YMCA World June 2009
No. 2 - June 2009
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YMCA World - June 2009 1
The World Alliance of YMCAs is a federation of YMCAs in 124 countries with a membership of over 45 million. YMCAs seek to share the Christian ideal of building a human community of peace with justice for all, irrespective of race, class, religion, or gender. Formed in 1844, the YMCA is one of the largest and oldest youth movements in the world.
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President’s Message: Responding to the Situation Migration
Youth Migration: The Facts Illegal Youth Migration: The Experience of YMCA Senegal Promoting Cultural Diversity and Integration: YMCA Spain’s Work with Immigrant Communities The Impact of Migration on Children and Youth: The Filipino Experience Gaza: Reflections from a Visit and Update on YMCA Gaza’s Post-Emergency Humanitarian Work YMCA East Jerusalem: Serving Youth and Community APAY and LACA Welcome New National General Secretaries YMCA University Founded in Germany Y’s Men International: Following a Simple Path to Peace through Service YMCA / YWCA Week of Prayer 2009 National General Secretaries’ Conference on Leadership in the YMCA YMCA Leaders in Private Audience with Prince Felipe of Spain 17th World Council of YMCAs: Striving for Global Citizenship for All
Global Operating Plan (GOP) for Movement Strengthening
YMCA Ethiopia: A “GOP Pioneer” is Back on Track
Food for Thought
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World Movement News
World Alliance News
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YMCA Supporters
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IT Corner: Internet and the Harsh Realities of “Connectivity”
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Journey in Mission: The Impact of the Worldwide YMCA on
Youth Development
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YMCA World –No.2– June 2009 A quarterly of the World Alliance of YMCAs Published in English and Spanish President : Mr. Martin Meißner Secretary General : Dr. Bartholomew Shaha
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12 Clos Belmont, 1208 Geneva, Switzerland Tel : (+41 22) 849 51 00 Fax : (+41 22) 849 5110 E-mail : office@ymca.int Web Site : www.ymca.int Editor : Rebecca Morton Editorial Assistant & Graphic Design : John Ainsworth Resource Material : Claude-Alain Danthe Printing : Sro-Kundig, Geneva, Switzerland
Cover design by John Ainsworth
Cover by John Ainsworth
Do you have a story to share? Comments on our magazine? Internet links or resources that could be useful to the Movement? Please send an e-mail to rebecca@ymca.int Would you like to subscribe to our magazine? Please send an e-mail to john@ymca.int
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Editorial
Youth and Migration False Expectations
In this edition of YMCA World we explore the issue of migration and its impact on young people. As the economic crisis continues to worsen, and unemployment levels reach all time highs, the number of men, women and young people choosing to migrate in search of better opportunities is high. Although there is little official data, experts agree that a significant proportion of the migrant population is under the age of 24. Several National YMCA Movements in both sending and receiving countries are working with potential youth migrants, and with new arrivals to address some of the problems faced by young migrants. Young people are often misled by recruitment agencies in their home countries and leave their homes and families with the hope of better employment opportunities and conditions of life. Instead they are met with exploitation, discrimination, abuse, poor living and working conditions, and little hope for a better way of life. This edition of YMCA World highlights some of the work being undertaken by National YMCA Movements in the area of migration.
In Senegal, a hub for international migration to Europe, the YMCA has identified the need to develop strategies to raise awareness of the realities of migration, distil any false expectations, and offer greater employment opportunities to young people in Senegal. In Spain, a popular destination for Senegalese migrants, the YMCA is working with new arrivals to provide them with relevant training and information to facilitate their integration, and with tools to fight against racism and xenophobia. In the Philippines, significant research has been done into the effects on a child when one or both parents migrate for economic reasons. The YMCA of the Philippines has been working closely with research institutes to train Local YMCAs on the social, economic and emotional effects of migration on children, and is developing programmes to support the children and families of Overseas Filipino Workers. Other National YMCAs are engaged in similar work, but the global reach of the YMCA Movement, and its presence in thousands of communities in both sending and receiving countries mean that we can do more.
President’s Message President Mr. Martin Meißner World Alliance of YMCAs
Conditions of life in many countries are such that young people and their communities do not have a real chance to live. They try to improve their situation by leaving their homes and their families with the hope of a better life in another place. We can imagine what this means above all for young people – to live without parents, in a country where they are not welcome, where they are threatened by so many dangers. As a Movement committed to working in solidarity with poor, dispossessed and uprooted groups, it is our duty to advocate – and it is our duty to help and to give support to these young people.
Editor Rebecca Morton World Alliance of YMCAs
We can encourage YMCAs in both sending and receiving countries to work together in developing effective awareness raising and advocacy campaigns. The African Alliance of YMCAs and YMCA Europe are already exploring the opportunities to develop such a joint programme on youth migration. There is an International Convention on Migration (1990) that clearly outlines the rights of all migrant workers and their families, including young people. To date virtually none of the major sending or receiving countries has ratified this Convention, leaving the majority of migrants in precarious living conditions with high vulnerability to exploitation and discrimination. The World Alliance of YMCAs, together with National YMCA Movements can advocate for governments to ratify this Convention, modify their national legislation relating to migrants, and ensure that a monitoring and enforcement mechanism is in place for its effective application. This is strongly in line with the mission of the YMCA Movement as expressed in “Challenge 21”, and its commitment to working in solidarity with the poor, dispossessed and oppressed religious and ethnic minorities.
Responding to the Situation Since its establishment in 1844 the YMCA has been doing just this. In fact, George Williams, founder of the YMCA, was deeply concerned by the poor and inhumane living conditions of young workers in London who had migrated from rural areas. What he saw touched his heart – and he began to act. We all know the rest of the story.
Today, many of our National YMCA Movements are responding to the situation of young people who are now migrants in a New World. You will see examples from Senegal, the Philippines and Spain, and other places where the YMCA is working hard to give hope – where the YMCA can be seen as a light in the world.
The YMCA is working
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hard to
give hope...
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Migration
Youth Migration: the Facts
The movement of people between countries has shaped human societies throughout history, and as the globalisation of trade, production and the economy has increased, so too has migration. Since the 1990s, developed countries have received approximately one million migrants annually, and according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) 192 million people (about 3 percent of the world’s population) live outside their native country. These migrants constitute approximately 10 percent of the total population in OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries. Trends in International Migration People choose to relocate for many reasons including exploring new economic opportunities, to escape persecution or oppression, or to be closer to family. Whatever the reason, few countries remain untouched by migration. It is expected that the number of migrants worldwide will reach 230 million by 2050. Figures show that in 2005 the top three migrant receiving countries were the United States, the Russian Federation and Germany, while the top three migrant sending countries were China, India and the Philippines. Countries in the global North are home to 60% of the world’s migrants, with Europe and North America being the principal destinations and accounting for 33% and 25% respectively. “Push” and “Pull” Factors According to the United Nations Population Fund, information and statistics on young people’s international migration remains limited, due to the assumption that most migrants are men over 24 years old.
Nevertheless, experts agree that young people constitute a significant part of the world’s migrants, with most setting their sights on developed countries. Young people are driven to migrate for several reasons, with the most significant “push factors” being family re-unification, and the lack of educational and employment opportunities in developing countries. Furthermore, destination countries in the developed world are experiencing a shrinking labour force due to ageing populations, and young migrants are being increasingly recruited by the health sector in these countries to meet the care needs of the aged. Young people around the world have also been compelled to migrate as asylum seekers in order to escape from wars and civil conflict, and of the 12.7 million refugees in the world in 2005, nearly 50% were children under 18 years of age. Youth Migration through the Eyes of Sending and Receiving Countries One of the positive impacts of youth migration for sending countries is that it can improve the job prospects there, acting as a safety valve in times of high unemployment. For example, Albania, Algeria, El Salvador, Jamaica, Mexico, the Philippines and Turkey have over 10 percent of their workers abroad, which has been shown to increase wages and employment prospects for those remaining . Another is the remittances (money sent) from migrants to their home countries, which amounted to USD 167 million in 2005, of which a significant amount were from young people.
