youth CEOs4 , the World Alliance of YMCAs is producing a guidebook for young people to take leadership in addressing climate change. Entitled ‘Climate Change : Take Action Now – A Guide to Empowering Young People to Protect the Earth’, this gender sensitive publication will be a practical tool including simple activities and resources for young people and those who work with young people. The guidebook will be published in several languages thus making it accessible to a wide audience around the world.
YMCA IN FOCUS... YMCA Chiang Mai helps Preserve Community Forests For over 15 years, the YMCA of Chiang Mai in Thailand has been running a participatory programme to raise awareness amongst villagers and grass roots communities of their rights and responsibilities regarding the use and preservation of their local forest and watershed areas. The YMCA supported community groups to discuss and understand the causes and effects of deforestation and identify the communities’ needs. They then carried out activities to increase other villagers’ awareness of the problem, through nature camps, seminars, exhibitions, campaigns, competitions and tree planting. The YMCA Northern Development Foundation also provided training in sustainable forest management. To date, around 50,000 people have participated in the process. Today, water resources have improved, illegal logging has been reduced, new forests have grown and environmental education and respect for nature has increased. At the political level, a Community Forest Act has been adopted that ensures the communities’ legal rights in the management of their natural resources.
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See page 25 for a full list of members.
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Chapter 2
Our Work 2. Responding to Disaster In times of emergency or natural disaster, Local YMCAs and National YMCA Movements are in an excellent position to identify communities’ needs and to mobilise quickly and effectively. In such situations the World Alliance of YMCAs supports these responses by helping YMCAs to develop short and long-term intervention strategies, by launching funding appeals, and by managing pledges and transferring funds to the affected YMCAs. The World Alliance also develops distinct YMCA policies on humanitarian coordination as well as tools and strategies on disaster preparedness and response. During 2008, in collaboration with YMCA Area Alliances, the World Alliance of YMCAs coordinated international responses to several emergency situations around the world including:
Gaza (December 2008) Following the outbreak of violence, YMCA Gaza provided assistance, including food, blankets and medicine to the many families taking shelter in local schools. The YMCA also continues to run psychosocial programmes with 2,500 children aged 8 to 15;
Georgia (August 2008) After weeks of violent conflict and massive displacement of communities, YMCAs in Tbilisi and Gori responded quickly to the urgent needs of the local population, providing food, shelter and hygienic items;
Ecuador (February 2008) With support from the international YMCA family, Local YMCAs distributed food and water to those affected by the catastrophic flooding in the South of the country. YMCA doctors from Peru, Uruguay and Brazil also traveled to the affected areas to offer medical assistance.
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Peru (August 2008) When a devastating earthquake hit Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India (Tsunami the city of Pisco, in Peru, the international YMCA family reacted swiftly follow-up) Four years after the South Asian Tsunami, to support YMCA Peru’s relief work. This included the provision of
medical support and the management of a camp for 1,800 victims, as well as the development of a longer term post-relief programme.
rehabilitation and reconstruction work to help people rebuild their lives and livelihoods is ongoing. In the immediate aftermath of the disaster the World Alliance of YMCAs mobilised over 1 million Swiss Francs to support emergency response by National YMCA Movements; this contribution was complemented by other partners who raised several million pounds sterling for these activities.
YMCA IN FOCUS‌ Emergency Support to Displaced Families in Kenya (January 2008) The post-election crisis in Kenya forced hundreds of thousands to leave their homes and communities. YMCA Kenya acted swiftly to help displaced communities. Staff and volunteers from the YMCA Ngecha helped over 100 internally displaced families camping at a church in the area. The YMCA, in close co-operation with the local Chief distributed food to families and donated other basic items. More than 200 students who fled their homes due to the violence were enrolled in regional YMCA schools. Some received training in computer skills, the rest received primary and secondary education. The World Alliance of YMCAs appealed for 50,000 USD to support YMCA Kenya to respond to the crisis. The worldwide YMCA family generously met this appeal. YMCA Kenya is now working on a second phase of the emergency response, and is organising peace camps and peace events with young people from different ethnic groups to help them reconcile with each other and learn to live with diversity. These young leaders will then go back to their communities and train other leaders with these skills.