On the other hand, the issue of “brain drain” is a serious concern for many sending countries. According to the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the continent lost 60,000 professionals between 1985 – 1990 and the World Health Organisation claimed that a quarter of doctors trained in 10 sub-Saharan countries were working in OECD countries. Receiving countries benefit from young migrants, many of whom fill the lowestpaid jobs that no one else wants. Although there is an increasing trend in the recruitment of young migrants in sectors such as health, the majority of young men work as labourers in the construction and agricultural industries, with most young women working as domestics, waitresses, cooks, cashiers and sales clerks. In addition, young immigrants coming from countries with different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, have contributed to the diversity of the youth population in developed countries. False Expectations While migration can provide positive experiences and opportunities for young people, it is not without risks and challenges. Many of the jobs taken by young migrants require little education and previous experience, and are considered of low status, offering little prospects for career advancement. At the same time, those who migrate with high levels of education of-
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Migration ten find it difficult to secure employment in the occupations for which they have been trained. Young migrants are particularly vulnerable to exploitation; the harsh reality of what awaits them in their host country is often very different to the picture painted by recruiters and agents in their home country. Conditions of living can be poor, and wages much lower than they were promised. Some have their passports confiscated and find themselves living in conditions that can only be described as modern-day slavery.
that they are not citizens of the country in which they live, and as such they may be unfamiliar with the national language, laws and practices, and therefore less able than others to know and assert their rights. They may face discrimination, and be subjected to unequal treatment and unequal opportunities at work, and in their daily lives. When a migrant enters another country illegally, or enters legally and subsequently loses any legal immigration status, his or her vulnerability to abuse and exploitation by employers, corrupt bureaucrats and criminal gangs sharply increases.
Some may be taken by smugglers to a different destination than they set out for, with young women in particular falling victim to sex trafficking or ending up as domestic servants. World-wide, sexual trafficking is on the increase and an estimated 1.2 million children and adolescents under 18 years are affected every year.
To guard against this type of exploitation and abuse of migrants’ basic human rights, an international convention on migration was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1990. The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and their Families (ICMW) entered into force on 1 July 2003.
Migration is a major contributory factor in the spread of HIV/AIDS. For many young people, migration involves long periods of separation from spouses and family and the resulting loneliness can increase the chances of indulging in risky sexual activities, leading to a heightened risk of being infected by the virus.
This Convention builds on existing international standards such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and those of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) – Conventions 97 and 143 - relating to migrant workers.
A Human Rights Perspective The special vulnerability of migrants, including young people, stems from the fact
The Convention imposes a series of obligations on States in the interest of promoting “sound, equitable, humane and lawful conditions” for the international migration of workers and their families. Among others, these include provisions in
key areas such as employment, education, and social services: • Employment - migrant workers are entitled to the same treatment as nationals in respect of wages, other terms of work (e.g. overtime, hours of work, holidays with pay etc.), and other terms of employment (e.g. minimum age, restrictions on home work etc.). In addition, they are entitled to the same treatment as the nationals of the host country in respect of protection against dismissal and unemployment benefits; • Education - every child of a migrant has the basic right of access to education, and documented migrants, along with their family members, have the same right of access as nationals to educational institutions, vocational guidance, and vocational training and retraining facilities; • Social services - migrants are entitled to the same access to social security programmes as nationals. However, to date virtually none of the major sending or receiving countries has ratified this Convention, leaving the majority of migrants, including young people, with no legal recourse to improve their human rights situation. With its global reach and presence in communities in both sending and receiving countries, the World YMCA Movement is well placed to support efforts to advocate for the ratification of this Convention, and help protect the rights of young migrants.
Useful Links and Resources: International Organisation for Migration (IOM): http://www.iom.int/jahia/jsp/index.jsp UN Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA): http://www.unfpa.org/pds/migration.html UN – Department for Economic and Social Affairs: http://www.un.org/esa/population/migration/index.html UN High Commissioner for Refugees: http://www.unhcr.org/directory.html#M International Labour Organisation (ILO): http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/migrant/contacts.htm Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD): http://www.oecd.org/home The World Bank: http://www.worldbank.org/html/extdr/thematic.htm Migration Policy Institute: http://www.migrationpolicy.org/ Migrant Rights International: http://www.migrantwatch.org/
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Migration Joseph Bernard Coly National Secretary for Communication YMCA Senegal
Illegal Youth Migration:
The Experience of YMCA Senegal
Like many other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Senegal is painfully familiar with the issue of illegal immigration. For many years the geographical location of Senegal in the west of the African continent, with more than 1,000 km of coastline, has made the country a hub for departures to Europe. However, in recent years illegal immigration has rapidly increased, reaching alarming levels. Causes When the current President of Senegal took office in 2000, young Senegalese people had hope for better conditions of life. This hope was however short lived. The promises that had been made were difficult to keep due to the economic downturn which can be attributed to a number of factors including: industrial crisis, agricultural shortfalls as a result of poor rainfall and over-exploitation of marine resources, a decline in tourism, and poor governance. This situation led to an increase in youth unemployment, and coincided with more stringent measures for visas, leading many young people to risk their lives to find somewhere else to meet their needs and fulfil their dreams.
These statistics, as well those from Sardinia in the Aegean Sea, and the numbers of people that are rescued, imprisoned, and sent home, show that for Senegal and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, illegal immigration is a painful wound, and a significant development problem to which no-one should be indifferent.
Civil society initiatives tend to focus on awareness raising, advocacy, and training of youth and women from coastal communities, in which the rates of death and disappearance as a result of illegal immigration are the highest.
Several initiatives have been taken in response to this situation. Governments and inter-governmental organisations have proposed solutions based on: • A security approach with strict monitoring of the Senegalese coast and tighter
Recognising that a period of reflection and analysis is necessary before any effective action can be taken, YMCA Senegal in collaboration with Caritas Dakar and PARI (Welcome Point for Refugees and Migrants) launched a consultation process involving a range of social actors. The aim was to develop co-ordinated and sustainable solutions to problems relating to migration and youth unemployment in Senegal. This process involved three phases: • Phase One: A high-level panel meeting was organised on 11 December 2007 under the patronage of Cardinal Theodore Adrien Sarr, Archbishop of Dakar, and the presidency of Mr. Mamadou Lamine Keita, Minister of Youth and Youth Employment. Six expert panellists participated in this phase; the aim was to gather information and identify courses of action on issues related to youth employment and migration.
YMCA Senegal Action
Many young people...risk their lives to find somewhere else to meet their needs and fulfil their dreams
Consequences In 2006: 31,000 illegal migrants from SubSaharan Africa, 50% were Senegalese. In 2007: 1,235 migrants died in the Mediterranean sea, and 267 died in the Saharan desert, in lorries on Atlantic ferries, or were shot by border authorities In 2008: 1,502 migrants died at European ports
security on European coasts. Although these measures have resulted in a significant decrease in migration, they have certainly not stopped it. • A development approach with investment programmes, training and funding for youth and women. Unfortunately some of the programmes have not met the expectations of the target groups, and others were perceived as tools for political propaganda.
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Migration • Phase two: a larger forum took place on 13 December 2007 in Ndangane to discuss the issues of migration and youth employment. The forum brought together heads of families and youth in the areas most affected by these problems, as well as young migrant associations, political authorities and religious groups. The forum identified the different factors that can promote migration and proposed solutions to reduce this phenomenon. • Phase three: a workshop was organised in order to share the conclusions from the first two phases with different stakeholders including: representatives from villages from which there have been many departures, associations for young migrants who have been sent home, associations and organisations working for youth employment and youth rights. Throughout these three phases, the following actions were identified as responses to the problems of youth unemployment and migration: • Welcome and reintegration of returning youth migrants • Local alternatives for the economic reinsertion of youth
• Strategies for advocacy and awareness raising • Development of a network of associations and organisations to ensure effective measures to fight against illegal migration, and promote youth Since the Dakar and Ndangane meetings, several initiatives in response to the problem of illegal immigration have been implemented, however none have included the meaningful participation of young people. In response to this, YMCA Senegal, Caritas Dakar and PARI, in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, organised a series of study days with youth organisations working on migration and youth employment in Senegal, in March 2009. These days were designed to bring together young people from various backgrounds to identify concrete actions to manage the problems related to migration and youth unemployment in Senegal.
During these study days, young people built on the reflections made in Ndangane and agreed on the need to establish a platform for youth organisations on the issue of migration. The YMCA was given the mandate to be the focal point of this platform. Based on the outcomes and recommendations made in each of these meetings, YMCA Senegal is already working to: • Initiate programmes in the four action areas identified during the consultation process • Facilitate the development of a platform for national youth organisations on the issue of migration • Develop a network of partners at the regional and international levels to develop and implement integrated programmes for the prevention of illegal immigration by young people.
Panel on Migration and Youth Unemployment Issues
Study Day with Youth Organisations
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Migration Juan Simoes Iglesias National General Secretary YMCA Spain
Promoting Cultural Diversity and Integration: YMCA Spain’s Work with Immigrant Communities
Almost overnight, Spain has gone from being a major source of migration, to one of the top destinations for migrants. In fact, since 2000 Spain has had one of the highest immigration rates in the world, and today ranks 10th among countries hosting the highest number of immigrants in absolute terms. In 1980, the number of immigrants in Spain was less than 200,000. This figure reached 1 million in 2000, and in 2008 an estimated 5,5 million immigrants resided in Spain, representing almost 15% of the country’s population. The economic growth experienced by Spain since the early 1990s has been a strong factor attracting migrants from neighbouring countries. The rapid growth of the construction industry and service sector for example, required thousands more people to work all over the country. Due to the linguistic and cultural ties with Latin America, 36% of immigrants come from countries such as Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Proximity to the African continent, particularly the Canary Islands and Iberian Peninsula, has also facilitated the arrival of many migrants from Western Africa. Almost 20% of the immigrant population is from the African continent. The Spanish media is full of stories about those who survive the inhuman journey across Africa itself, and then across the ocean, sailing in precarious boats or timber constructions, who must then begin a new journey in Spain where they struggle to survive in the face of social exclusion. The Iberian Peninsula has become the natural entry point into Europe for millions of people, mostly young, escaping poor economic conditions, conflict, and a lack of opportunities. The Peninsula has always been a meeting point, a place for cultural exchange and social and economic development. However, today many feel that it runs the risk of turning into the stage for a ‘clash of civilisations’ with enormous social, political, economic and religious differences. The Spanish popula-
tion was relatively uniform until the 1990s, but the massive influx of immigrants has created greater diversity in race, culture, language and religion. YMCA Action to Promote Inter-Cultural Understanding Over the last six years, YMCA Spain has been implementing programmes for immigrant communities in cities all across the country. In Madrid, Logrono, Zaragoza, Barcelona and Valencia, the YMCA gives special attention to immigrant communities, particularly children and youth in it programmes. In line with the mission and core values of YMCA Spain, and the vision expressed in ‘Challenge 21’, the YMCA runs programmes that promote inter-cultural understanding and sharing, and that provide support for people entering Spain. The YMCA’s objectives with this work are to foster mutual respect and to promote the value of cultural diversity. In Spain, the YMCA is seen as an excellent platform for promoting inter-cultural cooperation and dialogue between people of different religions. Throughout history, this has always been a strong feature of the YMCA’s work. Today’s 300 million immigrants and refugees need our Movement to mobilise through concrete and effective action tailored to each of the contexts we operate in. In Spain, our technical staff teams and volunteers have two specific objectives: to ensure the integration of immigrants and respond to their most urgent needs. To meet the first objective, all our centres have become spaces for integration where the coexistence of Spanish children and immigrant children is promoted through joint activities including education, training, and recreation. The core values of inter-cultural understanding and dialogue
are also integrated into volunteer programmes. For the second objective, Spanish lessons, legal advice, school support for children, and training for young people and women preparing to enter the labour market, are core to the YMCA’s weekly programmes. Although most of our programme participants are children and young people, 70% of whom are from Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa, a growing number of adults are participating in the Spanish lessons, as well as IT and job searching techniques. 65% of adult participants are in fact women. Activities aimed at immigrant women have therefore become a main priority for the YMCA. Every year, over 1,500 immigrants take part in the various programmes organised by local YMCAs – this constitutes more than 35% of YMCA Spain’s total beneficiaries. We are working with reality, and this has allowed us to secure significant public and private support to fund these activities, ensuring they are sustainable and of a consistently high quality. The Ministry of Labour and Immigration and La Caixa Foundation are major supporters of our work. Immigration is a reality that creates great opportunities but also situations of social exclusion. In recent years, by observing the changes around us, and realising our responsibility to respond to the needs of a changing society, we have learned to combine our traditional activities with new ones that respond to our “new neighbours”. This is our contribution to social justice, to the strengthening of an intercultural society, and to equal opportunity and dignity irrespective of cultural origin. This is an exciting task for the YMCA and one that we can and should address based on our commitment to the full development of every human being.
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The Impact of Migration on Children and Youth: The Filipino Experience
Migration Eloisa D. Borreo National General Secretary YMCA Philippines
The difficulty of finding a job to support a decent standard of living in the Philippines forces approximately 3,780 Filipino workers to leave the country everyday to work abroad. Many people need additional income to be able to support their family, ensure that their children finish school, and build a comfortable home to live in. Due to the poor social services offered by the government, many also look for better opportunities abroad in order to cope with the economic crisis. They hope to be able to save money and start up a small business that can provide additional income to help meet the needs of their family. As a result, migration has become deeply embedded in the Filipino culture. At a very young age, children of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) often dream that they too will be able to work abroad. A Better Life Studies have shown that when a parent migrates for economic reasons, it can have positive effects on the children such as improved economic conditions, better physical health and better academic performance. In 2003, in co-operation with the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the Scalabrini Migration Centre (SMC) undertook a survey on the impact of migration on children left behind in the Philippines. Most migrant children reported having good relationships with their migrant parents, particularly migrant mothers, whom they regarded as role models. According to the Centre for Migrants Advocacy (CMA), the positive effects of migration also include an increased sense of responsibility among left-behind children. The CMA also noticed that the migration of mothers can help to redress gender imbalances in families, as husbands must assume responsibility for the children and household.
Abandonment and Family Disintegration
YMCA Action
Studies have also shown the serious negative effects of migration on children, particularly those aged between 6 and 16 years old, who can feel a deep sense of abandonment if their mothers migrate leaving them behind. One youth said, “…it is better to lose 100 fathers than a single mother” (Anthony, 17 years old of Cavite). In the SMC study, adolescent children also mentioned that migration of parents can lead to emotional difficulties and poorer social adjustment. Since children feel somewhat estranged from their migrant parents it can also lead to greater involvement in drug abuse, early sexual relationships and other at-risk behaviour.
Despite the above-mentioned negative impacts of migration on children and youth, levels of migration from the Philippines remains high. YMCA Philippines is committed to developing socially relevant programmes and as such is working hard to address migrant issues, and minimise the negative impact of migration on children and young people.
The migration culture that has emerged in the Philippines is also thought to have resulted in the distortion of values among children and young people. Many children of migrant workers become very dependent on the remittances sent by their parents, and become more materialistic. The value of “conspicuous consumerism” is already gaining popularity among many young people. CMA has also observed that the migration of parents can be particularly difficult for young girls. In families where the mother migrates, the eldest daughter often takes on a maternal role and thus misses out on her own childhood, suffers lower academic performance, and may engage earlier in sexual relationships, with higher risk of incestuous relationships particularly in urban poor communities. Moreover in situations where the family unit is already weak, the migration of one parent can exacerbate existing problems and lead to the eventual breakdown of the family.
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On 23-24 April, YMCA Philippines relaunched its migration work through a series of regional Organisational Development and Management Training courses. 27 leaders and staff of 5 local YMCAs in the South Luzon region participated in group discussions, sharing information, knowledge and skills on how to mainstream a migration advocacy programme in a way that is sensitive to the needs of each local community. The CMA provided inputs into the discussions, helping local YMCAs to understand the impact of migration on children and youth. In the coming months the YMCA will engage in diverse actions including:
• holistic programmes for assisting the • • •
children and families of overseas Filipino workers programmes for the socio-economic integration of overseas Filipino workers returning to the Philippines education and psycho-social orientation for young people thinking of migrating networking with various agencies and organisations that work for the cause of Filipino Migrant Workers
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Gaza:
World Movement News
Reflections from a Visit and Update on YMCA Gaza’s Post-Emergency Humanitarian Work
Clarissa Balan Executive Secretary World Alliance of YMCAs
Everyone who lives in Gaza has a story to tell: whether it’s the loss of a loved one, the destruction of a home, factory or agricultural land, the loss of a livelihood, the “adventure” of crossing the border into Egypt in order to attend a son’s wedding or seek medical care only available in Jerusalem. There is destruction everywhere: once houses or residential buildings, schools, factories and public institutions now just a pile of rubble. One could not help but be moved by the people of Gaza; by their resilience and determination to take what life offers them and make something good out of it, to find hope in the midst of despair and uncertainty, to do everything to give the best for their children and their future. There is freshly tilled land beside temporary shelters, weddings are still held every Friday (a young, newly married couple have started their married life living in one of the shelters provided by the YMCA), children are going to school, Muslim prayers are uttered in loudspeakers – all the signs of ordinary life are there although the situation is anything but ordinary.
temporary shelters, most of them lacking in basic amenities like water and electricity. It is estimated that at least 100,000 are still displaced, including tens of thousands of children.