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Chapter 3 Our Work: 3. Strengthening YMCAs to Serve Youth and Community To support and sustain the vital work of YMCA Movements worldwide, in 2002 the World Alliance of YMCAs developed a long-term plan for Movement strengthening to help YMCAs grow stronger and more relevant. We refer to this plan as the Global Operating Plan (GOP). The World Alliance of YMCAs plays a critical role in the GOP process by helping to identify YMCAs in need, raising funds, offering technical expertise, standardising methods and tools, collecting good practices and providing platforms for these to be shared. In 2008, 17 National YMCA Movements and their regional structures were supported by the World Alliance to do Movement strengthening activities under the GOP framework. The YMCAs of South Africa, Madagascar and Togo are the newest participants in this process. Throughout 2008 a process was also developed to support YMCAs in Central America and the Caribbean. Several strategies have been developed for helping YMCAs that need assistance. Most of the support is provided through the expertise of international partner groups together with Local and National YMCA leaders. Knowledge sharing between YMCAs through exchange of good practices and lessons learnt is another important strategy that helps strengthen all National YMCAs.
For more information on the YMCA Global Operating Plan please visit our website: http://www.ymca.int/index.php?id=gop
Institutional Viability: Viable YMCAs are able to constantly generate the necessary resources to run their programmes. Their staff and leadership are competent and motivated, and they undergo regular training. Their governance and management structure is healthy and is in line with the programmes that the YMCA wants to deliver.
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YMCA IN FOCUS… Success in Sierra Leone In 2008, YMCA Sierra Leone was one of the first Movements to successfully complete the YMCA’s Movement strengthening process. When YMCA Sierra Leone first joined the process it was facing major challenges in the area of institutional viability. YMCA Sierra Leone’s success is the culmination of a 10-stage process that lasted several years. Following an “institutional diagnosis”, YMCAs from around the world with the necessary expertise were invited to form a “Country Focus Group”. The Sierra Leone Country Focus Group included experts from YMCA Germany, YMCA Simceo/Muskoka (YMCA Canada), and the International Group of YMCA USA. Together with YMCA Sierra Leone, the Country Focus Group developed a strategic plan and work plan for the coming years. The Group also provided technical expertise and where possible financial resources. Today, YMCA Sierra Leone is registering significant progress in various aspects of institutional and programme implementation. This is having a positive impact on young people in the country. Specific areas of growth include: clearer vision and mission that are owned by all constituencies; more competent staff and volunteers; more systematic leadership training; strategic plans developed at national and regional levels; improved governance systems and procedures; increased budget; and more focus on youth-related programmes in communities. In 2008 the YMCA of Sierra Leone developed a sound plan to open a new Community Centre in the Kroo Bay slum, offering safety, community spirit, engagement and entertainment to the residents. It will offer residents a safe place for their children, and a space to host up to 300 people at a time for key community gatherings. For more examples of similar success stories please visit our website: http://www.ymca.int/index.php?id=1171
Using New Technologies to Share Knowledge Facilitating the sharing of knowledge, including good practices, resources, guidelines and standards is one of the unique services that can be offered by the World Alliance of YMCAs to the wider YMCA Movement. In October 2008 the World Alliance established a Knowledge Sharing Task Group, allowing relevant experts from each YMCA region to work together to identify the most appropriate architecture and interface for a collaborative knowledge-sharing platform for the YMCA.
Led by the World Alliance, the Group tested a range of social networking, web-conference, and e-learning tools to identify the most cost-effective and inclusive, given the widening technology gap between YMCAs in different parts of the world. Trial versions of certain tools were made available to YMCA networks to help identify the best solution. The World Alliance also collaborated closely with, and drew important lessons from the Latin American and Caribbean Alliance of YMCAs (LACA), who make regular use of the above-mentioned tools with very positive and dynamic results.
YMCA IN FOCUS: Building Communities of Practice in Latin America & the Caribbean In 2008 LACA has continued to advance work in building strong regional communities of practice around key YMCA areas of work and approaches. Achievements to date include: • 7 regional knowledge sharing networks on youth development, fundraising, education and mission. • More than 180 persons regularly participate in virtual events. • Development of e-learning courses in partnership with SINERGIA NET (an educational platform that develops long distance and on-line training programmes for training of trainers) • 40 social practices from various YMCAs have been systematised through the REPRASIS network. (a network established by the EPyCA Foundation to share social practices from across Latin America, allowing for mutual learning among network members) • Development of a region-wide youth leadership training curriculum
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Chapter 4 Our Work: Chapter 2 4. Connecting the Global YMCA Movement The World Alliance of YMCAs facilitates communications, knowledge and experience sharing within the global YMCA Movement. It also acts as the global spokesperson for the Movement, communicating the mission, activities and impact of the YMCA’s work to international media, international organisations and ecumenical bodies, the general public and donors. We do this using a variety of publications and multimedia including:
YMCA World This quarterly magazine is published in English and Spanish, and distributed to YMCAs worldwide, as well as other partner organisations and YMCA supporters. Recent editions have focused on: the global food crisis, the Millennium Development Goals, youth justice, and the environment. Each edition explores the activities and impact of YMCAs worldwide, whilst offering useful resources, tools, good practices, and in-depth reflections. The magazine also features external contributions from partner organisations.