I visited YMCA Gaza from 24 to 26 April to see and learn more about the continuing humanitarian work of YMCA Gaza for the children and young people of Gaza, the YMCA’s future plans, and how the YMCA family could continue to support this life-saving work.
YMCA animators working with children in the psychosocial centres noted the impact of the three weeks of military operations on children in January such as increased aggressiveness and hostility, fear, forgetfulness as well as a decreased trend in socialising with friends and other children. These observations were confirmed in a survey undertaken by Care International immediately after the conflict. The findings reported that 95 percent of the households surveyed reported a high level of fear among children, with more than half of all children suffering from bedwetting, general weakness, nervousness, increased aggressiveness, sleeplessness, nightmares, and headaches or stomach aches.
Gaza Today… Gaza has a population of 1.5 million, 45% of which comprise children and young people 15 years and under. During the conflict around 500,000 people including 280,000 children were forced to flee from their homes (Save the Children) and where whole neighbourhoods were destroyed, tents were put up to serve as
The impact of the blockade has been severe as only humanitarian items have been allowed in and virtually no exports permitted since 2007 causing paralysis of the economy. Fuel shortages and a lack of spare parts have had a knock-on effect on the sewage treatment, waste collection, water supply and medical facilities. In human terms, the blockade has resulted in a deterioration of living conditions for the majority of the population and children have been particularly vulnerable with most of them suffering from malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies.
Emergency Response During the Israeli military operations, YMCA Gaza focused its emergency work on the distribution of blankets and mattresses, cleaning agents, clothes and hygiene kits to the displaced families who found shelter in the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) schools. Meals were also provided to these families. At the same time, the YMCA organised arts and sports activities for the children and after the conflict, this work continued for a week in the UNRWA schools at UNRWA’s request. During this time, a total of 2,500 children took
part in the psychosocial programmes and 1,400 people benefited from the meals distributed in 20 “gathering points” in different parts of the Gaza Strip. In addition to these, Gaza YMCA had also worked with 4 other organisations to build four temporary shelters for 18 families and the distribution of more than 300 water tanks. In order to mobilise support for the emergency work of the YMCA, the World Alliance issued an emergency appeal in early January and contributions to the appeal amounted to USD 64,000.
YMCA General Secretary, Mr. Issa Saba, expressed on behalf of the YMCA their appreciation for the support received from YMCAs and sympathizers in many parts of the world. The solidarity from the YMCA Movement was a great source
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of strength at a time when it was hard to see beyond their pain, suffering and loss. It is their hope that this accompaniment will continue in the next months and years ahead for the sake of the children of Gaza and their future. Ongoing Humanitarian Work with Children and Youth A major component of YMCA Gaza’s humanitarian work is focused on addressing the trauma that the children of Gaza have been subjected to during the three weeks of conflict through the implementation of psychosocial programmes. There are 4 centres where YMCA Gaza conducts its psychosocial programmes: Attatra, the Karara Family and Children’s Care Center, Fokhary and Jouhreldeek. In total, these centres serve around 2,000 children aged between 7 and 16 years and employ 35 animators, some of whom are YMCA volunteers. The Centres are built with colourful tents, “smuggled in” from Egypt and built on land which the YMCA rents for USD 400 for each Centre for 6 months. It is envisaged that the programmes will be implemented for 6 months up to September 2009. The programme is divided into 5 topics, including health and hygiene, environment, social studies, art and theatre as well as recreation and sports. Heba Elattar, mother of 3 young children is an animator at the Center in Attatra. When asked what she found rewarding in her work, she replied that it was in knowing that she is able to ease the psychological burden that the children were carrying as a result of the war. The behavioral
YMCA Gaza General Secretary, Mr. Issa Saba
changes that have been observed in them such as improved social skills, less aggression and better hygiene all indicate that the programme is having a positive impact. She summed up the effect of the programme on children in one word: happiness, as seen from the children’s smiles, the self-confidence they exude in their artwork or while engaged in sports, their ability to communicate and express their feelings as well as in the relationship of trust and affection that has been built between the children and their animators. Future Plans The following are seen as areas of priority for the coming months: 1. Continuing to meet the needs of the Centres for Psychosocial Programmes, including purchasing the necessary educational materials, paying the salaries of programme animators as well as the rent of the land. 2. It is estimated that more than 400,000 people do not have access to clean water. YMCA Gaza in partnership with Canaan Institute has already distributed 400 water tanks to families. The YMCA intends to make available 100 more of these water tanks. 3. In partnership with UNRWA, the YMCA will be organising summer camps for children and youth refugees, including the participants in the psychosocial programmes. As public transport is hardly available and rent of buses is expensive, the YMCA would like to purchase a vehicle to enable transport of children to programme centres. 4. In the course of their work, the YMCA
Building Self-confidence through Sports
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noted that most of the parents of the participants in the psychosocial programmes are either unemployed or have had their livelihoods destroyed. The YMCA would like to offer concrete support for the poorest children and their families in their Centres in the short term and assist in the restoration of their livelihoods in the medium and long term. YMCA Gaza: Giving Hope to Children and Youth Mr. Souramy of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights commented that the YMCA serves as the converging point for the city’s social and cultural life. In Gaza, one quickly realises that there are very few places where anyone, regardless of age or religion, could come and feel welcomed and secure. In this sense, the YMCA is like an oasis, a place where children could celebrate their birthday and do what children are supposed to do, a sanctuary for people in need of quiet or connection with others and a space where young people could hang out with their friends. But the YMCA is also more than that: it is an organisation that believes that youth are the key to Gaza’s future and has been able to effectively translate this belief into programmes and activities that enable children and young people to fulfill their potentials and to grow in terms of knowledge, skills and self-esteem. Most of all, the YMCA is an organisation that gives young people hope and when there is hope, a future with peace and justice enters the realm of the possible.
Where whole Neighbourhoods were Destroyed, Tents were put up as Temporary Shelters
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YMCA East Jerusalem:
Serving Youth and Community The YMCA of East Jerusalem was established in 1948 in a refugee camp near Jericho. It aimed to empower deprived and marginalized Palestinian youth in the refugee camps. Since then, the YMCA has come a long way. YMCA Programme Centres dedicated to community development as well as the holistic development of young people are now located in East Jerusalem, Ramallah, Jericho, Beit Sahour and Gaza. They employ more than 160 full time staff and reach out to thousands of young people and their families. Ensuring relevance and rootedness in communities The YMCA is engaged in a broad range of programmes that address the needs of young people and challenge existing cultural practices and values that are detrimental to their development. One example is the YMCA’s Career Counselling Programme that targets young women in rural areas. The programme makes them and their parents aware of the negative effects of early marriage. The Programme consists of group sessions to build selfawareness and assertiveness skills, as well
as career counselling. Meetings are also conducted with the families to discuss their expectations of their children and their chances of employment. Tackling poverty The YMCA is one of 16 NGOs that was approached by UNDP to assist the poorest families in the West Bank and Gaza Strip who live on less than 2 dollars a day. The YMCA works closely with these families for a period of three years. It helps them to determine the existing capacities and resources within the household that could help get them out of poverty, and how to develop these capacities. The excellent work that the YMCA does in the field of poverty alleviation has won them an award for economic development. Peace building through conflict resolution By encouraging volunteerism and civic engagement of young people, the YMCA works to build bridges among young people and between generations, and inculcate peace in the hearts of Palestinians. Community service programmes led by
young people recruit youth volunteers for charitable programmes as part of their training and education on civic values. At the same time, intergenerational dialogues, between parents and children are organised on issues related to communication, decision-making, and domestic violence. A conflict resolution programme is organised in communities and refugee centres for community members to discuss the impact of armed conflict on the culture and mentality of young people. Reaching out into the world Recognizing that the conflict between Israel and Palestine needs the support of the international community, the YMCA in partnership with the YWCA of Palestine, organises programmes to build solidarity between Palestinian youth and youth from around the world. This programme is built around developing a genuine understanding of the life of Palestinian youth through direct immersion into their life and the many constraints they face on a daily basis. Later this year, a Solidarity Witness Visit is also being planned but this time targeting the high level leadership of YMCA and YWCA Movements.
Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs Appoints New General Secretary Kohei Yamada, National General Secretary of YMCA Japan, has been appointed as the General Secretary of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs (APAY) at its Executive Committee meeting held in Hong Kong on 25 – 27 March 2009. Before his appointment as National General Secretary of YMCA Japan, he served as Principal of the YMCA Tokyo College of Human Care and Executive Director of domestic and international relations of the National Council of YMCAs of Japan.
In his position as International Secretary and later National General Secretary, Kohei Yamada participated actively in the deliberations and programmes of the APAY. In recent years, he also gave leadership to the National General Secretaries meetings in the APAY region as its Chair. He will be commencing his duties as General Secretary of APAY from 1 June 2009. We congratulate and welcome Kohei Yamada and wish him all the best in his new position.
New General Secretary Appointed by
Latin America and Caribbean Alliance of YMCAs At its meeting in April, the Latin America and Caribbean Alliance of YMCAs (LACA) Executive Committee decided to appoint Mauricio Díaz Vandorsee as General Secretary as of 1 May 2009, for a period of 4 years. Mauricio is currently the National General Secretary of the Brazil YMCA, a position that he will maintain during his tenure as Area Secretary.
After graduating in Physical Education, and later from the Institute of YMCA Training of Sorocaba, he worked for many years in the YMCA of Rio Grande do Sul before becoming National General Secretary. We congratulate and welcome Mauricio in his new position and wish him all the best.
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YMCA University Founded in Germany
Stefan Westhauser Assistant to the General Secretary YMCA Germany
After many years of planning and preparation, and a long accreditation process, the YMCA of Germany is happy to announce the foundation of the International YMCA University of Applied Sciences (CVJM-Hochschule) in Kassel, Germany. The journey towards a YMCA University began in 1991, when a vision to advance the education offered at CVJM-Kolleg to a higher academic level emerged. In the years that followed, there were many hurdles to overcome. However, on 27 March 2009, we took a huge step as CVJMHochschule was officially founded at a wonderful ceremony. The foundation ceremony was a unique event in the history of YMCA Germany, and was thus given the attention it deserved: over 200 guests from the YMCA, Ecumenical community, and general public attended the celebration. In her speech, the Regional Minister of Sciences spoke about the relevancy of the YMCA having a University of this nature. The 116 founding members, who raised over 186,000 € for CVJM-Hochschule, were introduced to all those present. World YMCA President Martin Meißner gave greetings on behalf of the World Alliance of YMCAs, and Solomon Benjamin, YMCA India, gave congratulations on behalf of the International Coalition of YMCA Universities. Courses of Study – Departments and Degrees Courses will actually begin in September 2009. The newly established university offers Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees through residential courses and distance learning courses. The core course is a 4-year programme, with direct attendance, in Theology/ Social Work. The University also aims to meet the increasing demand for vocational training with three distance learning courses in “Religious and Parish Education”, “Social Work”, and “Social and Diakonie-Management”. For the
Bachelor degrees, the intention is to have 340 study places and 12 full-time professors. Student Community on Campus Teaching, learning and living at CVJMHochschule is integrated in a community of Christian spirituality. This promotes the development of personal, social and spiritual competence. Living: Groups of 5 –7 students live together in houses on the campus or in the immediate neighbourhood. Community: Student initiatives, sports, collective activities and festivals offer a wide range of recreational opportunities. Costs: The tuition fee for the 4-year course of study is 240 Euro per month. The three long distance learning courses of study cost 280 Euro each per month. International Coalition of YMCA Universities Because of the global nature of the YMCA, the CVJM-Hochschule also has important international links. It is a member of the International Coalition of YMCA Universities founded in November 2001 in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The CVJM-Hochschule strives for the exchange of students and lecturers with YMCA-Institutes from the Coalition world-wide, and beyond with other universities, because solving today’s greatest challenges requires an international perspective. Due to international interest in the courses, teaching will be conducted not only in German, but also in English from 2010 onwards. In this way, we provide not only for foreign applicants, but we also help qualify German students for service
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abroad. Students from all over the world are cordially invited to study at the CVJMHochschule. Research means thinking ahead To face future challenges, particularly with regard to youth issues, the CVJM-Hochschule sees the importance of focusing on research. Research projects on youth work and youth culture through empirical investigations should be the basis for the conception and realisation of Christian youth work. They are framed in the field of social work as well as in practical theology. Research should not only accompany study, but also become a self-evident tool for practitioners to evaluate, guide and underpin their work. Depending on the study courses, the CVJM-Hochschule will pursue research projects in the fields of “Youth Work”, “Youth Culture” and “Human Resource Development”. Dr. Wolfgang Neuser, National General Secretary of YMCA Germany and Founding Director of CVJM-Hochschule gave the reasoning for the foundation of a University in collaboration with YMCA Germany: “Young people need competent accompaniment on their walk of faith towards a meaningful and responsible shaping of life. Furthermore Christian youth work needs qualified persons in theological, pedagogic and organisational matters. At the International YMCA University of Applied Sciences we want to qualify people through teaching and research for the service of humanity. We establish the YMCA University with the certainty that Christian faith motivates and enables people to have a commitment for peace and social justice.”
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Y’s Men International: Following a Simple Path to Peace through Service
Rachelle R. Reeg and Isaac Palathinkal Members of Y’s Men International
“Y’s Men International is a world-wide fellowship of persons of all faiths working together in mutual respect and affection based on the teachings of Jesus Christ and with a common loyalty to the YMCA, striving through active service to develop, encourage and provide leadership to build a better world for all mankind.” cation and healthcare services. A club in Singapore and another in Japan transport the disabled and aged to local sites for outings. A club in Egypt annually purchases school supplies for students in local schools. A club in Bolivia sponsors an honours programme for successful high school students. Members gain opportunities and experience in managing club projects and programmes thereby improving their capabiliMembers are men and women volunteers ties in communication and presentation. who give service to the YMCA through Youth have the opportunity to participate “hands on” projects and with fundraising. in camps and in a Youth Convocation orWherever clubs may be located they share a ganised by Y’s Men International every two common mission: service to the YMCA years. Families may be involved in club serand the community. These clubs may be vice activities as well as in entertainment known as Y’s Men’s Clubs, Y Service Clubs, and fun programmes. Because of their and Y’s Men and Women’s Clubs. Y’s Youth presence in more than 70 countries, over Clubs for persons from 15 to 30 years of 30,000 men and women members are exage are the newest area of service opportu- posed to many cultures, leading to a better nity. Some clubs are formed where there is understanding of each other. no YMCA but where individuals identify In 2008-2009 a new international project community needs. co-ordinated with the United Nations Roll Locally, club members participate in and Back Malaria Movement sought to pursupport literacy programmes among un- chase 20,000 mosquito nets to aid in mader-served and migrant populations. Many laria prevention. Since 2005 clubs have clubs collect and distribute food, assist with been highly involved with education and building projects, and help to provide edu- medical care programmes dealing with
HIV/AIDS. Since 1973 clubs have raised more than USD 4 million for Time of Fastprojects proposed by YMCAs. The Alexander Scholarship Fund also supports training for YMCA professionals. The highest membership growth has occurred in Asia and India, each with more than 30% of the total members. Strategies for forming new clubs throughout the world are part of the Forward Plan for the entire organisation. Contacts for club formation or grant applications are available online at www.ysmen.org or by mail to Y’s Men International 9 avenue Sainte Clotilde 1205 Geneva, Switzerland.
The Simple Path The fruit of The fruit of The fruit of The fruit of The fruit of
silence is prayer. prayer is faith. faith is love. love is service. service is peace. --Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
World Alliance News
YMCA / YWCA Week of Prayer 2009 This year’s YMCA/YWCA Week of Prayer will be held from the 8th to 14th November. This joint week of prayer is a tradition dating from 1904. It is a time when local YMCAs and YWCAs unite to consider their work in the context of the Bible and to find guidance and encouragement from Jesus Christ’s teachings. And it is a time to pray.