Living in Hope: A Communication from the Secretary General This electronic newsletter is circulated to YMCA National General Secretaries and other friends of the YMCA three to four times per year. It provides an overview of the general direction of the World Alliance and updates on some selected activities and programmes, as well as reflections from the Secretary General following visits to YMCAs and key meetings.
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World Alliance of YMCAs Website: www.ymca.int During 2008, the World Alliance of YMCAs continued to enhance its online presence through the addition of several dynamic elements to the website. A podcast section now features interviews with key YMCA personalities, and ‘whYMCA?’ blog provides a forum for YMCA members to meet and share ideas. A World Alliance of YMCAs channel has also been created on YouTube that hosts several videos related to YMCA activities worldwide - http://www.youtube.com/ymcaworld
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Chapter 5
Our Work:
5. Resource Mobilisation : Towards a Culture of Giving “All young people face unprecedented challenges and choices that will determine their condition of life and their ability to positively contribute to their communities. The YMCA will engage youth in leadership, education and other activities to enable young people to make positive choices.� This statement was signed by YMCA Area Presidents and Executives, together with the President and Secretary General of the World Alliance of YMCAs, in January 2008. The group also committed to raise the necessary resources to increase the capacity of Local/ National Movements, and to develop a resource mobilisation plan to fulfil this commitment. Since May 2008, the World Alliance of YMCAs and Area Alliances have made significant progress in developing and implementing a resource mobilisation plan, using a seed fund of 500,000 USD provided by the World Alliance and members of the YMCA family. Work is taking place in four main areas: building capacity in areas such as governance and financial management; identification and development of socially relevant programmes; development of more effective communications and brand consistency; research into existing and new funding opportunities.
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Africa Alliance of YMCAs The Africa Alliance of YMCAs has given particular focus to the exploration of opportunities for corporate funding. A workshop was held in November in South Africa with several experts in this field; and a strategy was designed for a group of YMCA pilot countries in the region. Significant work has also been done to improve communications with external audiences and regional brand consistency.
Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs (APAY) will be joining this process in early 2009, and has begun developing its plan for building capacity for resource mobilisation.
Latin America and the Caribbean Alliance of YMCAs (LACA)
mobilisation, and will launch pilot projects with 11 high-potential Movements. A pool of fundraising and communications experts worked on branding, media, public relations and resource mobilisation strategies.
YMCA of the USA The YMCA of the USA strengthened the culture of global philanthropy in collaboration with the Africa Alliance, YMCA Europe, and the Latin American and Caribbean Alliance and National Movements (15). This includes vital financial and technical support from World Service, sharing of best practices and support to key leaders from Africa, Latin America, and Europe to participate in the NAYDO conference. In addition, the YMCA of the USA is implementing a five-year philanthropy development initiative together with the YMCA of Mexico, funded by the Kresge Foundation.
Throughout 2008, LACA made significant progress towards a unified corporate image for the region, and created manuals, templates and resources to support National Movements in the process. LACA continued evaluating and systematising its practices to ensure that high quality, relevant programmes are developed in the region.
In 2008, the YMCA of the USA also engaged more than 1,000 young Americans in global leadership and service activities (YMCA Europe Festival in Prague, Czech Republic, Mano a Mano programme in Mexico, youth exchange/learning programmes with international partner YMCAs). It also strengthened 10 U.S. YMCAs’ capacity to serve 50,000 newcomers/immigrants. This initiative is funded by the Knight Foundation.
YMCA Canada
World Alliance of YMCAs
The YMCA in Canada supports resource mobilization by providing peer support and financial assistance to partner YMCAs, YMCA regional alliances, and the World Alliance. As part of peer support, technical assistance in key areas such as philanthropy, income generation, governance, and communications is provided. The YMCA of Greater Montréal hosted the 2008 North American YMCA Development Organization (NAYDO) conference where YMCA leaders from around the world were introduced to philanthropic trends and practices, enhanced their fundraising skills, and learnt about developing a culture of philanthropy.