This year’s theme coincides with the upcoming YMCA World Council, focusing on “Striving for Global Citizenship for All.” A Week of Prayer booklet is currently being produced together with the World YWCA with 6 days of Bible study and prayer. Each day focuses on one of the new challenges we face as individuals and as a Movement in our rapidly globalizing world. Themes include economic justice and fair trade, climate change, and migra-
tion. The final day will include reflection on Global Citizenship as a framework for response to these new challenges, and the barriers to overcome to ensure that Global Citizenship is accessible to all. A suggested Order of Service is provided for day 7. YMCA Peace Day will be celebrated on Saturday 14th November at the end of the Week of Prayer.
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National General Secretaries’ Conference on Leadership in the YMCA
From 30 March to 3 April 2009, YMCA National General Secretaries representing all regions of the world came together in Barcelona, Spain to discuss new challenges and opportunities facing YMCAs in the context of globalisation, and the implications for YMCA leadership. Twenty-two participants including YMCA National General Secretaries from Africa, Asia and Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East came together for the conference that was held in the Salesian Seminary in Barcelona. Secretary General, Dr Bart Shaha, World Alliance Executive Staff, and Area Executives were also present to provide inputs, together with Mr Steve Hobbes, from South Africa, who helped to facilitate the conference. The Conference was hosted by YMCA Spain. The main objectives of this three-day conference were to: provide a space for inter-regional contact, sharing and learning; and to engage YMCA National General Secretaries and Senior Executives in an exploration of the major challenges around Movement strengthening, advocacy, communications and resource mobilisation, as the world-wide Movement strengthens its capacity to respond to the issues confronting young people today. The programme was divided into five themes: Ensuring Social Justice in a Globalised World; Building Competent Organisations; Promoting Civic Engagement and Participatory Governance from Local to Global; Mobilising Resources to Deliver Challenge 21; and Transformational Leadership in Action. For each theme, there was a key speaker, followed by respondents from the National, Area and Global levels, and then an opportunity for dialogue and group work.
Ensuring Social Justice in a Globalised World
Promoting Civic Engagement and Participatory Governance
Highly skilled external resource persons, with strong connections to the YMCA, were invited as key speakers on two of the themes. Fr. John Quigley, a Franciscan Friar, and former Director of Franciscans International provided a thoughtful input to the first theme. While highlighting the tremendous impact of communications technology on young people he also pointed out the uneven access to it especially in the poorest countries of the world. He also identified some of the major challenges specific to young people especially in the areas of health, sexuality and sexual behaviour, In this regard, he emphasised the need of accompaniment and involvement in their lives without being judgmental or patronising.
Dr. Liberato C. Bautista, President of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organisations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO) also gave a thought-provoking and highly relevant input on the theme of global governance, advocacy and civic engagement. He highlighted some of the moral and theoretical underpinnings of global and local advocacy work including: 1) the need to empower the truth to be spoken by bearing witness to the realities of the marginalised and dispossessed and advocating for them; 2) the need to empower the voice of those who speak their truth - it is even more powerful and credible if you can bring the marginalised to the table to speak out, we must therefore accompany and support them; 3) The need to empower the platforms from which truths are to be spoken, by supporting and participating in NGO and civil society forums. This requires identification and solidarity with the poor and marginalised.
Fr. Quigley also pointed to the unique opportunities open to the YMCA as a Global Movement for youth and asked how the YMCA can provide some direction to young people’s sense of wanting to do more and to do something good with their lives. What is it that the YMCA can do that no other civic organisation can do? In closing Fr. Quigley talked about the need to act within a framework that is rooted in a profound understanding of Jesus Christ. He said, “The second coming has happened and is happening right in our midst and Jesus is struggling to articulate his humanity through us. We are therefore a living sacrament of God’s humility: i.e. his willingness to throw his lot in us so that we can witness to his love for the world.”
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Dr. Bautista pointed out that governance is simultaneously local and global so that there should be concern for both.
“In a globalised world, the local and global are contemporaneous realities where our lives and destinies are becoming more and more intertwined. This, in turn, requires a cosmological understanding of our reality, our common destiny as well as our common humanity.” YMCA World - June 2009 15
Building Competent Organisations Selma Zaidi, YMCA USA, led a dynamic session on building competent organisations, ensuring legitimacy, good governance and accountability. Conference participants were invited to share thoughts on what it means to be a ‘competent’ organisation and where they saw the greatest challenges. The group felt that competent organisations had credibility, efficiency, effective communications, were participatory, self-critical and had the right people in the right places. For the group, succession planning, image and identity, and impact assessment, were still major challenges, but many were already working to address these issues. Selma Zaidi shared several good practices from YMCA USA in the area of good governance and invited National General Secretaries to do the same. Discussions focused in particular on recruitment and training of volunteer leaders, and on the opportunity for developing a set of global minimum standards for the Movement participants agreed to send any useful resources or materials on this to the World Alliance. Mobilising Resources to Deliver Challenge 21 Carlos Sanvee, General Secretary of the Africa Alliance of YMCAs, and member of the Global Staff Team, lead a roundtable on resource mobilisation. He shared the global strategy and work plan for resource mobilisation developed by the Global Staff Team and World Alliance staff. He highlighted achievements already made in the areas of impact assessment, knowledge sharing, communications, programme relevance and institutional capacity, all of which were
identified as essential elements for effective resource mobilisation. Rebecca Morton from the World Alliance explored the communications and branding element in more detail, underlining the need for greater consistency in messaging, public image, logo, etc across the Movement. Conference participants showed great excitement about the process and how their own National Movements could engage in and benefit from this groundbreaking process. Leadership in the YMCA Throughout each of the sessions, participants were reminded to consider what implications these new challenges and opportunities would have for YMCA leadership. On the last day, a session was devoted to pulling these thoughts together to identify what we need from today’s YMCA leaders. Special focus was given to current trends in transformational leadership development in the YMCA. In this regard, a paper titled “Transformational Leadership: A Consideration for the YMCA” which was presented to the Coalition of YMCA Universities earlier by the Secretary General Dr. Bart Shaha, was shared with all participants. In the discussion that followed it was agreed that a transformational leader must show courage and conviction, be able to adapt to change, be self-critical, be a good manager, listener and communicator, have spiritual strength, be able to bring out the best in those around him, and have a strong vision and commitment. Fr. John Quigley, who also led the group on an evocative and inspiring spiritual journey throughout the conference by leading the morning devotions, reminded the group that a strong leader believes in
the potential and goodness of others, and takes risks, just as Jesus Christ did with his own disciples. He also said that our concept of leadership should also embrace the idea of a servant leader as exemplified by Jesus Christ. He also encouraged the participants to seek a spiritual companion to whom we could share or declare our beliefs or our doubts. Concrete Recommendations for Action The discussions on each of the five themes were rich and dynamic, and resulted in concrete recommendations for action for the World Alliance, Area Alliances and National Movements. A detailed report of the conference and recommendations will be circulated to all YMCA National Movements. However, some of the key recommendations included: 1) efforts be made by the World Alliance and more affluent Movements to bridge the growing communications technology gap in the Movement; 2) sharing of best practices in the area of good governance, particularly with regards to training of volunteer leadership and staff that could eventually be developed into minimum standards; 3) to have an NGS conference every two years, with alternate meetings coinciding with the World Council; 4) to develop a protocol guiding World Alliance global advocacy work. All participants expressed their renewed motivation and commitment at the end of the meeting, and the usefulness of this unique opportunity to come together as senior YMCA leaders to share experiences and connect with one another. The World Alliance of YMCAs would like to extend its thanks to all those who participated, particularly the resource persons, and to Mr Juan Simoes Iglesias, General Secretary of YMCA Spain, for his warm hospitality and for ensuring the success of this meeting.
(Left to Right) Wolfgang Neuser, André Batarseh and Juan Simoes Iglesias Fr. John Quigley
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YMCA Leaders in Private Audience with Prince Felipe of Spain
On 3 April 2009, a group of international YMCA leaders, led by the Secretary General of the World Alliance of YMCAs, Dr. Bart Shaha, were honoured to be invited to a private audience with His Royal Highness, Prince Felipe of Spain at the palace of La Zarzuela. Immediately after the National General Secretaries Conference in Barcelona, participants travelled to Madrid for the private audience with His Royal Highness.
The Prince showed a particular interest in the YMCA’s increasing efforts to provide support and empowerment to young migrant populations around the world. Concrete achievements and challenges of the YMCA’s work in Africa, Latin America, Europe and Middle East were shared with the Prince. The Prince also highlighted the vital role the YMCA is playing in empowering young
people around the world who have been particularly affected by the present global economic crisis. Prince Felipe has been the Honorary President of YMCA Spain for 20 years. The YMCA in Spain was established 28 years ago, and works through 11 local YMCA associations across the country to provide vital social services to children, youth and immigrant communities in need.
17th World Council of YMCAs : Striving for Global Citizenship for All Hong Kong, 19th - 24th July 2010 Next year’s World Council will provide a unique opportunity to celebrate the YMCA Movement’s life and work in 124 countries. It will engage participants in dialogue and sharing on some of the most critical challenges within and outside the Movement. It will also be a time to worship, pray and reflect on our mission under the theme of “Striving for Global Citizenship for All”. Highlights of the 2010 World Council will include: • • • • • • • •
Skills building workshops Discussion Forums on YMCA cutting-edge issues Global Village for YMCA exhib its, sharing resources and materials Cultural Night Inspirational Worship Programme Exposure Visits to local YMCA programmes and key cultural and historical sites International Youth Forum Election of Officers and Executive Committee Members for the next quadrennium
Prior to the World Council Meeting, there will be a 3-day International Youth Forum The Youth Forum aims to empower young people to advocate on global issues that impact their lives and their communities.
It also provides training to prepare youth delegates for active participation at the World Council. New communications technology will be leveraged to enable young people across the world that could not come to Hong Kong to input into the discussions with youth delegates in Hong Kong. The main site of the 17th World Council is the Wu Kwai Sha YMCA Youth Village in Hong Kong. The Venue includes indoor facilities such as camp accommodation for 1000 participants, and offers a variety of outdoor facilities: football, running, basketball, badminton, children’s playgrounds, swimming pools, barbecue sites, table-tennis and recreation room.
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For more information on the venue visit: http://www.ymca.org.hk/eng/index. php?c=88&t=1 Further information on World Council 2010 including programme details, fees and registration form will be communicated to YMCA National Movements. For more information you can also visit the World Alliance website: h t t p : / / w w w. y m c a . i n t / i n d e x . php?id=14
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Global Operating Plan (GOP) for Movement Strengthening
YMCA Ethiopia:
Simon Pluess Executive Secretary World Alliance of YMCAs
A “GOP pioneer” is back on track From 13 to 15 May, YMCA Ethiopia’s leaders met with international YMCA partners to discuss progress made to strengthen the Ethiopian Movement. YMCA Ethiopia was shut down for almost 20 years by the late military regime, and re-opened again in 1992. Since then, the YMCA has been growing gradually, both in terms of its local branches and membership. YMCA Ethiopia was one of the first YMCAs to use the World Alliance’s Global Operating Plan (GOP) as a tool to build its institutional capacity and sustainability. In 2004, YMCA Ethiopia was selected by the Africa Alliance of YMCAs as the first pilot country to undergo an institutional diagnosis. This exercise provided relevant information on the level of YMCA Ethiopia’s mission focus, programme relevance and institutional viability. Since then partners from YMCAs in the USA, Canada, YMCA-YWCA of Sweden and YMCA Germany have been accompanying YMCA Ethiopia and providing expertise. Thanks to this co-ordinated approach, YMCA Ethiopia has achieved several concrete successes. These include: 1) The return of property confiscated by the previous government 2) The development of new and/or renovated YMCA facilities in Bahir Dar, Wolaita, Debre Marqos and Addis Ababa
Addis Ketama Branch Primary School for Street Children
3) Increased membership 4) The development and scaling-up of innovative youth programmes Not only were local capacities in governance, financial sustainability and project management strengthened, but YMCA international partners were able to raise funds from major international donors. This support allowed the YMCA to initiate a wide range of highly relevant programmes for young people in Ethiopia such as Vocational Training Centres, character building, music and drama, HIV/ AIDS awareness, leadership development, youth volunteerism, and community engagement. Country Focus Group Meeting, May 2009
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Vocational Training Centre at the Addis Abab Ketama Branch
Nevertheless, the last few years have been very challenging for the YMCA. Claims made by the YMCA to take back valuable land and properties that were seized under the previous regime have only been partially met by the present government. Furthermore, the Ethiopian authorities have imposed significant retroactive taxes on the YMCA. “We have been going through a difficult period,” said Berhanu Tadesse, the newly elected President of the Board for YMCA Ethiopia, “and we pray that our negotiations with the government will finally lead to a total tax exemption.” Evaluation and Reflection During the meetings held in May, YMCA Ethiopia’s leaders undertook a critical analysis of the progress achieved, and challenges faced since the last international partner meeting in 2007. The group noted the critical importance and impact of recent training seminars, such as the training for volunteers and staff as well as the one on HIV/AIDS programmes. Another important achievement is that the duties and responsibilities of staff and volunteers have been clearly defined in policy manuals and communicated to the
branches. Equally, though still in early stages, several branches have shown good results in generating local resources, either through service provision or from local donors. “In doing this reflective exercise, we realised how important it was to know your baseline data and indicators, in order to get an objective sense of progress. Once this data is collected, it enables you to report and communicate your achievements not only towards your community and members but also to the wider public and the donors” said Atoro Amanuel, new National General Secretary of YMCA Ethiopia. Next Steps An evaluation of the GOP process to date showed that YMCA Ethiopia still needs to strengthen communications on three levels: a) within YMCA Ethiopia itself, b) with key partners and stakeholders and c) with the general public. Insufficient communication within the YMCA and externally was identified as a major obstacle to the YMCA’s growth, not only financially, but also in terms of its repu-
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tation and membership. To respond to this gap, the group decided on a consolidated annual activity and financial reporting template for 2009, to which each branch and the National office would contribute. It is important to note that YMCA Ethiopia has a very distinct and prestigious history. The association was founded in 1947, and in 1949, the late Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie (I) requested membership of the World Alliance of YMCAs. While the Emperor consented to be the patron of the YMCA, most of his senior Cabinet Ministers served as board members of the Association and the Movement united around 3 million members. In 1976, the YMCA was dissolved by the defunct Dergue military regime and its properties and assets were confiscated. The YMCA’s re-opening in 1992 is proof of how deeply the YMCA had been anchored into Ethiopian society. Today, the YMCA of Ethiopia has a National office and 9 Regional branches and has an estimated membership of 12,000.
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Food for Thought...
YMCA Supporters Communications Team World Alliance of YMCAs
YMCAs around the world operate with support from diverse and creative funding sources. However whilst some enjoy a healthy mix of sustainable funding sources, others are dependent on a few and face continual challenges for economic sustainability. In today’s economic climate, where many donors are diminishing support, and operating costs are rising, it is even more crucial for YMCAs and other nonprofits to open the door to new possibilities and new sources of support. Of course, depending on the political, social, economic and cultural context of the YMCA Movement and the communities it serves, certain sources of funding are more appropriate and accessible than others. Find below an overview of the some of the funding sources and strategies employed by Movements that may inspire you and your YMCA Movement! Campaign… This is a planned effort to mobilise a specified amount of money, resources, volunteers or donations-in-kind within a certain period of time. Variations include annual campaigns, capital campaigns (to raise funds for infrastructure), alumni campaign (initiatives focusing on former YMCA members, beneficiaries or students), community campaigns and major donors campaigns. YMCA Mexico recently launched a capital campaign to enhance its work with migrant children. To read more visit our website: http://www.ymca.int/index.php?id= 1199#6420 Corporate Giving… Private corporations often support nonprofit organisations in order to “give something back” to the local community, as well as to receive exposure, publicity, and community respect. Funding tends to be more episodic, related to particular campaigns, events, and projects. YMCA
Kenya has an excellent partnership with Safaricom. To read more visit our website: http://www.ymca.int/index.php?id= 1199#6420 Endowment Funds… An endowment fund is a protected fund that is invested and of which only the earned interest is spent on philanthropic activities. Many YMCAs have endowment funds with clear rules that determine exactly how the interest can be used. Donors who contribute to such funds know that they are giving for the long-term sustainability of the organisation. Foundations… Come in various sizes and types but their grants can be important and substantial. Grants are usually time-bound and cover a particular project or activity. Individual Giving… This remains one of the largest sources of funding for many nonprofit organisations, constituting around 75 percent of donations to US nonprofits in 2007 for example. International Organisations… Some YMCAs work in partnership with other large non-profit organisations and UN agencies, which also provide financial support for specific projects. The World Alliance of YMCAs has a Memorandum of Understanding with UNICEF that has
allowed several national YMCAs to connect with UNICEF and receive financial support, such as the YMCAs in Kenya, Argentina and Brazil. Legacy… Also known as a bequest or inheritance – a donation is left to the YMCA by an individual in their will or testament. Local Authorities… Will sometimes fund projects that benefit the people in those areas. Examples are social service programmes, cultural resources, and educational opportunities. Service based income… YMCAs can provide services to members or other clients in exchange for fees that in turn support core operations or other programmes. These services which could include recreation, sports, camps, day care centres, and schools, should be consummate with the YMCA’s mission and core values. If your YMCA has been particularly successful using any of the above mentioned strategies, or through other initiatives, we would love to hear from you! Your story may help inspire another YMCA Movement! Please send your stories to: rebecca@ymca.int
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IT Corner
Internet and the
Harsh Realities of “Connectivity” Claude-Alain Danthe Archivist/Webmaster World Alliance of YMCAs
Web-conferences, blogging, twitting, social networking, videos and photo sharing. In the last few years there has been a notable increase in the number of applications available via the Internet. We no longer live in a world where the Internet is a place to share purely textual content; it has become a new global operating system that can be used to: share, communicate, learn, socialise, network, watch (TV, videos, photos) listen (radio, music, conferences, tutorials, interviews) etc.