The World Alliance of YMCAs began exploring the possibilities to develop a Movement-wide process to harmonise the global YMCA brand. To facilitate the sharing of useful tools, practices and publications on resource mobilisation, the World Alliance created an online Resource Library for National Movements, and identified a set of social networking and webconferencing tools that could be made available for the Movement. It also supported Areas to explore existing multi-regional funding opportunities, with particular focus on projects relating to migration.
YMCA Canada is embarking on a national resource creation and capacity building initiative that will result in a comprehensive plan to collectively create more resources and build greater organizational capacity within the YMCA in Canada.
YMCA Europe YMCA Europe engaged in an intensive consultative process with its members to create ownership and enthusiasm for resource
“The YMCA is in many ways a slumbering giant in the resource mobilisation arena…This process involves hard work being done by a number of really dedicated people. In many ways the work is cutting across borders for the YMCA – it represents new ways for Areas to work with each other, and with the World Alliance, to bring about transformation that can be embraced by YMCAs in all corners of the globe. I predict this group, in conjunction with leaders at all levels of the Movement, will succeed and produce lasting results.”
Bob Tobin, Williams Group, Consultant to the World Alliance of YMCAs and YMCA Global Staff Team.
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Chapter 2
Looking Ahead YMCA : Striving for Global Citizenship for All World Council of YMCAs, Hong Kong, July 2010 The World Council of YMCAs meets every four years, and is responsible for setting the policies and direction of the World Alliance, electing its Officers and Executive Committee, evaluating the work of the last four years, and deliberating on the key thrusts of the world Movement for the next quadrennium. This year the World Alliance has intensified planning and preparation for the next World Council that will take place from 18th – 24th July 2010 in Hong Kong under the theme of “Striving for Global Citizenship for All”. In the face of globalisation and global problems such as climate change, migration, and HIV/AIDS, there is an urgent need for new ways of belonging…to the YMCA, to our local communities, and to the world as global citizens. We will also explore together the various barriers to global citizenship and how they can be overcome.
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Highlights of the 2010 World Council will include:
a branding platform; and lifting the YMCA profile as a Movement that is committed to addressing the needs of young people and their
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Skills building workshops
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Discussion Forums on YMCA cutting-edge issues
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Global Village for YMCA exhibits, sharing resources and
International Youth Forum
materials
Prior to the World Council Meeting, there will be a 3-day
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Cultural Night
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Inspirational Worship Programme
lives and their communities, with a specific focus on the Millennium
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Exposure Visits to Local YMCA programmes
Development Goals. It will also provide training to prepare youth
The next World Council will also be an important milestone in several
communities.
International Youth Forum. The Youth Forum aims to empower young people to advocate on global issues that impact their
delegates for active participation at the World Council.
processes that are linked together: the launch of a culture of giving
More information on previous World Councils and on the upcoming
- resource mobilisation as an integral component of Movement
meeting can be viewed on our website:
strengthening; building a common identity and the development of
http://www.ymca.int/index.php?id=14
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Chapter 2
Our Partners
Representing the YMCA Movement at world level is one of the core
functions of the World Alliance of YMCAs. Our aim is to make it easier for the voice of YMCA young people to be heard at the highest levels of policy-making and to create opportunities for new partnerships for our National YMCA Movements. To this end, the World Alliance of YMCAs fosters strategic partnerships with a range of international organisations including ecumenical bodies, UN agencies, and other youth organizations.
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Ecumenical Organisations
Youth and Other Organisations
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World Council of Churches
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Y’s Men International
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The Vatican, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
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NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child
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Founding Member of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance
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CONGO - Conference of Non Governmental Organisations
United Nations The World Alliance of YMCAs has had consultative status with the
The World Alliance of YMCAs belongs to a group of the biggest youth
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations since 1947.
organisations in the world known informally as the «BIG 6» - officially
The World Alliance participates actively in the Commission on the Status
termed the Alliance of Youth Chief Executive Officers. Collectively, the
of Women (New York) and the Human Rights Council (Geneva) and
network reaches over 100 million young people in over 200 countries
collaborates with the following organisations:
and territories.
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UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
Besides the World Alliance of YMCAs, members of the Alliance are:
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YEN - Youth Employment Network
World YWCA (World Young Women’s Christian Association)
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UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
WOSM (World Organization of the Scout Movement)
Organisation
WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts)
IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies)
IAA (International Award Association)
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Our Leadership Officers and Executive Committee Members President: Mr. Martin Meißner, Germany Deputy President: Rev. Samuel D. Stephens, India Treasurer: Mr. Fernando Ondarza, Mexico Secretary General (Non-Voting): Dr. Bartholomew Shaha, Bangladesh Ms. Sophie Ahadji, Togo
Mr. Sandy McIntyre, Canada
Ms. Aisa Akapson, Nigeria
Ms. Maria Cristina Miranda, Philippines
Mr. Martin Bauer, Switzerland
Mr. Vezinhlahla Mncwango, South Africa
Ms. Mary Benson, USA
Ms. Hiromi Nagao, Japan
Mr. Kenneth Colloton, USA
Mr. Santiago Ortiz, Ecuador
Ms. Rana Nazem El-Khoury, Lebanon
Dr. Jai Chang Park, Korea
Dr. Kjetil Fretheim, Norway
Ms. Paola Petracchi, Italy
Ms. Jennie-Marie Glover, England
Ms. Lucía Quintanilla, Peru
Mr. Charles Habiah, Ghana
Mr. Howard Sabga, Trinidad & Tobago
Mr. Felipe Jurado, Chile
Ms. Sofía Sánchez Acosta, Argentina
Ms. Courtney Lawrence, USA
Ms. Lucy Wanjiru, Kenya
Ms. Helen McEwan, New Zealand
Area Presidents: Mr. Clifford Sileya, Africa Alliance of YMCAs, Zimbabwe Dr. Jai Chang Park, Asia & Pacific Alliance of YMCAs, Korea Mr. Peter Posner, European Alliance of YMCAs, England Mr. Leopoldo Moacir Lima, Latin American & Caribbean Alliance, Brazil
Past President (Non-Voting): Rev. Caesar Molebatsi, South Africa Y’s Men International Liaison to the World Alliance (Non-Voting): Ms. Rachelle Reeg, USA Observer: Mr. Chris Roles, Y Care International, England
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Our Finances Balance sheet as at December 31
2008
2007
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Expenditure
Income
Throughout 2008, the World Alliance has been very stringent in
Total income for 2008 was CHF 2,005,449 against the budgeted
cost and budgetary control, with total expenditure reaching CHF
income of 2,082,000. Almost three quarters of the World Alliance
1,946,187 against the budget of CHF 2,080,000.
of YMCAs’ income was generated through the Fair Share (World Alliance Membership) contributions of YMCA National Movements. The chart below indicates the sources from which remaining funds were generated.
Auditors   The World Alliance of YMCAs Finance committee resolved that the auditors should be changed in accordance with good accounting practice as the current auditors have been acting for over five years. New auditors, Deloitte, have been appointed to take over as from the 2009 accounts. A full version of our audited accounts is available from the World Alliance of YMCAs office.
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Contact Us The World Alliance of YMCAs
Latin America and Caribbean Alliance of YMCAs
Dr Bartholomew Shaha, Secretary General
Mauricio Diaz Vandorsee, General Secretary
12 Clos Belmont
Vicente Rocafuerte No. 1678
1208 Geneva
Montevideo, Uruguay 11.400
Switzerland
Tel: +598 2 600 99 40
Tel: +41 22 849 51 00
Website: www.lacaymca.org
Fax: +41 22 849 51 10
Email: comunicaciones@lacaymca.org
Website: www.ymca.int Email: office@ymca.int
YMCA Canada Janet Emmett, Interim CEO
YMCA Regional Alliances
42 Charles Street East, 6th Floor
Africa Alliance of YMCAs
Tel: +1 416 967 9622
Carlos Madjri Sanvee, General Secretary State House Avenue, State House Crescent P.O. Box 60856, Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 20 2714644/2724804 Fax: +254 20 2725909 Website: www.africaymca.org Email: aaymcas@africaymca.org
Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs Kohei Yamada, General Secretary 23 Waterloo Road 6th Floor, Kowloon Hong Kong SAR Tel: +852 2780 8347 / 2770 3168 Fax: +852 2385 4692 Website: www.asiapacificymca.org Email: office@asiapacificymca.org
Toronto, ON, M4Y 1T4 Fax: +1 416 967 9618 Website: www.ymca.ca Email: services@ymca.ca
YMCA Europe (European Alliance of YMCAs) Johan Vilhelm Eltvik, General Secretary Na Porici 12 CZ-110 00 Prague 1 Czech Republic Tel: +420 224 872 020 Fax: +420 224 872 025 Website: www.ymcaeurope.com Email: info@ymcaeurope.com
YMCA of the USA Neil Nicoll, President and CEO Selma Zaidi, Vice President, International 101 North Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606 Tel: +1 800 872 9622 Website: www.ymca.net Email: international@ymca.net
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YMCA Presence Around the World
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www.ymca.int