At the World Alliance of YMCAs our Internet connection went from 33 kb per second in 1995 to 20,000 kb/s in 2009. While in 1995 we were paying approximately USD 1,200 per month for a 33 kb/s connection, in 2009 we are paying just USD 1,300 per year for a connection that is 600 times faster!
Both within and outside non-governmental organisations, there is great excitement about these new features available on the Internet.
In Togo, the average price for a 128 kb/s connection (156 times slower than that of the World Alliance) is USD 120 per month.
What do I need to get connected to the Internet and how much will it cost?
In Kenya, which has a reputation for having better connectivity, the average price for a 256 kb/s connection is USD 500 per month…4 times more expensive than the World Alliance for a connection that is 10 times slower!
To access all these new and exciting features, you need three things… 1) a device (mobile phone, computer or TV) to access the Internet 2) a fast Internet connection (at least 500 kb per second)
So as you can see there is a huge disparity in terms of speed and cost, but also in terms of global connectivity as you can see below. This is the harsh reality:
As you can see only 6 % per cent of people are connected in Africa, and 17% per cent in Asia. How can the YMCA Movement address this gap? - Ensure that we always find alternative solutions for people with low connectivity or none at all e.g. by producing paper versions of documents, publications, communications. When conducting web-conferencing, we can provide the possibility for participation via a standard phone, not requiring any Internet connection. - Encourage and support National YMCAs and Local YMCAs to increase the speed of their connection (when such a connection is available). A good connection will save time and money, and should be seen as an investment rather than as a cost.
3) sufficient funds to pay a monthly fee for Internet access All figures in USD Internet Connection 1995 cost per month World Alliance 1,200 USD Togo not available Kenya not available
Speed in 1995 33 kb/s not available not available
2009 cost per month 100 USD 140 USD 500 USD
Speed in 2009 20,000 kb/s 128 kb/s 256 kb/s
Percentage of Internet users North America 75% Oceania/Australia 60% Europe 49% Latin America 30% Middle East 23% Asia 17% Africa 6% Source: http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.html (Visited in May 2009)
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Journey in Mission
The Impact of the Worldwide YMCA on Youth Development
The World YMCA Movement was established by young people. The average age of those who met at the first international meeting in Paris in 1855 was only 23 years. Secretary General Dr. Bart Shaha World Alliance of YMCAs
Throughout its history, the YMCA has given special focus to the character-building of young people through programmes for the development of the Body, Mind and Spirit. The YMCA’s work with young people even led it to invent new games and sports (basketball, volleyball, fútsal). In 1929, the World Alliance of YMCAs was awarded the Olympic Cup for services to sports. Holistic Youth Development As a movement that works for the empowerment of young people, the YMCA is involved in all aspects of their lives and employs a diverse range of actions and activities to ensure the holistic development of young people. These include leadership development and civic engagement, advocacy on the local, national and global levels (e.g. MDGs), vocational training and career counselling, psychosocial support for children and youth in difficult circumstance, awareness raising on sexual and reproductive health issues, HIV prevention and support for vulnerable young people, e.g. migrants, street children and young offenders. Advocacy on Issues Affecting Young People By advocacy, we mean not only the act of speaking and acting on behalf of those who do not have a voice in society, but also empowering those who are without power in society, so that they may assert their rights and do it in effective ways. The goal of advocacy is change: a change in policies, attitudes or priorities. One of the core components of the World Alliance’s Strategic Plan is advocacy work on issues affecting young people. At international level, our advocacy work entails ensuring that the stories of young people and the outcomes of programmes being undertaken by YMCA movements are heard by policy makers and leaders on the world stage. Together with other organizations, we work to ensure that policies are put in place; standards developed and governments are held accountable for commitments they have made. The long track record of the YMCA working with all people, irrespective of their race, colour, gender or religion, makes it a credible organization, having evidence to back what it states.
As national YMCAs respond to the needs of the poor and underprivileged, the unemployed, the migrant and refugee, those living with HIV and AIDS, those who experience violence and sexual abuse, advocacy at the international level becomes critical to support this work and enhance its impact. We therefore see global advocacy as a necessary component for strengthening the YMCA movement as a whole. Here are two concrete examples of how YMCAs are engaging in issues that affect the lives of young people: Juvenile Justice In March this year, together with Y Care International, the World Alliance organised a training programme for advocacy on juvenile justice. The goal was to provide 5 young people from all over the world with the necessary skills and confidence to effectively lobby on juvenile justice issues at the 10th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Every one of the participants has had firsthand experience of the stigma, abuse and injustice that young people face when they come in contact with the justice system. Two youth advocates addressed the Council’s plenary on the issues of rehabilitation and re-integration. This is the story of one of the YMCA participants from Sierra Leone... The Story of Mohamed Oman Bushin “I was locked behind bars for weeks on end without any trial or bail. The rebels attacked our town where I used to live with my parents and other family members. Under heavy gunshot, we all ran out of our house in different directions to seek refuge. I took a route which eventually found me in Freetown. The only place I could find shelter by then was at the big market. One unlucky day police raided this market…we were locked behind bars with adult criminals. As juveniles, we had no one to run to for help, but were left at the mercy of the police.” Oman Bushin is now one of the coordinators of the YMCA Youth Justice in Action campaign in Sierra Leone. He was awarded the 2008 Children and Youth Advocate of the Year by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs. The advocacy work at the HRC has already had some amazing and very concrete results. The new HRC Resolution on the Administration of Juvenile Justice includes a specific paragraph on the importance of the rehabilitation and reintegration of young people,
thanks to the lobby efforts of our YMCA advocates. Addressing Global Hunger Another pressing issue that young people are working on is addressing global hunger. The situation has worsened in recent months with riots sparking in many countries due to a dramatic increase in world food prices leading to what is popularly known as the “global food crisis”. Several YMCAs in different continents have extensive programmes with young people including food production and distribution, training, and community-based initiatives to ensure longer term food security. At the global level, the World Alliance was one of several organizations, led by the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, International Agricultural and Trade Policy Research Institute, the Food First Information and Action Network to convene a conference on the global food crisis from 24th – 26th November 2008 in Geneva. Besides representatives from international organizations and UN bodies, the Conference was also attended by representatives of farmers, women and fisherfolk movements. The Conference examined the impact of international trade rules, climate change, the increased production of bio-fuels on the food crisis. A number of recommendations were developed by the Conference participants, including increased advocacy on the right to food at the UN, strengthening coordination and networking amongst the organizations for increased impact and support for the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. Leadership Development In addition to standard setting and policy development work at the international level, the World Alliance of YMCAs also supports leadership development of young people to empower them to be advocates on critical issues affecting them. For example, in January 2008 the World Alliance organised a Youth Leadership Development Programme in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with special focus on Transformational Leadership. This type of leadership development will be an important feature at the upcoming International Youth Forum to be held prior to the World Council next year in Hong Kong. The Forum will focus on the Millennium Development Goals.
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